While Manchester City will be happy with a win, they'll be more concerned about the health of one of their players.
The top four is looking a bit more solidified after Manchester City's performance on Sunday. They've managed to stop their skid down the table, and are now seven points ahead of Liverpool after a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
However, City will be worried about more than the points. David Silva suffered an injury in the second half that medical staff at least believed had the potential to be serious. It took nearly eight minutes to get him off the pitch, and he left in a neck brace, strapped down to a stretcher, after taking an elbow from Cheikhou Kouyate.
During the first half, West Ham didn't look particularly bothered with the game, and gave the ball away cheaply on numerous occasions. Despite the number of opportunities they gifted City, the opening goal was actually scored by a West Ham player, spectacularly on his own net. James Collins should have been able to clear a ball that came into the box in the 18th minute to somewhere other than his goal, but managed to kick a perfect looping unintentional shot over Adrian to give the Citizens a lead.
City were up two goals by halftime, and their second had a lot more to do with brilliant play by them than a West Ham error. Yaya Toure won the ball in midfield, starting a fast counter that was finished by a Jesus Navas layoff for Sergio Aguero, who broke his scoring drought and recorded his 20th goal of the season.
In the second half, City focused more on possession than anything else and West Ham didn't have the quality to challenge them. Not much happened until Kouyate's 67th minute elbow on Silva, and once play resumed, both teams had the look of sides shaken by seeing a serious injury.
West Ham were a bit more lively in the final 10 minutes, with Enner Valencia being denied a penalty he probably deserved in the 80th, then just missing after he dribbled through multiple defenders in the 87th. But it wasn't the Hammers' day, and City had no problem hanging on for the win.
Manchester City: Hart, Kolarov, Mangala, Demichelis, Zabaleta, Fernando, Lampard (Fernandinho 88'), Silva (Nasri 75'), Toure, Navas, Aguero (Dzeko 90')
Goals: Collins (OG 18'), Aguero (36')
West Ham United: Adrian, Cresswell, Reid, Collins, Jenkinson, Song (Jarvis 66'), Kouyate, Noble, Valencia, Cole (Nolan 66'), Downing
Goals: None.
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