City Sparkle

What do you expect from a team who can’t score goals and has the meanest defensive record in the Premiership? An emphatic 3-1 win of course – and in this case a 3-1 win that could easily have turned into a 6-1 win.

For the first 25 minutes of the game, Manchester City played so well against Fulham they seemed to have 15 players - though in all honesty Darius Vassell didn’t appear to be one of them.

They could have been ahead as early as the 6th minute after a flowing move produced a dangerous cross from Trabelsi which Knight was grateful to head for a corner. But it was only a matter of time – five more minutes to be precise- as a subtle flick from Samaras enabled Bernardo Corradi to volley his first City goal and embark on one of the most elaborate and carefully rehearsed celebrations seen in the Premiership this season.

The striking partnership continued to flourish as Corradi set up Samaras, then two minutes later only Niemi’s brave save prevented him from getting a second goal and in the 18th minute Samaras cut inside from the left and curled a dangerous shot just wide of the far post.

In the final 15 minutes of the half, City deservedly went further ahead. Reina’s midfield foul was unpunished and Joey Barton broke through and knocked the ball square for Corradi to finish, and on the brink of the interval Vassell set up Barton for an easy finish to complete a disastrous half for Fulham.

Even with the anticipated improvement from the visitors (which helped Collins John to beat Weaver twice, only to have his efforts ruled offside, before he reduced the deficit in the 61st minute) City continued to make decent chances. Corradi came close to a hat trick, Samaras blazed wide and Micah Richards hit the side netting when a cross might have been wiser. But the late misses should not be allowed to detract from a bright and impressive performance from Stuart Pearce’s team – even if they did concede their first home goal of the season.