A Blackpool scintillating high tempo performance made the expensively assembled Manchester City look so ordinary in the first half, as they dictated the proceedings with a direct and centre probing fast-paced attacking football. They could have taken the lead at several points in the earlier moments of the match, not counting the goal ruled out for offside about 10 minutes after the half-time break.
The sweetest part of their game was the precise and incisive penetration through the middle and then the perfect cross delivery to the prime scoring areas. Their composure on the ball and well timed and weighted passes matched their 3rd-man-running moves that were complimented with shots on target that Joe Hart did well to smother. Lack of conversion was their let-down and they dearly paid for it with their lives, l.osing 2-3 eventually.
The miss of the Barclay's Premier League undoubtedly goes to DJ Campbell, who went on to rue the miss forever as Carlos Tevez turned nothing to goal in the 67th minute. Campbell was one-on-one with Hart, bringing down the ball and trying to slide it under the advancing keeper, and the ball missed the right up-right post.
The goal that was so much against the run of play was the tonic City needed, as Blackpool took a moment to take stock of their fortunes while James Milner had other ideas. The English midfielder crushed the cross-bar with a ferocious shot only for the ball to bounce off in favour of Blackpool.
City knew the goal would take them second on the log and suddenly, they played like a team that is actually second in the championship table. Wayne Bridge committed an unnecessary foul that was well by Adam and was headed in by Marlon Harewood with a glancing effort with 12 minutes to go.
It took the tenacity of top goal scorer, captain Tevez to steal the ball from the central defensive area, beat one man and then belt a deflected shot to take steam out of Blackpool. Tevez almost got a hat-trick with 4 minutes to go, crushing the cross-bar after a touch from the goalie, Gilks. Gilks had no answer for David Silva, when the Spanish from Valencia did a solo dance with the ball in the box beating 3 defenders and slotting the ball to the far post, beyond the reach of the goalkeeper, for a 3-1 advantage for City.
A fantastic set play came a little too late at injury time. Adam worked a corner low to Varney at the edge of the penalty box. The one touch side foot goalwards was rediected by Taylor-Fletcher from close range into the net. It proved too late but what a match it was. City may have gotten to the level where they believe in themselves and their class is still to show. Most of their fortunes come with blessings from neighbours, Manchester United, who are really doing them a good service for a change. United are drawing their matches with great precision and regularity.
No comments:
Post a Comment