The Iron Scrapped

October 30th, 2009

An assertive, classy second half performance saw City brush off the Championship opponents. It was a mix of the old (a twenty minute reminder of his quality, crowned by a cracking goal, by Michael Johnson) and the new (a first City goal for Santa Cruz and a half-hour cameo from right-winger Vladimir Weiss who promises plenty) plus a bit of both, Sylvinho making his debut at 35 years of age! There was a good crowd in and, with Scunthorpe bringing 3000, the place was over three-quarters full. Apart from the known injuries of Toure and Petrov, Adebayor was rested with a stiff back (I know how he feels).

What a difference three days make. Following the Fulham disappointment on Sunday, City started brightly and were ahead inside three minutes with Ireland coasting on to a ball from Wright-Phillips and slotting the ball home for 1-0. Within the next five minutes, Shaun had both shot wide and over from good positions. Scunthorpe came more into the game and, after twenty-four minutes, a move down City’s right ended with the left back getting to the goal line and crossing for the centre forward Forte to equalise.

City hit back and, eight minutes from the end of the first half, a throw-in from De Jong found Zabaleta who made ground down the right and crossed for Santa Cruz who steered a good header past the keeper for 2-1. Three minutes later, Santa Cruz made a good run down the left and crossed only for a defender to make a desperate lunge to deny Barry from close range.

City raised the tempo and, less than a minute into the second half, a great move involving Santa Cruz, Ireland and Tevez saw Shaun pull the ball back for Santa Cruz (as per Richards for Bellamy in the Arsenal game) who shot over. Ten minutes later, City went 3-1 up, an unmarked but solid header from Lescott following a Shaun corner. Two minutes later, Ireland latched onto a loose ball and, one-on-one with the keeper, flicked the ball goalbound only for a defender to clear. Almost immediately, Weiss replaced Ireland and the mesmerising pace and trickery began. Within ten minutes, another ball in from Weiss saw Tevez slide in for 4-1. Johnson replaced Barry with twenty minutes to go and seven minutes later, he collected a ball in midfield and moved forward to hit a 25-yard left foot shot past the keeper for 5-1. Serve the City fan right who greeted his introduction with “here’s the big, fat, bald Colin Bell”. The increasingly-comical Benjani (”don’t give it to that clown” shouted one wag) replaced Tevez with ten minutes to go and touched the ball precisely once (to an ironic cheer from the City supporters). Weiss produced two more magical runs and nearly scored with a curler round the post and a shot over. City somehow acquired two needless bookings when in the clear with De Jong for a trademark lunge and Zabaleta with a “Strictly Come Dancing” hands around the waist of their inside-forward when giving the ball away cheaply in our half.

Still a work-in-progress, with players getting used to each other all over the pitch, but with a great congratulory team spirit when the goals went in and at the end.

City: Given, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Sylvinho, De Jong (captain), Barry (Johnson 71), Ireland (Weiss 59), Wright-Phillips, Tevez (Benjani 79), Santa Cruz. Unused subs: Taylor, Richards, Bridge, Bellamy.

Attendance: 36,358

Rod

Entry Filed under: Match Reports