The celebratory mood of advancing to the final sixteen of the UEFA Cup was ending with a perfunctory point today as West Ham defeated Manchester City 1-0 at Upton Park. With the loss, the Citizens dreadful run of play away from Eastlands continue and with only one victory away from home this year they are adrift mid-table at eleventh position.The match certainly didn't start well for the Citizens as Micah Richards was lost fifteen minute in after being hacked down by Scott Parker. However that aside for much of the match, the attacking creativity was in full winter hibernation and finishing was ghastly. In a stupor Robinho wandered the pitch and while his brilliance flickered from time to time or at least when he could try to impress those impressed by a step-over, final touches were dismal if not laughably bad. Mid of the opening half, Craig Bellamy, who I might add was "warmly" received by the Boleyn Ground faithful, linked up with Stephen Ireland who then provided Robinho and easy tap in from two metres but somehow the Brazilian managed to miss the goal. As the lackluster match painfully lingered on, Craig Bellamy was forced to leave with knee problems six minutes past the hour and whilst it wasn't a spectacular match for the Welsh striker, he had been one of the few on the pitch showing scoring intent. However heroics were in-store for another Wales international shortly, that being young Jack Collison. With nineteen minutes remaining, Savio ex of Serie B Brescia and one of Gianfranco Zola’s brilliant signings, powered a shot towards Shay Given that the 'keeper couldn't handle and with the rebound drifting high Jack Collison headed it into the net for the 1-0 lead. Searching for the goal, the Citizens came close with Felipe Caicedo missing twice and Elano's late free-kick narrowly missing but it was not to be and the match ended in defeat.
Photo credit: UEFA.com
