City made an electric start, with Raheem Sterling opening the scoring and Fernandinho heading in his first Premier League goal in nearly a year.
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The home side doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Fernandinho powerfully met Kevin De Bruyn’e superb free kick with his head.
Just a few seconds after Silva had struck the post from substitute Samir Nasri’s pass, Sterling rounded Adrian and sent a cheeky, deft finish inside the near post from a tight angle to cap a fine individual display.
Full match report to follow…
And while Guardiola heaped praise on his players, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said he expected his team to improve a lot more in the coming months.
“At half-time it had the look of a 5-0 or 6-0 game because Man City were so dominant”.
Speaking on Super Sunday, Redknapp said: “From City’s point of view I would describe the first half as total football”.
West Ham grabbed an unexpected lifeline on 57 minutes, however.
West Ham hardly saw any of the ball with their only notable effort before the break coming when Gokhan Tore lobbed in a cross and Ashley Fletcher, on his full debut, headed wide.
City were then dealt a blow shortly after the goal, as John Stones picked up an injury and was forced off.
West Ham’s early season injury problems, particularly the loss of star playmaker Dimitri Payet, was keenly felt and Willy Caballero – given the nod between the sticks once again over Joe Hart – was little more than a spectator.
“The first half he scored but he didn’t win as many balls as he has in previous games”.
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West Ham’s Mark Noble said Reid was left unable to talk following the clash.
City tried to sharpen up by sending on Samir Nasri, whose future under Guardiola is unclear, and the Frenchman nearly struck after being played in by Aguero only for Adrian to block his shot.
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Both managers made changes in the immediate aftermath as Aleksandar Kolarov was introduced for the home side and Manuel Lanzini made his return for West Ham, who began to ask more questions in the final third of the field.
