But Aguero came to the rescue to deny West Ham an unlikely double over City this season.
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City’s now notoriously shaky defence failed its first test at Upton Park after just 55 seconds.
Yet despite having been gifted a route back into the game, City’s galaxy of stars were still being outshone by West Ham’s Dimitri Payet.
Second-placed City have won only once away from home in the league since September and looked set for another defeat on the road when they trailed 2-1 to West Ham, who are sixth in the table, with nine minutes to go.
The ball was carelessly allowed to bounce into the area by Otamendi and Valencia got ahead of the defender to poke past Hart.
FULL-TIME West Ham 2-2 Man City. His shot rebounded into the path of Aguero who was able to steer the ball past Adrian.
West Ham’s whole midfield cost less than the individual fees for Yaya Toure, Kevin De Bruyne, Jesus Navas or David Silva, but the City quartet were distinctly second best as they were bullied out of it. Toure in particular was brutally exposed as a holding midfielder, and it must concern City supporters that Manuel Pellegrini did not agree with criticism of his captain. Like the look of Sam Byram, really assured debut. That is not a play that involves a defensive midfielder. Aguero bailed them out, though. “I am a big Song fan”.
It certainly is, but despite that late equaliser, Reid thought that it was an excellent game and a good performance. “He’s a player that is at 100 per cent now and I’m very pleased with his performance”. “But we can do better and we have to do better”. “When there is a throw-in maybe you are not thinking there is danger, but we know Antonio has a long throw”.
But one chant aimed at Aguero and inspired by former West Ham and Manchester City hero Carlos Tevez backfired somewhat. “So when I went back into dressing room I felt disappointed”. We hit the post twice and had one clear chance at the end. “Song had a great game and we need him like this week in, week out”. But that’s what happens if you don’t take your chances.
“Against a team like that you have to be proud of a point, but I’m a little bit gutted”.
Although squandering a lead twice could have proven to be disheartening the Croatian manager was simply proud of the game the two Premier League teams had produced.
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The onus is on Aguero even more with Kompany, City’s other most influential player, a long way off returning.
