10-man City cuts Chelsea’s lead
Print Edition
MANCHESTER City survived the 10th-minute dismissal of captain Vincent Kompany to win 2-0 at Hull City yesterday and reduce Chelsea’s lead in the English Premier League to six points.
Kompany saw red for a last-man foul on Nikica Jelavic, but David Silva put City ahead with a glorious curling effort just four minutes later and Edin Dzeko made sure of victory at the death.
It was City’s first league match for three weeks and it still has two games in hand on Chelsea, although the leader can reassert its nine-point advantage with victory at Aston Villa later yesterday.
City’s success at the KC Stadium also saw it climb to second place above Liverpool, which visits Manchester United today, and Arsenal, which travels to Tottenham Hotspur later the same day.
City has 60 points, with Liverpool and Arsenal both on 59.
“We needed to win today and playing with one player less for 80 minutes is very difficult, but I think we did a very good job,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who saw his side eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Champions League earlier this week.
“We defended well with and without the ball, but we also attacked. It was a very professional response from the players.”
City was missing top-scorer Sergio Aguero due to injury and it received a further setback in the 10th when Kompany was given his marching orders.
Jelavic appeared to foul Kompany as they jostled for possession, but play was allowed to continue and when the City captain hauled the Croatian down, referee Lee Mason brandished the red card.
Stirring fashion
Kompany kicked out at a door in frustration as he stalked down the tunnel, but City reacted in stirring fashion, with Silva gathering a pass from Yaya Toure and arcing a glorious shot inside the left-hand post from 25 yards.
Visiting right-back Pablo Zabaleta then saw a tremendous volley hit the bar and bounce on the goal-line, but Hull finished the first half strongly.
Jelavic had earlier put a volley wide from an Ahmed El-Mohamady cross and after David Meyler had seen a goal ruled out for offside, Jake Livermore drilled a shot just off-target from long range.
Joe Hart saved from Shane Long, twice, and Jelavic early in the second period, while substitute George Boyd had a penalty appeal turned down after tumbling over a challenge by the City goalkeeper.
Fernandinho spurned a gilt-edged chance to double City’s lead when he scuffed wide from only 10 yards, but Hart saved from Boyd and Jelavic to preserve the visitors’ advantage.
Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor prevented Dzeko from putting the game to bed in the closing stages, but the Bosnian atoned in the last minute by sweeping home from Silva’s incisive pass.
Kompany expressed his pride — and perhaps relief — via Twitter, writing: “Proud of the guys! Phenomenal shift they have put in again!”
The afternoon was to witness a potentially significant fixture at the bottom of the table, with second-bottom Sunderland welcoming fifth-bottom Crystal Palace to the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew begins his seven-game ban for headbutting Hull midfielder Meyler as his side visits bottom club Fulham, while third-bottom Cardiff City travels to Everton.
Elsewhere, Swansea City hosts fellow relegation candidate West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City visits Southampton, and Stoke City tackles West Ham United in a mid-table clash at home.
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