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Manchester City 2-0 Bolton: Adam Johnson Steals The Show
Tevez and Adebayor on target, but young winger illuminates the evening..
Feb 9, 2010 4:42:00 PM
By Steven Saunders
Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers: Line-up & stats
Premier League results/standings
A star turn from home debutant Adam Johnson ensured Manchester City moved above Tottenham and level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Johnson, a £7 million signing from Middlesbrough on deadline day, was City's inspirational performer and earned a penalty in the first half that was converted by Carlos Tevez. Another home debutant, Patrick Vieira, created the second goal with 16 minutes to go, lofting a ball forward that was emphatically volleyed home by Emmanuel Adebayor.
Winger Johnson created the first chance of the game, his exceptional first touch killing a ball over the top and allowing him to cross. It was behind Adebayor but fell nicely for Tevez, though the Argentine could only curl a shot straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Adebayor was next to threaten, controlling Wayne Bridge's cross from the left and setting himself up for an overhead kick, but his attempt flew wide.
The right side of Bolton's defense was proving a profitable avenue for City, and a lovely flowing move involving Johnson, Adebayor, Tevez and a flying Bridge resulted in the left-back's cross being deflected into the side-netting.
It was 16 minutes before Bolton had their first serious attempt on goal, Johan Elmander finding space 25 yards from goal but firing his shot narrowly wide of Shay Given's goal.
The game then fell into a lull, but on the half-hour mark Johnson grabbed it by the scruff with a fantastic run down the right wing. As he edged into the box, Paul Robinson was outwitted by his quick feet and clipped the City man, with referee Mike Jones correctly awarding a penalty. Tevez stepped up and smashed his spot kick straight at Jaaskelainen, but it somehow spun into the corner of the net rather than away from goal.
Bolton then should have had a penalty of their own. Elmander chased a Kevin Davies through pass and slid in between Given and Kolo Toure. As the Swedish striker got back to his feet Toure dived across in front of him, but the City defender was awarded a free kick, rather than being penalized for obstruction.
Perhaps spurred on by the injustice, Bolton's Fabrice Muamba then brought a magnificent save from Given with a 25-yard shot, although much of the pace was taken off the shot by Vincent Kompany's deflection. City soon launched a long ball down the other end and Adebayor found himself with only Jaaskelainen to beat, but dragged his shot wide of the left post.
There was then a substitution of mixed blessings for City - Toure had to be replaced due to a knee complaint, but in his place came Joleon Lescott for his first appearance under Mancini and his first since a 3-3 draw with Bolton on December 12.
Johnson continued to prey upon Robinson on the left side of Bolton's defense, a stepover buying him space to curl in a shot that forced a fingertip touch round the post from Jaaskelainen.
Robinson could console himself with the fact that Johnson shared out the torment - Muamba booked on 62 minutes for taking the flying winger's heels away from him. From the resulting free kick, Johnson picked out Gareth Barry, who headed over the bar.
But with the game still hanging in the balance at 1-0, Bolton could not be discounted. A corner kick fell to Robinson and his driven shot was back-heeled by Cohen, but still failed to find the target.
City heeded the warning and extended their lead soon after. Vieira clipped the ball forward from halfway inside the Bolton half, picking out Adebayor with precision and the Togolese striker controlled the ball on his chest before blasting home a right-footed volley.
Bolton could have pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining. The ball broke for Lee, but he could only stab his shot from 16 yards straight at Given. Shortly after, a corner kick found Davies, but his header sailed high and wide, leaving the Bolton striker with just one goal in 17 games.
Johnson was taken off with six minutes remaining, perhaps to ensure he was given an ovation all of his own for a man of the match performance. Bolton had the last chance of the evening deep in stoppage time, but Zat Knight headed harmlessly over the bar from eight yards out.
Get all the latest EPL action with Goal.com's England page.
Premier League results/standings
A star turn from home debutant Adam Johnson ensured Manchester City moved above Tottenham and level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Johnson, a £7 million signing from Middlesbrough on deadline day, was City's inspirational performer and earned a penalty in the first half that was converted by Carlos Tevez. Another home debutant, Patrick Vieira, created the second goal with 16 minutes to go, lofting a ball forward that was emphatically volleyed home by Emmanuel Adebayor.
Winger Johnson created the first chance of the game, his exceptional first touch killing a ball over the top and allowing him to cross. It was behind Adebayor but fell nicely for Tevez, though the Argentine could only curl a shot straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Adebayor was next to threaten, controlling Wayne Bridge's cross from the left and setting himself up for an overhead kick, but his attempt flew wide.
The right side of Bolton's defense was proving a profitable avenue for City, and a lovely flowing move involving Johnson, Adebayor, Tevez and a flying Bridge resulted in the left-back's cross being deflected into the side-netting.
It was 16 minutes before Bolton had their first serious attempt on goal, Johan Elmander finding space 25 yards from goal but firing his shot narrowly wide of Shay Given's goal.
The game then fell into a lull, but on the half-hour mark Johnson grabbed it by the scruff with a fantastic run down the right wing. As he edged into the box, Paul Robinson was outwitted by his quick feet and clipped the City man, with referee Mike Jones correctly awarding a penalty. Tevez stepped up and smashed his spot kick straight at Jaaskelainen, but it somehow spun into the corner of the net rather than away from goal.
Bolton then should have had a penalty of their own. Elmander chased a Kevin Davies through pass and slid in between Given and Kolo Toure. As the Swedish striker got back to his feet Toure dived across in front of him, but the City defender was awarded a free kick, rather than being penalized for obstruction.
Perhaps spurred on by the injustice, Bolton's Fabrice Muamba then brought a magnificent save from Given with a 25-yard shot, although much of the pace was taken off the shot by Vincent Kompany's deflection. City soon launched a long ball down the other end and Adebayor found himself with only Jaaskelainen to beat, but dragged his shot wide of the left post.
On the spot | Tevez rifled home penalty
There was then a substitution of mixed blessings for City - Toure had to be replaced due to a knee complaint, but in his place came Joleon Lescott for his first appearance under Mancini and his first since a 3-3 draw with Bolton on December 12.
Johnson continued to prey upon Robinson on the left side of Bolton's defense, a stepover buying him space to curl in a shot that forced a fingertip touch round the post from Jaaskelainen.
Robinson could console himself with the fact that Johnson shared out the torment - Muamba booked on 62 minutes for taking the flying winger's heels away from him. From the resulting free kick, Johnson picked out Gareth Barry, who headed over the bar.
But with the game still hanging in the balance at 1-0, Bolton could not be discounted. A corner kick fell to Robinson and his driven shot was back-heeled by Cohen, but still failed to find the target.
City heeded the warning and extended their lead soon after. Vieira clipped the ball forward from halfway inside the Bolton half, picking out Adebayor with precision and the Togolese striker controlled the ball on his chest before blasting home a right-footed volley.
Bolton could have pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining. The ball broke for Lee, but he could only stab his shot from 16 yards straight at Given. Shortly after, a corner kick found Davies, but his header sailed high and wide, leaving the Bolton striker with just one goal in 17 games.
Johnson was taken off with six minutes remaining, perhaps to ensure he was given an ovation all of his own for a man of the match performance. Bolton had the last chance of the evening deep in stoppage time, but Zat Knight headed harmlessly over the bar from eight yards out.
Get all the latest EPL action with Goal.com's England page.
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