GIVEN: Let down by those in front of him for Scunthorpe’s equaliser 7
ZABALETA: A threat going forward, but looked a little shaky defending 6
KOMPANY: Caught ball-watching for the visitors’ goal, but some good solid challenges otherwise 6
LESCOTT: Still finding his feet in City’s defence, but his headed goal was a beauty 7
SYLVINHO: Solid enough debut, as he managed to stem Scunthorpe’s attacks down his flank 6
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS: Lively display after his surprising omission from Sunday’s starting line-up 7
DE JONG: Chosen as skipper for the night ahead of Barry and led effectively 6
BARRY: Always keen to join the attack, but didn’t neglect his defensive duties 8
IRELAND: Perhaps a bit rusty, but took his goal beautifully. A class act 7
TEVEZ: Scunthorpe had a plan to keep him quiet, but he imposed himself after the break 7
SANTA CRUZ: His aerial threat is unquestioned. His goal will surely be the first of many 8
SUBSTITUTES:
WEISS: (for Ireland, 59) Impressive cameo from a lad with a great future 7
JOHNSON: (for Barry, 71) Belter of a goal – welcome back! 7
BENJANI: (for Tevez, 79) Helped see out a comfortable win 6
UNUSED: Taylor, Richards, Bridge, Bellamy.
SCUNTHORPE: Murphy; Byrne, Mirfin, Jones (Canavan 46), Williams; J. Wright; Hayes, O’Connor (Hooper 68), McCann, Woolford; Forte.
BATTLE OF THE BOSSES: Mark Hughes’ superior quality won the night, as Nigel Adkins’ men were eventually overrun despite a brave showing
REFEREE: Michael Oliver: A trouble-free night as both sides set out to play the right way. 7
ATTENDANCE: 36,358
Agree with the ratings? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Goatman, Bolton (28/10/2009 at 22:15)
micheal ok, kilworth,county cork ireland. (28/10/2009 at 22:27)
CTID
Mikey Brogan (28/10/2009 at 23:08)
Given had very little too do 7
Zabbi one mistake but absolutely awsome 8
Kompany Solid and boy have we misssed him 7
Lescott best game yet and looked much better with Kompany 7
Sylvino had very little to do but class is class no matter the age 7
SWP looked happier with Ireland back with him 7
Ireland great goal and good hour 8
Barry the bargain of the summer buys 8
De Jong looked a little tired but still a trojen in midfield 7
Tevez worked his socks off as usual 8
RSC its nice too see the big guy scoring 9
Johnson this kid has class written all over him 7
Weiss best kid around 7
Benjani could end up a super sub 6
Dunne & City forever, Worsley (28/10/2009 at 23:16)
Micah Richards could do with taking a look at the video of the match concentrating in particular on Silvinho's role.
Lescott was a little better than he was on Sunday but in no way, shape or form should he have got a higher score than Silvinho or a comparable score with Ireland. Stevie should have an 8. SWP was much better tonight and to be honest all the team played well but Silvinho was a revelation.
once a red, always a blue, Stockport (28/10/2009 at 23:20)
P.s how does benjani get a rating he was on for 10 mins? and a 6 at that, same as de jong, no no no Mr Whalley.
GJ (29/10/2009 at 00:02)
BlueRanger, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 00:18)
Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme (29/10/2009 at 00:19)
Ken Swarby, Lancashire (29/10/2009 at 00:41)
I thought Sylvinho looked quite good and solid down that left flank, and when given a chance to run at players looked a class act - yeah it's only Scunthorpe, so not to get too carried away, but definately a better performance than a 6 would indicate.
Roque really looked up for it, and was good to see him show so much appreciation to the fans. Fully deserved his man of the match award.
thomas g davies (29/10/2009 at 01:11)
Note for diary January 1, 2017 United go bust, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 01:12)
de jong and kompany a 6 WHAT ARE U A MUPPET????
Tipperary Blue (29/10/2009 at 03:40)
This must be a World record for a 'defender' to spend looking for his feet in his new club.
