Substitute Mario Balotelli came to Manchester City's
rescue by inspiring Roberto Mancini's men to a rare
2-0 victory against bogey team Everton.
• Mancini happy with response
As always, City were finding it sticky going against
the Toffeemen.
Balotelli's introduction after an hour changed all
that, the Italian's shot flying in off Phil Jagielka
to put the Blues on the way to a precious victory at
the Etihad Stadium that was sealed by James Milner in
the final minute.
There could not be a greater contrast between City's
vast wealth and the relative hand-to-mouth existence
of their north-west neighbours.
Yet Everton are a stoic bunch and despite enduring
another summer of fiscal austerity, manager David Moyes
has engineered a decent start.
And, of course, there was that amazing record against
City to protect. Since Sheikh Mansour completed his
Blues buy-out in 2008, the clubs have met on six occasions.
Everton have won five, including the last four, proving
money cannot buy you everything.
Moyes' masterplan this time was to send Jack Rodwell
scurrying around after dangerman David Silva all afternoon.
It was a task Rodwell stuck to gamely, and clearly
Silva did not like, even though he responded in textbook
fashion, moving himself next to Leighton Baines, in
theory creating a huge hole for the remainder of City's
midfield to fill.
That they did not manage it was in part due to the
cussedness of Phil Neville and Seamus Coleman, who tackled
anything that moved, and part due to lacklustre displays
from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri, neither of whom imposed
themselves on the contest.
Indeed, there were only 10 minutes of the opening period
remaining when Tim Howard was forced into his first
save.
It was a good one though, the American parrying away
Sergio Aguero's goalbound curling shot despite the not
inconsiderable frame of Edin Dzeko closing in.
Howard also denied Gareth Barry shortly afterwards
as City began to turn the screw, although by the time
referee Howard Webb blew his whistle for half-time,
Everton were showing more attacking intent than they
had done since the opening moments, when they were actually
on top.
The hosts came close to opening their account straight
after the restart when former City skipper Sylvain Distin
rather unconvincingly combined with Howard to turn Nasri's
dangerous cross behind.
Mancini's men were unable to maintain the pressure
though, so with an hour gone, the Italian turned to
Balotelli, ahead of deposed skipper Carlos Tevez. A
very astute move it turned out to be too.
Everton were still reorganising following the exit
of Tim Cahill, who had earlier guided a header just
over but then came off worst in a challenge with Vincent
Kompany that led to him becoming the fourth visiting
player booked when the Italian struck.
Aguero was the architect, crabbing in from the right
flank before rolling the ball into Balotelli's path
as he found his own route into the penalty area blocked.
Without a league goal since February, but becalmed
after a pre-season row with his manager in the United
States and a scorer in the midweek Carling Cup win over
Birmingham, the Italy striker took aim, benefiting from
a slight deflection off Jagielka as the ball nestled
in the far corner.
The 21-year-old immediately sprinted off to his manager
to celebrate, any irritation that has at times existed
between the pair currently not in evidence.
Within a couple of minutes, Silva had almost made it
two, drilling a low shot against the base of Howard's
left-hand post, the Everton keeper knowing he was getting
nowhere near it.
Howard was able to reach Balotelli's next effort, a
stinging shot from the edge of the area that was heading
for the bottom corner.
The Toffeemen were on the back foot though and only
an offside flag prevented them conceding a second after
Silva had tapped home Balotelli's cross.
Milner eventually secured the win, racing onto Silva's
through ball before keeping his nerve to beat Howard
in the final minute.
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