Not a result many would have expected, but West Ham end Manchester City’s 100% start to the Premier League season.
Here are five things learned from an afternoon at the Etihad.
West Ham’s organisation and work rate won them the game
Victory at City follows wins for West Ham at the Emirates on the opening day and at Anfield a few weeks back. As was the case in those performances, the team’s organisation and shape was particularly impressive.
Finishing the first half with their lead being reduced to one goal, many would have expected the visitors to buckle under a second half City onslaught. Even by Bilic’s admission, West Ham were second best throughout the second half, but thanks to a dogged, resilient display, they managed to keep West Ham at bay.
Vincent Kompany’s absence hurt City
Entering the game without conceding a goal in their five previous Premier League games, the defeat only highlights the importance of Vincent Kompany to Manchester City. Of course, any team missing such a world class performer will be weakened, but the men that deputised for the City skipper were more than capable of preventing at least one of the goals they conceded.
Although Victor Moses’ first goal was a decent finish, he was afforded far too much space by Eliaquim Mangala. On the corner that lead to the second, the magnificent Winston Reid was left unmarked. With Kompany marshalling the defence, it’s likely that at least one of these goals would have been prevented.
Winston Reid was top class
Rightly receiving man of the match, Winston Reid was phenomenal in West Ham’s defence. In a second half where Manchester City’s attacking play asked plenty of questions Reid held firm. Considering he was responsible for marking Sergio Aguero for large spells of the game, his display was all the more impressive.
City’s frantic pace needed some David Silva calm
Injured in the warm-up, David Silva was replaced in the City starting line-up by Jesus Navas. As the home side tried to claw back a two goal deficit, the eagerness saw their possession break down in the final third on a number of occasions. Silva’s ability to find space and keep possession flowing even when in the tightest of areas was badly missed as they hunted an equaliser. Yet more evidence that, despite Aguero’s goals, Silva really is the man that makes City tick.
Dimitri Payet continues to impress
Following an eye-catching display last Monday, Dimitri Payet impressed again. Confident and composed with the ball at his feet, the Frenchman is starting to look like an excellent piece of business for West Ham. Allowed to run with the ball, he was the man that fed Victor Moses for the game’s opener. Not as effective in a second half where West Ham had their backs firmly to the wall, Payet’s form bodes well as West Ham end a run of difficult away fixtures.
