West Ham suffered a fourth successive defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium tonight thanks to a brace from a former terrace hero.
Carlos Tevez, who spent a season at the Boleyn three years ago struck either side of the break to condemn the Hammers to a predictable defeat that leaves Gianfranco Zola's side firmly ensconsed in the Premier League's relegation zone.West Ham - still missing captain Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami, both of whom were substituted during the 3-2 defeat against Liverpool nine days earlier - gave a good account of themselves in the opening half but trailed by the odd goal in five at the break.
Former Hammer Carlos Tevez put the home side ahead in the fifth minute after some good work on the left by Petrov, coupled with schoolboy defending by the Hammers allowed an unmarked Tevez to register from close range.
City threatened to put the game beyond West Ham as they took control, creating a number of chances before Carlton Cole levelled the scores - somewhat against the run of play - after 24 minutes. An Alessandro Diamanti free kick was converted by the big striker, scoring his third goal of the season.
City retook the lead on 31 minutes when Petrov fired home a free kick from the edge of the box - although to be fair to Robert Green, it appeared to take a deflection on the way through. West Ham felt they had been hard done by with the free kick decision that led to the goal - the slightest of nudges by Luis Jimenez on Nigel De Jong - as Petrov fired home.
West Ham thought they had equalised for a second time when Scott Parker fired home from close range on the stroke of half time, however referee Chris Foy, adding insult to injury, spotted an infringement by Cole on Joleon Lescott that barely else in the stadium noticed and ruled out Parker's strike, much to the frustration of Zola's side.
Despite starting the second period in fine style the lack of end product proved United's undoing, and Tevez made the most of some schoolboy defending to add a third for the home side from close range on the hour mark. Thereafter it was probably more a case of damage limitation for Zola's troops, who were distinctly second best on the night - and not for the first time this season.
Although it is perhaps too early to consider this weekend's home clash with Fulham a 'must win' game the need for a positive result takes on greater importance due to the position West Ham currently find themselves in. Just Portsmouth - with seven defeats in seven games - and a Hull team with only two league wins since last Christmas seperate United from the bottom of the current Premier League table.
Manchester City 3 West Ham United 1: match facts
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Tomkins, Ilunga, Diamanti, Kovac (Stanislas), Parker, Noble, Jimenez (Hines), Cole.
Subs not used: Kurucz, Spector, Nouble, Payne, N'Gala.
Goals: Cole (24).
Booked: Diamanti (55).
Manchester City: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Santa Cruz), De Jong, Barry (Johnson), Petrov, Tevez, Bellamy.
Subs not used: Taylor, Richards, Garrido, Slyvinho, Weiss.
Goals: Tevez (5, 61), Petrov (32).
Booked: Bridge (59).
Referee: Chris Foy (4).
Attendance: 42,745.
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