Player ratings: Manchester City v Fulham

Hart – No chance with the goal and rarely called upon elsewhere as Fulham failed to produce shots on target. 6

Boateng – Neither attacked or defended with enough menace. Hard to recall Jerome stopping a cross and it looks increasingly like centre-back is his only position of real strength. 5

Kolarov (Milner 77 mins) – Another full-back who struggles to stop crosses. Should have done better when clear in the penalty area with the score at 1-0. 6

K Toure – Didn’t play against Aris and therefore has no excuse for a laboured display. Kolo ought to have beaten Duff to the ball for the Fulham goal. 6

Lescott – Our best defender. Still needs to refrain from playing the long ball, particularly against a side containing Hangeland at the back. 7

Barry – Passing was better than many of his team-mates. Needs to be a stronger influence when de Jong’s not around. 6

Y Toure – Started in deeper midfield before moving forward with the introduction of Vieira. Did well not to respond to Dempsey’s leg raising provocation. 6

Zabaleta – Provided much needed industry in the midfield. Unfortunately not able to provide the passing tempo of de Jong or even Milner. 7

Dzeko (Vieira 60 mins) – Failed to hold the ball up and was dominated in the air by Hangeland. Still needs to step up to the physicality of the Premier League. 5

Balotelli – A brilliant goal and could have had another in the second half when he fluffed an attempted shot. Mancini rightly wants to see more team-play from the Italian. 7

Tevez – Struggled to provide a threat in a deeper role. Improved when restored to central striker, though should have done better when played clean through by Balotelli. 6

Subs:

Milner – Played on the wing when we could have done with him in the middle. 6

Vieira – Bringing on Vieira for Dzeko did make sense and for a while we took control of the game. 6

Man of the match: Joleon Lescott.