Manchester City vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,008.
Monday 29 August 2016 08:46, UK
Raheem Sterling struck twice to ensure Manchester City continued their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a 3-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday.
Sterling started and finished the scoring (7, 90+2) while Fernandinho grabbed the other at the Etihad Stadium as an impressive City side held off a West Ham fightback after Michail Antonio halved the deficit midway through the second half.
Pep Guardiola's side have moved top of the early table on goal difference but Sergio Aguero could face retrospective action from the FA after he appeared to aim an elbow at West Ham defender Winston Reid during the closing stages.
City - who named Willy Cabellero in goal with new signing Claudio Bravo not yet involved - were ahead inside seven minutes as they quickly stamped their authority on a much-changed West Ham side.
Slaven Bilic had opted to switch his formation to 5-3-2 following their Europa League defeat to Astra Giurgiu on Thursday, but the tie didn't start as he would have planned.
David Silva started a wonderful move for the home side, roaming through the West Ham defence before finding Nolito out wide on the left.
The Spain international cut a cross behind the West Ham back-line to Sterling, who found the corner of the net for City's first of the game and his first of the season.
Guardiola's side continued to apply the pressure on a lacklustre West Ham side after their opener, and it only took another 11 minutes for them to double their lead.
A simple free kick on the right flank was whipped in perfectly by Kevin De Bruyne, and Fernandinho was there to rise highest and power a header past a helpless Adrian to score his first goal in nearly a year.
As the second half got underway, it appeared the match was only heading in one direction as City continued to pepper Adrian's goal.
Nolito thought he had made the score 3-0 just minutes after the restart when he chested past the goalkeeper, but the linesman's flag was up for an obvious offside.
While it seemed to be a guaranteed simple home win midway through the second period, from nowhere, West Ham turned the game on its head to pull one back in the 58th minute.
Arthur Masuaku - much improved from previous performances in the West Ham defence - lifted a cross from the left towards the back post, where Antonio was waiting.
Peeling off Gael Clichy to outjump Nicolas Otamendi, the former Nottingham Forest winger headed past Willy Caballero to make it 2-1.
From there, City looked nervous as they clung on to their lead heading into the final 20 minutes. Aguero enjoyed an impressive outing despite not scoring, although he may have been lucky to stay on the pitch after an incident late on.
As he jumped to challenge Reid in the 76th minute, the striker appeared to aim an elbow in his opponent's direction, with the West Ham man having to come off injured.
With the Manchester derby next up for City, Guardiola and co will be hoping the decision lands in their favour.
Back on the pitch, City were able to confirm their win with just two minutes remaining in added time. Sterling was the best player on the pitch on Sunday, and it was fitting that he secured the result.
Silva hit the post seconds before the goal, and he was again at the centre of play as he set up Sterling for his goal. The England forward collected the ball before taking it round Adrian to finish from the tightest of angles.
Guardiola has now overseen three Premier League wins from three games as Manchester City manager. Next up, though, local rivals United.
Player ratings
Manchester City: Caballero (6), Zabaleta (6), Otamendi (6), Stones (7), Clichy (6), Fernandinho (7), De Bruyne (8), Silva (7), Sterling (8), Nolito (7), Aguero (6)
Subs used: Fernando (6), Nasri (7), Kolarov (6)
West Ham: Adrian (6), Antonio (7), Collins (6), Reid (6), Ogbonna (5), Masuaku (7), Noble (6), Kouyate (6), Tore (5), Fletcher (7), Valencia (6)
Subs used: Byram (7), Lanzini (6), Calleri (6)
Man of the match: Raheem Sterling
