Ruddy howler saves Hart’s blushes
MANCHESTER CITY remained Premier League leaders by the slenderest of margins after a particularly eventful afternoon for England goalkeeper Joe Hart, whose blushes were spared by a late penalty winner by Yaya Toure.
Hart, who has been in outstanding form, looked as if he had thrown away a win when he dropped the ball at the feet of Cameron Jerome who equalised with seven minutes left.
Nicolas Otamendi had opened the scoring in the 67th minute after he lost his marker and met Kevin de Bruyne’s outswinging corner with a bullet header from 12 yards.
And Hart’s relief when opposite number John Ruddy messed up at the other end — causing Russell Martin to handle from Raheem Sterling — must have been palpable.
Martin was sent off before Toure converted the penalty, but there was still work to do for Hart in injury time, and he pulled off a brilliant one-handed save from a deflected shot by Martin Olsson to redeem himself.
Aleksandar Kolarov missed another Manchester City penalty with the last kick of the game but his side stay top, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.
Toure still didn’t seem happy though, wagging his finger at manager Manuel Pellegrini when replaced near the end.
‘We deserved to win but I agree that Norwich defended very well with 11 players near their box,’ said Pellegrini. ‘We found it hard to create chances until we opened the scoring.
‘It was very unfortunate for us with the goal that Norwich scored, but sometimes that happens. Joe is human, everyone can make a mistake. But then he made a good save because he’s a very good goalkeeper.’
In contrast, Norwich manager Alex Neil blamed Ruddy for flapping at the cross in the lead-up to the penalty being given away.
‘We lost because of basic errors, that is the bottom line. He (Ruddy) should have collected the ball,’ said Neil.