Given – Shay looked as stunned as the rest of us with the Fulham goal. Thereafter it was most about organising those in front of him at set pieces. 6
Zabaleta – His big chance and he looked… rusty. Never really appeared on the same wavelength as those around him, which was a pity as he was outstanding in his last game against Celtic. 6
Toure – The captain bagged his first goal, and kept the defence focussed in a determined effort to silence the critics. 7
Lescott – A couple of misplaced passes, a couple of mistimed interceptions, but still looks decent enough. Good to see him have the confidence to venture forward in search of a goal. 7
Bridge – In the beginning there were forward runs, then there were sideways runs. Finally, as tiredness set in, the runs ceased. But where were the forward passes? 6
Wright-Phillips – Not able to influence the game on the right flank, he actually looked better when moving in-field after de Jong went off. 6
De Jong – Fulham didn’t offer much threat, but he won everything regardless. Some decent passing as well. The one player (apart from Bellamy who’s in a league of his own when it comes to commitment) who looked truly up for it. 8
Ireland – Another disappointing showing where none of the incisive passes seemed to come off. I know he hasn’t played much with Tevez, but neither have I and yet I know the Argentine doesn’t have the pace to chase balls played over the top. 5
Barry – Trundling, rather than sprinting around the middle, he was still able to play most of our better passes from the middle of the park. Popped up with a timely goal. 7
Tevez – Still doesn’t look fully fit. At least I hope he isn’t, otherwise his price tag is a little ‘toppy’ afterall. With a lack of pace and height, the Argentine isn’t cut out to play as a lone striker (Bellamy would be better) and it’s to be hoped that Hughes eventually realises this. 6
Bellamy – Earnt the biggest cheer as the teams were read out for his hat-trick (2 goals and 1 fan) on Sunday. Hilarious, as he gives his all and remonstrates with everything. At one point I swear the referee actually ran away to the middle after giving a debatable decision against the Welshman. 8
Subs:
Petrov – Within a few minutes of coming on, he’d put over more crosses than Wright-Phillips managed in the whole match. Thereafter he became increasingly erratic, but at least offered a threat. Adebayor and Santa Cruz will benefit from his delivery. 7
Weiss – A little to eager to impress initially and kept falling over. Steadily improved and gave the Fulham defenders something to think about. 6
Man of the match: de Jong, though it is tempting to give it to Sylvinho for a world record warm-up, covering first half, the whole of the second half, and going in to extra time. Guess it’s all part of that winning mentality.
Set piece City strike again! Despite a laboured performance, two headed goals from corners by Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure respectively, were enough to see off a well organised second-string Fulham side.
Following the high octane games against Arsenal and United, this was a gentler affair as was widely predicted. They’ll be no need for the FA to look again at any incidents in this match, although Zoltan Gera’s stunning strike to give Fulham the lead was perhaps worthy of a bigger fixture.
City will be grateful to come through without controversy. Toure’s first goal for the club came within an official 30 minutes of extra time, unlike a certain strike last Sunday.
Mark Hughes named the same side as against United, with the exception of Zabaleta who came in for Richards (sore shoulder allegedly). Whilst making wholesale changes to the first choice eleven is considered a gamble, playing the same team as at the weekend could also be considered a risk. Tired legs and a lack of focus could come into play, and that looked the case here.
Carlos Tevez was once again asked to fill what looked like a giant Adebayor shaped hole in our attack.
There was a distinct lack of zip in the first half, and tiredness seemed to set in before extra time. The introductions of Petrov and Weiss both perked the team up, and the case for these players having started along with Sylvinho remains valid. It’s worth noting that the only time Hughes did make changes was when Ireland and de Jong were injured.
City started the game with a decent amout of possession but the ball was spending to much time being knocked between the defenders. Fulham may have played a second choice team, but they had all the Hodgson hallmarks of discipline and organisation. City lacked a focal point up front and struggled to create any meaningful openings. A move down the right flank featuring some one touch passing with Tevez at the heart showed the way, but it wasn’t maintained.
