With the World Cup qualifiers coming up this weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to review City’s first few games of the new season. Maximum points from the first three games sees the blues sitting pretty in fourth place and already with a game in hand.
Much was made of the blues this season, considering the amount of money that has been spent on strengthening the squad, however the new signings are doing the business for the club and have already begun to justify their huge price tags. But now the blues face two of the top four clubs in successive weeks which will seriously test of City’s credentials but before we look ahead to those games, we look back over the first three games of the season.
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 City
This was supposed to be the game that City’s expensive new singings fell flat on their faces. The game where Blackburn were going to ‘legally’ kick lumps out of the blues’ stars. Ewood Park was not a place where City had won regularly; the last time the blues won there was in 2003 when Michael Tarnat, Joey Barton and Nicolas Anelka goals gave City a 3-2 win. ‘It will take time for the team to gel,’ the experts warned. City’s away record the previous season was dire and the blues were determined to improve on their two away wins. Predictions that went around were for a draw or Blackburn win.
After four minutes, City took the lead through new boy Emmanuel Adebayor, who started and finished the move. Picking up the ball in midfield he played in Shaun Wright-Phillips who turned inside and laid the ball back for Adebayor to hammer home a brilliant debut goal.
City’s defence showed they needed some extra steel but it stood firm to resist the Blackburn attack. City doubled the lead in the last moments of the game when Stephen Ireland failed to take the ball around the keeper, but was left with time in the box to cheekily sneak the ball past the keeper and defender on the line to secure the opening day points. The only slip of the day was Mark Hughes’ on the touchline.
City 1-0 Wolves
City’s home form over the last two seasons has been fantastic but the blues have always struggled against newly promoted sides. Wolves were no different and provided stern opposition. It took fourteen minutes for the blues to take the lead. Carlos Tevez played a sweet pass to Adebayor who rifled home to give City the lead.
City dominated the game but always looked vulnerable at the back, although once again the defence held firm Robinho had his first goal of the season disallowed and Wolves hit the crossbar with Shay Given beaten.
Two wins from two but the critics were still not happy with some saying City should have beaten Wolves by more, considering the amount of talent the blues had on the pitch. But it is points that are important and most blues fans will take a 1-0 home win with three points than a 4-4 draw with one point.
League Cup 2nd Round - Crystal Palace 0-2 City
The second round of the League Cup has been a pitfall for City over recent years with the club knocked out by lower league opposition on three out of four occasions. A trip to Palace was always going to be difficult and after a goalless first half, Palace must have fancied their chances given City’s past record.
However, Shaun Wright-Phillips scored his first goal of the season after a brilliant move and final pass by Stephen Ireland and Carlos Tevez wrapped up the tie with his first goal in City blue. City progressed to by drawn at home to Fulham in the third round. A potential banana skin avoided.
Portsmouth 0-1 City
Fratton Park is another place where City rarely win at. Since Portsmouth were promoted to the Premiership, City have won just once but another solid team performance gave the blues the points. Micah Richards had a goal disallowed and Adebayor scored for the third league game in succession.
Before August was out, City matched their total number of away wins during the whole of last season and are looking a team on the up. They are playing together as a unit, whereas last season they were looking to Robinho or Ireland to make something happen.
Coming Up
Next up is Arsenal at home, fresh from their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford where manager Arsene Wenger was sent to the stands and moaned about the rough treatment from some United players. Last season, City beat the Gunners 3-0 at Eastlands but this game will be much different.
After that, a trip to Old Trafford as the blues aim to replicate their 2-1 win in February 2008. Against Wigan, United looked every bit the champions but had a different story against Arsenal, when the visitors were much the better side.
If the blues manage to get points from these two, it will not only demonstrate how far we have come, but also that we will be challenging for one of those top four spaces.