Filed under: Bolton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Goals from three different Manchester City players - David Silva, Gareth Barry and Edin Dzeko - lifted them to the top of the Premier League although Bolton made their local rivals sweat for their second successive win of the season.A blistering long shot from Barry made it 2-0 to City after 37 minutes only for Bolton to reply quickly through Ivan Klasnic. Dzeko extended City's lead soon after the restart, however, but Kevin Davies headed Bolton back into contention just after the hour.
The home side held their own for the remaining half hour but without truly threatening a City team that was on course to go above Wolves and into first place on goal difference.
THE GOALS
25 mins: Jussi Jaaskelainen is badly at fault as Micah Richards pulls the ball back for Silva to shoot in from 20 yards, the shot swerving slightly and deceiving the keeper.
37 mins: Barry puts City firmly in control with a blinding 25-yard shot after being picked out, intelligently, directly from James Milner's right-wing corner.
39 mins: The home side make a quick, and much-needed, response with Klasnic volleying home clinically from Martin Petrov's accurate left-wing cross.
47 mins: City regain their two-goal cushion as Milner plays through Dzeko who has the pace and power to shrug off Zat Knight and drill the ball into the net.
62 mins: Petrov plans a superb free-kick onto the head of Kevin Davies who scores with a well-judged 12-yard header.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
3 mins: Chris Eagles hands City an early scare with a powerful free-kick from the edge of the area which Joe Hart parries and Joleon Lescott hacks clear.
15 mins: A flowing City move ends with Aleksandar Kolarov whipping in a dangerous low cross which forces Jaaskelainen to block well from James Milner.
18 mins: Glaring miss from man of the moment Kun Aguero who blazes over an open goal from eight yards after Dzeko pulls back a neat pass.
35 mins: Aguero has a free header from a Dzeko cross but heads woefully off target.
60 mins: City cap 15 minutes of complete dominance with a Kolarov shot that is deflected behind. Milner's shot and Dzeko's faint header have also just missed.
75 mins: Kolarov misses a chance to kill off Bolton when he rolls a shot wide after a one-two plays him through.
83 mins: Substitute Adam Johnson skips past Knight and comes within inches of scoring number four with a skimming drive.
WHAT IT MEANS
If there was any doubt about City's title credentials - and there should not have been - this performance will have removed them emphatically. Certainly, Manchester United and Chelsea should be casting nervous glances in the direction of Eastlands on the strength of the opening two games. Bear in mind, also, that the two wins have come largely without Carlos Tevez (a disgruntled looking substitute at the Reebok) and Samir Nasri who still looks likely to join City before the transfer window closes and with their best defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong sidelined at the Reebok. For Bolton, they are not really aiming to be competing with City at the top of the table and their ultimate league position will be determined by fixtures other than this.
REACTION:
Winning manager Roberto Mancini enjoyed such a successful afternoon that even dissident Tevez contributed to the win:
"We played very well - a very good game. I don't know how it finished only 3-2 because we had many more chances. I am happy because Edin Dzeko continued to score and Carlos Tevez played 20 minutes. Carlos is here and he will continue to play for us.
"I think that we played very well. Bolton are a good team and always tried to score. It was possible for the game to finish 3-3. We need to pay more attention. We cannot afford to concede these goals and we need to pay more attention on this if we want to be a good team. We need to score 15 goals more than last year but we cannot concede more than last year. We can conceded one or two more but no less.
"It is important that the team has balance and that we don't concede a stupid goal like today. Both were stupid goals because in the first half we dominated the game. We lose one ball and leave the Petrov cross and then it's a goal. If you dont mark it is a problem. Until the last second the match was open."
On his playmaking trio - Aguero, Tevez and Silva:
"Aguero played 70 minutes and he was tired when he came off the picture and Carlos is not even 100% but played very well. David Silva is a fantastic player."
On the pending arrival of Nasri:
"I hope that we can have Samir Nasri in the next day. I hope we can have him in the next day but I don't know when. We still have ten days. We need some players if we want to complete our team. I hope he is not the last one in.
"If he plays in the Champions League (for Arsenal) it is a big problem. I dont know (if I would still sign him) but hopefully we close in the next 24 hours. Also last year, James played for Aston Villa in the first game and also for Nasri it was important to play."
On Tevez:
"Carlos is here and I dont think we can change the situation. He is an important player and a top player for us and at the moment we have not received any offers for him and he is here."
Bolton manager Owen Coyle was clearly displeased with aspect of his team's display:
"I think we have gifted them a couple of goals today and that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. We will pick ourselves up though and stick together. To come back from 2-0 down and 3-1 down shows you everything about the spirit of this group. We have to pick ourselves up and go quickly now.
"They more than fought very well; they showed great quality on the ball. City have assmebled a terrific team and you have to give credit where credit is due. We prob gifted one or two of the goals and if one of the top clubs is going to beat you then make them earn it. But we have to accept it. It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves at 2-0 down and 3-1 down but we fought positively and that is what we will take from the match."
On the transfer window:
"Time will tell and I would certainly love to add one or two to the group, especially with the terrible injuries we have had in pre-season."
On Jaaskelainen's mistake:
"If anyone has made a mistake then they didn't do it on purpose. It is part and parcel of the game and they are the same lads who will win us the game."
BOLTON 2 (Klasnic 39, K Davies 62) MANCHESTER CITY 3 (Silva 25, Barry 37, Dzeko 47)
PLAYER MARKING:
Bolton (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 4; Steinsson 5, Cahill 6, Knight 6, Robinson 6; Eagles 5 (Pratley 78, 6), Muamba 6 (M Davies 59, 6), Reo-Coker 6, Petrov 7; K Davies 7, Klasnic 7. Subs: Bogdan, Alonso, Blake, Wheater, Blakeman.
Man City (4-3-2-1): Hart 6; Richards 7, Kompany 7, Lescott 7, Kolarov 6; Milner 7, Barry 7, Yaya Toure 6; Silva 8 (Zabaleta 88), Aguero 6 (Tevez 67, 6); Dzeko 9 (Johnson 79, 6). Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Savic, Balotelli.
REFEREE: Mike Jones
ATTENDANCE: 24,273
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Edin Dzeko (Man City): Silva continues to shine and pull the strings around the box for City but Dzeko is the end result which they have been lacking for much of the past year. His work rate is admirable but Dzeko is now adding pace, power, a finishing touch, and also the ability to create chances for others, to his repertoire.
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