Manchester City vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance53,305.
Report and free match highlights as Erling Haaland became the first man to score 35 goals in a Premier League season. Nathan Ake's opener and Phil Foden's deflected strike helped Man City to a 3-0 win over West Ham that moves them back above Arsenal at the top of the table
Thursday 4 May 2023 06:07, UK
Erling Haaland broke the Premier League single-season scoring record as Manchester City moved back to the top of the table with a 3-0 win over West Ham.
David Moyes' side had made it difficult for the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium. It was goalless at half-time. But Nathan Ake headed City in front early in the second before Haaland had his moment, chipping Lukasz Fabianski for his 35th of the season.
The goal moved him clear of Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole as the first man to hit that mark in the Premier League era - with five games to spare too. Substitute Phil Foden made the win even more emphatic when his deflected strike made it three late in the game.
Arsenal's victory over Chelsea on the previous evening had been a reminder to Pep Guardiola's side that there was little room for complacency as they chase this Premier League title. They are hoping it will be the first part of an historic treble for the club.
This win moves them a step closer, restoring their one-point lead at the top with a game in hand. For West Ham, a third consecutive defeat means there is work still to do to guarantee their safety. There will be easier nights than this to claim the points they need.
Moyes knew he was up against it from the outset when illness robbed him of star midfielder Declan Rice overnight, with Tomas Soucek, Nayef Aguerd and the injured Kurt Zouma also dropping out. West Ham were only able to name five outfield substitutes.
But his side succeeded in stifling City throughout the first half, condensing the space with Angelo Ogbonna heading everything away. It was all so crowded, although Rodri did manage to wriggle through to hit the post after a one-two with Haaland.
The breakthrough came early in the second half and was unusually straightforward given what had come before. That will frustrate Moyes. Flynn Downes fouled Jack Grealish and when Riyad Mahrez curled in the free-kick it was headed in by Ake at the far post.
West Ham did push briefly, threatening the goal of Stefan Ortega, on his Premier League debut, from set-piece situations of their own. But Haaland had his moment on the counter-attack. Fed by Grealish, his delightful dink did for Fabianski. The record was his.
There was time for Foden to volley into the net from distance - via a deflection of Emerson Palmieri. But the night belonged to Haaland, his team-mates lining up for a guard of honour after the game. They will all know that there are bigger prizes ahead.
Asked if the record was on his mind, Haaland told Sky Sports: "Yes, of course I knew about it but we tried to create the chances to score goals and it was not easy. They came here just to defend for 90 minutes and we struggled a bit in the first half but it was an important win."
On the goal, he added: "You can see what my first thought is - to run towards the goal. Me and Jack spoke before the game - he wanted to give me the assist for the record-breaking goal. I knew I was going to get the ball there and I saw the keeper coming out.
"It was a great ball by Jack. When I chipped the ball it was a really perfect bounce. I didn't think I was going to chip but the possibility was there.
"It was a nice feeling, like every single goal I score. Winning the game is also really important. The guard of honour really hurt - they hit me hard on the back!"
Speaking in the press conference after the game, Guardiola acknowledged that the guard of honour for Haaland from his team-mates had been planned beforehand.
"Of course, we thought about that. In football, when there is a special occasion, we have to show how special it is. Today, it was Erling. To score more than Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, top strikers, it is special.
"I think he deserves it. All the team deserves it because without the team he could not do it, but he is a special striker. We are very pleased for him because it is a joy to be with him, to work with him, to manage him. We are happy to have him with us.
"Of course, this record will be broken sooner or later. Maybe by him in the future, maybe by others. But they will have to score a lot of goals because he has scored a lot.
"I remember when we lost against Liverpool in the Community Shield and it was, 'He will not adapt to the Premier League.' You sometimes encourage as journalists incredible comments in advance that even ourselves, we do not know what is going to happen.
"Immediately, we saw that when you provide him with the ball, he can score goals. He can score all different situations except free-kicks - maybe in the future. But penalties, crosses, combinations, transitions. He is a guy who can do many, many things. That is why he scores a lot of goals.
"Today was a good example because in the first half he was not much involved because the defensive structure from West Ham was exceptional. In the first half, we could not do it but he does not become desperate and anxious and nervous. He is calm."
Finally, asked about Foden scoring the 1,000th goal of his time in charge of Manchester City, Guardiola said: "Yes, but unfortunately I did not score once." He added, with a smile: "I did not have a guard of honour today but maybe next time."
"The defensive structure was really good but the attacking play had to be better to cause more problems. We caused them minimal problems, to be honest. Remember Bayern Munich came here and got turned over. Arsenal got turned over. You cannot kid yourself and turn up here without defensive structure.
"To concede from a set piece was galling because we had done a really good job for long periods and were going to have to do it again. Maybe tonight, we just did not have the stature we had in other games. It was always going to be a bit short for us. But it was a poor one to concede against a side that can score great goals.
"The second goal, we give it away in a good position. That was the first time that we allowed space for Haaland to run in behind and the third goal was a deflection. Not a good result. Do performances matter at this time? Not as much as earlier in the season."
Man City continue their title bid at home to Leeds on Saturday at 3pm, live on Sky Sports.
West Ham host Man Utd on Sunday at the later time of 7pm.
May 6: Leeds United (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm, live on Sky Sports
May 9: Real Madrid (A) - Champions League
May 13: Everton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 17: Real Madrid (H) - Champions League
May 21: Chelsea (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4pm
May 24: Brighton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 28: Brentford (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
June 3: Manchester United (N) - FA Cup final, kick-off 3pm
May 7: Man Utd (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7pm
May 11: AZ Alkmaar (H) - Europa Conference League, kick-off 8pm
May 14: Brentford (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 18: AZ Alkmaar (A) - Europa Conference League, kick-off 8pm
May 21: Leeds (H) - Premier League, kick-off 1.30pm
May 28: Leicester City (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
