Balotelli Shoots Down Everton

Manchester City took all three points from their match today placing them, at least for the moment, in the top spot, with United playing later today. Manchester City have not won a game against Everton at home since New Years Day 2007 and had only managed a total of three points, home and away since that day to this. Now it’s six!

That is not to say that City had it all their own way. For the first hour it seemed that Everton were content to soak up the pressure and counter attack when space allowed. Mancinis men kept their concentration though and it was through bad boy Mafiso Balotelli, sorry, Mario Balotelli who opened the scoring. Coming on for Dzeko a mere eight minutes earlier the Italian held back as Aguero ran with the ball across the penalty area. Sergio Aguero backheeled it into Balotellis path and he drilled it outside of the boot and, via a slight deflection, beat Howard to put City one up. What happened next was good to see also from a City fans perspective. Mario ran over to Mancini and they embraced in celebration, with the boss patting the youngster on the back a very public rejection of stories of unrest between the two.

 This threw Evertons gameplan out of the window and the vistors had to change their approach. That said, City had a goal advantage and were playing with renewed confidence and on this day they were not going to allow anyone to score on them. That said, City did make the home supporters nervous as they went close on numerous occassions with Silva having a goal ruled out and hitting the bar while Balotelli shot narrowly wide.

As with previous games, City had the majority of the possession, 59% to Evertons 41% and a total of 18 attempts, eight of which were on target compared to Evertons mere seven, of which only three were on net. The sheer domination of City sometimes come back to haunt them as was the case last week against Fulham.

However, with time running low it was again David ‘Merlin’ Silva who, after collecting a mis placed pass from Drenthe released a through ball a t exactly the right time for James Milner to latch on to and convert, sealing City’s win, exorcising the Everton Demons and returning City to the Premier League summit.