After 37 minutes, Fulham broke forward and the ball came to Gera, fully thirty yards out. He struck it first time and the ball arrowed in past a despairing Given. It would be harsh to blame the defence for such a goal as there wasn’t time to close the Hungarian down.
City’s frustration continued to half-time and beyond. Tevez worked himself a couple of openings on the edge of the area but hadn’t brought his shooting boots, sending each shot trickling through to the keeper.
We kept plugging away amid murmurs of frustration, and eventually a Bellamy corner was missed by Stockdale in the Fulham goal. Barry had the relatively simple task of nodding the ball home.
City went on to enjoy their best spell, finally showing some of the team-play and movement required to keep the opposition pinned back. It was the kind of football we need to produce if we’re to properly dominate teams and force results. United gave us an example of it on Sunday, and Hughes and his coaching staff need to get City displaying it more often. We do have the players now.
This time we weren’t able to sustain it for long enough. Ireland went off looking dazed, and he’d had one of those nights where he seemed to lack a degree of awareness throughout. If he’s to play in the ‘number 10’ role behind Tevez, there needs to be a better understanding between the two of them. Lofting balls over the top for the Argentine isn’t going to work as he doesn’t have the pace to get away from defenders.
Petrov arrived to a cheer and Bellamy moved in to the centre to give Tevez some much needed support. The Bulgarian provided a series of crosses which either Adebayor or Santa Cruz might have gobbled up. When it became apparent that Bellamy and Tevez weren’t going to reach them, the game slipped back to it’s earlier level.
City looked tired and there were fears among the crowd as to whether we’d have the energy to survive extra time. The introduction of Weiss provided a helpful spark for the additional period. Wright-Phillips, who had been looking exhausted, appeared to get a second wind when moving in-field to replace de Jong. His ability on the ball kept him out of trouble on several occasions and we held our own.
A goal for either side was still looking elusive when another corner enabled Toure to pop up at the far post and nod in via the keeper.
City played out the remaining few minutes intelligently and we were all thankful for a lack of drama. One minute was indicated by the fourth official and one minute was played. It’s a lot simpler when it’s like that.
Mark Hughes:
“In the early part of last year we did not look a threat from set-plays. In games so far we look like a team that can now.
“We have told the players where we want the ball delivered and how they need to be a bit more dynamic in the box and make sure they get first contact.
“Fulham are very well organised and got plenty of people behind the ball. It was difficult to break them down. We had to be patient.
“We stuck at it and are in the hat for the next round which was the order of the day. We are pleased about that.”
Kolo Toure:
“My first job is to defend but if I manage to score and help my strikers, I will be very happy.
“Fulham played well, and scored an amazing goal, but we showed that this team has the guts to come back after going down.”
External reports:
BBC
The Guardian
The Independent
Manchester Evening News
Official site
Sky Sports
The Sun
The Telegraph
The Times
Blog reports:
Norfstander
Video:
Match highlights on Daily Motion
Mark Hughes post match interview
The club have announced that Sheikh Mansour has purchased the 10% of the club’s shares that were owned by Worldwide Investments Limited. This was a company indirectly owned by Thaksin Shinawatra and his family. The 10% had previously gone to Worldwide Investments Limited at the time Sheikh Mansour took over.
David Conn writes in The Guardian:
After the takeover Thaksin was widely reported to have retained his interest in the remaining 10% of shares, and appointed as his nominees his long-term associate Jack Srisumrid, a Thai businessman, and the Greek shipping tycoon Victor Restis. Srisumrid, 38, became a City director in August 2007 shortly after Thaksin bought the club. Restis, 41, based in Athens, was appointed to the City board after Mansour’s takeover but is understood to have been a representative of the 10% holding, not of Mansour’s 90%. Both Srisumrid and Restis resigned as directors of City last Friday.
Sheikh Mansour is now the sole owner of the club. Good.