West Ham United came desperately close to springing a surprise in their Premier League clash with Manchester City.
It may have been another defeat for David Moyes to contend with, but it is unlikely that many West Ham fans will have come away from the Etihad Stadium on Sunday feeling anything other than pride after the Hammers pushed Manchester City and gave them a good scare.
It was one of the Irons’ best performances of the season, taking the lead on the stroke of half-time through Angelo Ogbonna and going into the final seven minutes level with Pep Guardiola’s men.
City have failed to win inside 90 minutes just twice all season in any competition – drawing with Everton back in August and needing a penalty shootout to beat Wolves in the Carabao Cup – so the Irons would have been aware that they were within touching distance of a massive result.
It would not have just been the point that they would have taken from the game that would have meant a lot to Moyes, the players and the fans, but the confidence that they would have received given many of the pre-match predictions of emphatic City wins, would have given them a huge boost ahead of the festive fixtures.
Sadly, it was not to be with David Silva scoring a late winner, and perhaps one photo sums up West Ham’s mood at the moment the Spanish magician beat Adrian.
The photo depicts Silva celebrating, but also shows the sheer anguish that Pablo Zabaleta is enduring at that moment, with his hands on his head and a shout of frustration looking imminent.
It would certainly be no surprise if Zabaleta’s reaction was replicated by the large majority of the West Ham supporters inside the Etihad Stadium yesterday after such a spirited performance.
David Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his side’s second goal with team mate Sergio Aguero while Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United looks on
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