Manchester City re-established their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with yet another comeback, for the third time in a week as they beat a spirited, organised West Ham inspired by their reserve goalkeeper. Yo, Adrian. He almost did it. Instead second-half goals by Nicolas Otamendi and, very late on, David Silva over-turned the unlikely advantage West Ham had taken through Angelo Ogbonna in the first period. City showed incredible belief and determination, as they were far from their best.
Either, though, their recent close scrapes are a sign of champions or, worryingly for them, the sign of a team who thinks they are already champions and are guilty of complacency. Teams are defending deep against them, naturally, but manager Pep Guardiola will be concerned at how hard it is to beat them at present. Adrian, in for Joe Hart, who was ineligible as he is only on loan from City, was outstanding, and should keep his place but West Ham still lost and are still three points from 17th place West Bromwich Albion, deep in trouble. It was tough on them and manager David Moyes.
City’s 13-match Premier League winning run this season equals the record previously jointly held by Chelsea (13 in 2016-17) and Arsenal (13 in 2001-02). They can beat it, of course, if they avoid defeat in next Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford. They may even end the title race if they win there.
West Ham had seized a shock lead close to half-time – except on the balance of opportunities it was not such a shock. It came from a short corner by Aaron Cresswell, to Manuel Lanzini, who quickly returned it back to the defender with it then being swung in for Ogbonna to steal in front of Otamendi and power a header past Ederson.
The goalkeeper got a hand to it, as the ball bounced just in front of him, but it was not enough and Ogbonna had his first-ever league goal. Yet again City had conceded sloppily from a set-piece and from a similar time in the game as when Huddersfield Town went in front against them last Sunday.
Source: The Telegraph
