Categories: Manchester CityWest Ham United

Hammers say farewell to Mark Noble and put City’s title on hold

Photo: Tom Hardy

West Ham 2 : 2 Manchester City

On an emotional day at the London Stadium, Manchester City inched a step closer to the title. They needed a Vladimir Coufal own goal to draw level but their hosts needed a Lukasz Fabianski penalty save to stay there.

City hit the 90 point mark and will be crowned Champions if they beat Aston Villa in their final match or Liverpool fail to muster four points in their final two games.

The Hammers took the lead in the first half when Jarrod Bowen ran onto a hooked clearance from Pablo Fornals, rounded Ederson and scored from a narrow-angle.

City huffed and puffed thereafter but generally looked off colour. Such chances they created were half at best.

Jesus fired wide after Zinchenko set him up and another effort was deflected into the air to set up a scramble the Hammers survived. Silva fired a free-kick into Fabianski’s stomach.

Just before the interval, West Ham doubled the lead with Bowen the scorer again. Antonio lobbed a short pass into his path and the striker slotted it home with great accuracy.

Seconds later the whistle went to rescue a shell shocked Man City.

The second half was mostly one-way traffic. It wasn’t long before City narrowed the deficit. Jack Grealish hit a volley into the ground and it beat Fabianski whose view may have been impacted by outfielders

City dominated the remainder of the second but kept giving the home side glimpses of frailty.

Fernandinho was caught in all sorts of trouble when a swift hoof into the stand would have caused a reset. Instead, he tried to make a backpass while off balance. It was underhit and Michail Antonio leapt on it. He lobbed over both Ederson and the goal and City breathed again.

If only Vladimir Coufal had possessed such inaccuracy seconds later. He headed a Riyad Mahrez free-kick into his own goal to allow the Citizens to draw level.

City had their best chance to win when they won a penalty on 84′. Mahrez took it but a great save by Fabianski denied him.

A draw leaves the title in City’s hands. They can be crowned winners if Liverpool lose to Southampton, or they win their final game with Aston Villa.

After the match, almost all stayed behind to pay tribute to Mark Noble who is retiring at the end of the year after a 16 year West Ham career.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt