David Silva's golden goal saves Manchester City as Premier League leaders march on
Manchester City 2 West Ham 1: The Spaniard's late volley ensured City remain eight points clear ahead of the derby with United next weekend
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The match winner was different but the outcome identical as David Silva’s 83rd minute goal maintained Manchester City’s record-setting start to the Premier League campaign and continued their habit for late heroics.
The win equalled the mark for most consecutive victories in a single season in Premier League history after Nicolas Otamendi had equalised a first ever league goal from Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna.
Silva struck in the 83rd minute with a brilliant finish, diving to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s cross at full stretch and steer the ball in from five yards, past the wrong-footed goalkeeper.
It represented a 20th consecutive win in all competitions for the Blues, who have now not lost a league game since being beaten by Chelsea last season, 242 days ago.
It also restored City’s lead over rivals United, whom they meet in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, to eight points and means that, in five league games this season, City have scored goals inside the final eight minutes and picked up nine points in so doing.
But they had needed an equaliser, on 57 minutes, to set up such a finale as Raheem Sterling’s deft touch sent substitute Gabriel Jesus darting to the right-hand by-line from where his low cross was turned in from close range by central defender Otamendi.
West Ham, looking for their first win under new manager David Moyes, looked surprisingly untroubled, in the first half at least, and arguably created the better chances of the opening 45 minutes.
That was certainly underlined a minute before the interval when Ogbonna headed his side into an unexpected lead that exposed some poor play in City’s defence.
Aaron Cresswell exchanged a short corner with Manuel Lanzini and crossed for the Italian who beat Otamendi to the ball and steered a well-aimed header into the corner.
The Etihad was stunned but West Ham had enjoyed the better chances of the first half, while surrendering possession to the hosts.
The best of three decent openings fell to Lanzini, in the 38th minute, after a rare mistake by David Silva who gifted the ball to the West Ham man in midfield.
The attack ended with City keeper Ederson turning his shot around the post, somewhat unconvincingly, as the visitors coped with City’s impressive arsenal of attacking talent.
City were curiously off the electrifying pace they have set so far this season and the only moment that really troubled West Ham reserve keeper Adrian - selected because City loanee Joe Hart was unable to play in goal - came from Silva’s deflected 25th minute shot which he did well to tip over his bar.
The visitors were limited to playing on the counter but, still, Michael Antonio was close to converting at the far post from an early Cresswell corner and Ederson was forced to make a save to cut out an Arthur Masuaka cross with Antonio, again, threatening.
Guardiola had left Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho out of his starting line-up, to avoid either collecting a yellow card which would earn them a suspension and a ban for the upcoming Manchester derby.
It had looked a potentially costly decision but, at the interval, the City manager brought on Jesus and saw an immediate improvement.
A foul by Declan Rice on Fabian Delph presented Kevin De Bruyne with a free-kick on the edge of the area and his superb curling striker was parried away, equally impressively, by the diving Adrian on 55 minutes.
Two minutes later, City were level and they could have been in front on 61 minutes when Leroy Sane’s crisp shot drew another diving save out of the West Ham keeper.
It was now one-way traffic with Sane’s dribbling run and shot bringing yet another acrobatic parry out of Adrian before Sane and De Bruyne both tried shots from the edge of the area.
Soon, Adrian was required to keep out a shot from Jesus with the rebound falling invitingly to Sterling who, uncharacteristically, miskicked from what looked a promising position.
Ederson was alert to deal with West Ham’s only attack of the half, a fierce shot from Antonio and, after City’s winner, Diafra Sakho missed a glorious chance to level.
Man City (4-3-3): Emerson; Walker, Otamendi, Mangala, Danilo (Jesus 46); D Silva, Delph, De Bruyne; Sterling, Aguero ( Fernandinho 85), Sane (B Silva 90).
Subs (not used): Bravo, Kompany, Gundogan, Toure.
West Ham (5-4-1): Adrian; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaka; Obiang, Kouyate (Sakho 42), Fernandes, Lanzini (Arnautovic 68); Antonio (Ayew 88).
Subs (not used): Trott, Martinez, Quina, Johnson.
Referee: M Dean
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