Manchester City 3-1 QPR
Whilst winning the Premier League is hard defending it is even harder as every team play against you as if they have a point to prove. In this case QPR really did have a point to prove after almost defeating Manchester City on the final day of last season, sadly however the R's couldn't quite make their point.
After being relatively lucky in their previous 2 games Manchester City came out roaring against QPR and immediately looked to open the scoring as the battered the QPR defense. The pressure told from the off and Manchester City racked up corner after corner as their attacks were turned behind by a nervy looking QPR back line who appeared intimidated from the opening whistle. After just 16 minutes Yaya Toure opened the scoring and it appeared as if goals were going to flood into the QPR net. Despite the fear on the QPR defense City couldn't bag a second before the half.
Having gone into the half at just 1-0 the question everyone was asking was "how is this just 1-0?" It was arguably the most 1-sided 1-0 half any of us will see this season with City completely running the game. Out of nowhere QPR equalised thanks to Bobby Zamora who brought the game to the most unlikely of scorelines at 1-1. This was short lived however as City re-affirmed their lead thanks to an Edin Dzeko header.
At 2-1 Manchester City never looked comfortable and QPR chased hard for another equaliser against a Manchester City defense that was starting to show serious signs of fatigue. The more tired City looked the more determined QPR looked to get something out of the game. Sadly however it wasn't to be and in the closing stages Carlos Tevez sealed the victory for the Sky Blue's.
Roberto Mancini will not be happy at the way his team looked so tired or at how they conceded a goal completely against the run of play. Whilst he'll be pleased that his team showed character and determination there really was very little to take positively from this game. City looked fantastic for 40 minutes but they were expected to look amazing for the dull 90, they looked powerful and strong but they again showed real defensive issues that look likely to cost them if they do not tidy up soon.
Despite losing, QPR's Mark Hughes will certainly be taking positives from this match. His team proved that not only could they defend but they could mentally wear a team down. City weren't expected to look leggy they were expected to just look in charge and dominant, but QPR's refusal to lie down will have really ground down on the mentality of the City players who will be realising just how hard this season is. Whilst QPR will take positives they now need to start taking points with only 1 from their first 3 matches they haven't got enough.
Showing posts with label Edin Dzeko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edin Dzeko. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Premier League Week 1-Write up Manchester City v Southampton
Manchester City 3-2 Southampton
The reigning Premier League champions Manchester City got their league season kicked off by facing the newly promoted Southampton who appeared to be in line for a true baptism of fire. What on paper seemed likely to be the most one-sided match of the weekend actually turned into the best match of the weekend as the new boys refused to fold to the reigning champions and put up an incredible fight before finally losing.
The match started badly for City who saw Argentinian international Sergio "Kun" Aguero, last season's top scorer, leaving the pitch with a nasty looking knee injury after just 13 minutes. Things went from bad to worse for City who despite earning a penalty couldn't convert it with David Silva taking one of the weakest penalties we'll see this season.
Despite creating a number of chances City we're being held by on equal footing for much of the first half, until Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock in the 40th minute. It seemed as if this could open the floodgates and that City could begin to run away with the match however they failed to bag a second before half time. At the start of the second half City seemed almost certain to finish off the match as Edin Dzeko had a catalog of chances to double the Blue's lead. It seemed almost certain that City were going to eventually double their lead but then, out of the blue Southampton managed to draw level via a Ricky Lambert strike. Amazingly, just minutes later Southampton actually took the lead as Steven Davis finished off a counter to double the tally for the Saints and it appeared as if a giant upset was on the cards.
In a similar fashion to how they won the Premier League last season City showed true resolve and managed to pull level just 4 minutes after going behind with Dzeko finally converting a chance. The goal suddenly opened up the game with both teams coming close to scoring a 3rd, though it City who eventually managed to bag the decider with 10 minutes left as Samir Nasri, the stand out player on the day, put the ball past Kelvin Davis to secure the 3 points.
