Skoorb
Alert Team
Manuel Pellegrini and his team endured a frustrating night at the Eithad courtesy of some crucial saves from Tim Howard, resilient defending from the Toffee outfield and two awful decisions from referee Roger East.
City started the game without David Silva in the starting line up and Fernando partnering Toure in central midfield. The job of marshalling Lukaku was left once again to City's only fit centre backs and all in all they did a decent job. Otamendi gave no quarter and overall City seemed to be pressing higher and quicker than they did a week ago. In a tense which saw both sides probing and undergoing periods of decent possession City almost fell behind to an outstanding strike from the under-rated Osman. Joe Hart was rooted to the spot and Sky Blue fans watching with hearts in their mouths his exquisitely struck volley shaved the paint off the upright and thankfully went wide. Phew. In response City's best chance came when Toure's powerful headers drew an excellent save from Tim Howard. Basic showed a return to form with a tackle which caught Aguero. Thankfully no injury but also no change from the officials who saw nothing wrong. He was to repeat his assault on Sergio at the start of the second half as City broke with Everton's defenders stranded upfield. No escape this time as his cynical foul earned him a yellow card and took some of the heat out of his game.
There was little to separate the sides at halftime but the second half saw Everton repel wave after wave of City attacks. Manuel Pellegrini sent his players out fired up as they set about their task with verve. Everton backs were to the wall and they defended as if their lives depended on it with bodies being thrown at crosses and shots from all quarters. Goal bound shots from Navas, Sterling and Aguero were thwarted by royal blue shirts desperately making blocks and tackles. The Saviour of England's Defence the footballing wonder known as John Stones appeared to pick top a crippling injury just as City were starting to build up a head of steam. Down he went in his own half although his team mates did't seem overly concerned as they continued to attack & it was only when City were in possession was the game stopped. Odd that. He was later to make a miraculous recovery.
De Bruyne was withdrawn with some 15 minutes to go and replaced by David Silva. He immediately started to move through the gears and make things happen - drawing Everton players to him like wasps round a jam pot. Spaces emerged and Sergio started to get he service he craves. and then we come to the late drama and the involvement of Roger East. Having earlier denied City a penalty when Funes Mori grappled with Aguero doing just enough to affect his play before letting go with Aguero then unable to get decent contact on the the ball and Tim Howard much closer to close the angle, Roger East chose to take even more positive action in denying even more obvious penalties. That one I could give the rest, Mori let go just in time and Aguero got a shot off. Hmmm. Ok but......
As the clock wound down and injury time approached Aguero received the ball on the edge of the Everton penalty area. Stones had gotten too tight and as Aguero turned him and pushed off into the box Stones opted to go for the 'Oops I stumbled and just happened to hang on to this player' - Roger East waved play on. He then topped this when Stones went to ground in the last minute of the game as Sterling pushed passed him towards the dead ball line. Making no contact with the ball only with Sterling the referee opted to deny one of the more blatant penalties I have seen in a long time. If that isn't deserving of a spot kick I'm not sure what is. Hope the Assessor marks him down accordingly. Unbelievable Jeff.
With Leicester winning and the Tarquins being pegged back late on by the People's Champions City remain in third place and three points off the pace. This was a hard fought game against an opposition that are underrated at your peril and City remain well placed as we progress through a busy January.
Make no mistake though - on this showing the return leg of the League Cup semi final could be a cracking game.
Let's just hope we don't get Roger East.
City started the game without David Silva in the starting line up and Fernando partnering Toure in central midfield. The job of marshalling Lukaku was left once again to City's only fit centre backs and all in all they did a decent job. Otamendi gave no quarter and overall City seemed to be pressing higher and quicker than they did a week ago. In a tense which saw both sides probing and undergoing periods of decent possession City almost fell behind to an outstanding strike from the under-rated Osman. Joe Hart was rooted to the spot and Sky Blue fans watching with hearts in their mouths his exquisitely struck volley shaved the paint off the upright and thankfully went wide. Phew. In response City's best chance came when Toure's powerful headers drew an excellent save from Tim Howard. Basic showed a return to form with a tackle which caught Aguero. Thankfully no injury but also no change from the officials who saw nothing wrong. He was to repeat his assault on Sergio at the start of the second half as City broke with Everton's defenders stranded upfield. No escape this time as his cynical foul earned him a yellow card and took some of the heat out of his game.
There was little to separate the sides at halftime but the second half saw Everton repel wave after wave of City attacks. Manuel Pellegrini sent his players out fired up as they set about their task with verve. Everton backs were to the wall and they defended as if their lives depended on it with bodies being thrown at crosses and shots from all quarters. Goal bound shots from Navas, Sterling and Aguero were thwarted by royal blue shirts desperately making blocks and tackles. The Saviour of England's Defence the footballing wonder known as John Stones appeared to pick top a crippling injury just as City were starting to build up a head of steam. Down he went in his own half although his team mates did't seem overly concerned as they continued to attack & it was only when City were in possession was the game stopped. Odd that. He was later to make a miraculous recovery.
De Bruyne was withdrawn with some 15 minutes to go and replaced by David Silva. He immediately started to move through the gears and make things happen - drawing Everton players to him like wasps round a jam pot. Spaces emerged and Sergio started to get he service he craves. and then we come to the late drama and the involvement of Roger East. Having earlier denied City a penalty when Funes Mori grappled with Aguero doing just enough to affect his play before letting go with Aguero then unable to get decent contact on the the ball and Tim Howard much closer to close the angle, Roger East chose to take even more positive action in denying even more obvious penalties. That one I could give the rest, Mori let go just in time and Aguero got a shot off. Hmmm. Ok but......
As the clock wound down and injury time approached Aguero received the ball on the edge of the Everton penalty area. Stones had gotten too tight and as Aguero turned him and pushed off into the box Stones opted to go for the 'Oops I stumbled and just happened to hang on to this player' - Roger East waved play on. He then topped this when Stones went to ground in the last minute of the game as Sterling pushed passed him towards the dead ball line. Making no contact with the ball only with Sterling the referee opted to deny one of the more blatant penalties I have seen in a long time. If that isn't deserving of a spot kick I'm not sure what is. Hope the Assessor marks him down accordingly. Unbelievable Jeff.
With Leicester winning and the Tarquins being pegged back late on by the People's Champions City remain in third place and three points off the pace. This was a hard fought game against an opposition that are underrated at your peril and City remain well placed as we progress through a busy January.
Make no mistake though - on this showing the return leg of the League Cup semi final could be a cracking game.
Let's just hope we don't get Roger East.