I'm sure Martin O'Neill is glad he didn't buy three Lescotts
bubbob, manchester (29/10/2009 at 06:39)
Wright Phillips is proving that first time round at City he was an average player in a poor team, his lack of games at Chelsea and constant poor performances for us seem to back this up.
And how greedy is Weiss??????
The Colin - Leeds, Over the hills and far away (Mancunian Reject) (29/10/2009 at 08:39)
Santa looked good, JL looked better than he has done, Barry was solid as always but one or two question marks over Zab.
Stevie Ireland looked very sharp, back to his old self again; as for Vlad, I can't wait to see him unleashed on the Premier league.
Bluekev, Stockport (29/10/2009 at 09:01)
AlexC83, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 09:29)
Don't know if anyone else noticed but what I loved most about Sylvinho was how he demanded that everyone went over to celebrate with Johnson after his belter. Terrific attitude. Johnson was majestic by the way. If he stays fit then it saves us £20m we'd have to spend to buy someone of his calibre.
Santa Cruz was man of the match though, his link up play was outstanding and he took his goal fantastically well. Only problem was he was knackered by the end but it's minutes in the bank so to speak.
And then there's Weiss - wow!
Blue Jonesy, M20 (29/10/2009 at 09:45)
Brissy Blue, Brisbane, Australia (29/10/2009 at 09:50)
I already know everything (29/10/2009 at 10:10)
Positives:
- Great to see Johnno back in a City shirt and looking like a footballer again.
- Great to see Weiss continue his development, not the finished article yet but so much talent it hurts. Is as good as Robinho was at the same age imo and if he continues to improve, will be giving Robbi a hard time claiming to be best player at City nevermind the world!
- RSC started slowly, but improved as the game went on. Decent showing from him.
Negatives:
- Sometimes I wonder if we win in spite of our tactics rather than because of them. So many times I find myself shouting to get the ball forward quicker, we really look ponderous and lacking incision at times, with too many short passes around the back allowing the opposition to get back into position and then end up lumping a hopeless ball forward to our big man when we run out of options.
- Steven Ireland is a great player if the ball is put at his feet when he is facing goal, or is making a forward run. With his back to goal he is awful, as he can't seem to turn and pick out a pass and often tries a fancy flick that comes to nothing, or passes it back to defence. He needs to be played 'in the hole', he is not a midfield engine room player.
- What o what has happened to SWP? Missed 4 or 5 chances last night that a few years ago he would have tucked away. Does something brilliant, then makes a mess and ends up giving the ball away. I must say though, he takes so many kicks and knocks that would be given as fouls on anyone else.
Andy Lyall (29/10/2009 at 10:31)
WEISS looked very lively and was gagging for a goal, i'm sure if we were not 3-4 goals to the good he might have not been so greedy but he certainly looked up for it.
SYLVINHO looked like a good player, good ball skills a proper footballer.
JOHNSON's goal was a stunner, hope he gets back to his form from a season or two ago!
TEVEZ for me was not in the game at all in the 1st half, was a bit better in the 2nd but all in all a bit disappointed in him.
IRELAND looked better and is a class act, what a cool finish for the 1st goal!
SWP is not having a good season so far, he is getting blocked and knocked off the ball far too much.
DEFENCE is looking shaky, Zabs is OK but really we need a quality Right Back and Lescot needs to step up to the mark.
SANTA is looking the part, hope he can stay injury free.
BARRY looked good DE JONG was OK.
BENJANI WTF is he still doing at CITY ??????????
gold coast blue, goldcoast australia (29/10/2009 at 11:35)
gold coast blue, goldcoast australia (29/10/2009 at 11:38)
gold coast blue, goldcoast australia (29/10/2009 at 11:40)
Sam Haggar-Feed the Goat and he will score (29/10/2009 at 12:00)
Sam Haggar-Feed the Goat and he will score (29/10/2009 at 12:05)