Despite being run very close Man city have got some positives to take from this game. They showed real resolve in fighting back from 2-1 down and really did dominate the game (having almost 65% of the possession). Sadly for City however the game had more negatives for them than positives. Firstly the injury to Aguero looked very serious, whilst I'm not aware yet of how bad it was, it certainly looked nasty, losing Aguero for a few months would be a giant loss to City. Secondly their shooting was terrible for much of the match, especially Dzeko who could have bagged 4 or 5 though only managed to bag a solitary goal. Thirdly, and possibly most worryingly, their defence was caught out looking very poor for the Davis' goal which actually came from a City corner. The champions certainly need to improve on this performance if they are intending to retain the title, though I'd be shocked if they look this poor next time out.
The newly promoted Southampton should hold their heads very high after the match, not only were they in the lead against the champions at one but they held their own with the City for vast swathes of the match. Despite the fact they were helped by City's wastefulness around goal they showed they weren't intimidated by the champions and will take a lot of heart from the fact they were so competitive. Whilst many maybe tipping Southampton to go down, this performance seems to suggest they are a team who can stay up and give anyone in the league a good game. Nigel Adkins' should be proud of his men and if he can get them playing like this every week they will be safe.
The reigning Premier League champions Manchester City got their league season kicked off by facing the newly promoted Southampton who appeared to be in line for a true baptism of fire. What on paper seemed likely to be the most one-sided match of the weekend actually turned into the best match of the weekend as the new boys refused to fold to the reigning champions and put up an incredible fight before finally losing.
The match started badly for City who saw Argentinian international Sergio "Kun" Aguero, last season's top scorer, leaving the pitch with a nasty looking knee injury after just 13 minutes. Things went from bad to worse for City who despite earning a penalty couldn't convert it with David Silva taking one of the weakest penalties we'll see this season.
Despite creating a number of chances City we're being held by on equal footing for much of the first half, until Carlos Tevez broke the deadlock in the 40th minute. It seemed as if this could open the floodgates and that City could begin to run away with the match however they failed to bag a second before half time. At the start of the second half City seemed almost certain to finish off the match as Edin Dzeko had a catalog of chances to double the Blue's lead. It seemed almost certain that City were going to eventually double their lead but then, out of the blue Southampton managed to draw level via a Ricky Lambert strike. Amazingly, just minutes later Southampton actually took the lead as Steven Davis finished off a counter to double the tally for the Saints and it appeared as if a giant upset was on the cards.
In a similar fashion to how they won the Premier League last season City showed true resolve and managed to pull level just 4 minutes after going behind with Dzeko finally converting a chance. The goal suddenly opened up the game with both teams coming close to scoring a 3rd, though it City who eventually managed to bag the decider with 10 minutes left as Samir Nasri, the stand out player on the day, put the ball past Kelvin Davis to secure the 3 points.
Despite being run very close Man city have got some positives to take from this game. They showed real resolve in fighting back from 2-1 down and really did dominate the game (having almost 65% of the possession). Sadly for City however the game had more negatives for them than positives. Firstly the injury to Aguero looked very serious, whilst I'm not aware yet of how bad it was, it certainly looked nasty, losing Aguero for a few months would be a giant loss to City. Secondly their shooting was terrible for much of the match, especially Dzeko who could have bagged 4 or 5 though only managed to bag a solitary goal. Thirdly, and possibly most worryingly, their defence was caught out looking very poor for the Davis' goal which actually came from a City corner. The champions certainly need to improve on this performance if they are intending to retain the title, though I'd be shocked if they look this poor next time out.
The newly promoted Southampton should hold their heads very high after the match, not only were they in the lead against the champions at one but they held their own with the City for vast swathes of the match. Despite the fact they were helped by City's wastefulness around goal they showed they weren't intimidated by the champions and will take a lot of heart from the fact they were so competitive. Whilst many maybe tipping Southampton to go down, this performance seems to suggest they are a team who can stay up and give anyone in the league a good game. Nigel Adkins' should be proud of his men and if he can get them playing like this every week they will be safe.
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