Moyes’ men hit by City Hammer
RECORD SHARED: PEP’S MEN EQUAL CHELSEA MILESTONE
Champions brush home side away at the London Stadium.
London
Manchester City equalled the Premier League record for most wins in a season as the imperious champions powered to a 4-1 victory at West Ham yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s side now have 30 wins this term, matching the record set by Chelsea last season, and will take sole possession of the milestone with one more success in their last three games.
City went ahead through Leroy Sane before an own goal from their former defender Pablo Zabaleta doubled the lead.
Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick reduced the deficit before half-time, but Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho netted for City after half-time.
Simply untouchable for most of the season, City are bidding to cement their status as one of the alltime great Premier League teams by rewriting the record books.
They have scored 102 goals in 35 games, making them the fastest English top-flight side to do it since Everton in 1931-32.
City are one goal short of the Premier League record of 103 set by Chelsea in 2009/10.
Guardiola’s team also need three more points to eclipse Chelsea’s 95-point Premier League record from 2004/05.
After being given a guard of honour before kick-off, City set about dismantling their hosts.
It was Sane who landed the first blow in the 13th minute.
Taking possession on the righthand side of the West Ham area, Sane was granted too much time and space by the home defence.
He took full advantage, unleashing a powerful strike that took a wicked deflection off defender Patrice Evra on its way past the wrong-footed Adrian.
When City struck again in the 27th minute, the farcical manner of the goal left the ragged Hammers red-faced.
Adrian’s rash sprint off his line let in Sterling for a shot that was headed clear, but the ball was worked wide to Kevin de Bruyne.
He sent over a low cross which Adrian could only deflect towards Hammers defender Declan Rice, whose panicked clearance hit Zabaleta and trickled into the net.
West Ham replied in the 42nd minute when Cresswell bent his free-kick over the wall and into the net.
But City regained their composure at half-time and in the 53rd minute when Jesus bagged his 16th goal of the season.
Sterling, picked out by Jesus, made a fine run and pin-point pass that allowed the Brazilian to steer home from close-range.
Fernandinho buried Sterling’s pass in the 64th minute to seal the rout. –