ROBERTO Mancini is expecting a major contribution from Mario Balotelli this season after setting Manchester City on course for a hard-fought win over Everton.
The controversial striker came off the bench to inspire the Blues to a 2-0 triumph at the Etihad Stadium, which saw City leapfrog United at the top of the Premier League table before the Reds play in Saturday’s evening kick-off at Stoke.
Until the Italian’s arrival on the hour mark, City had been struggling to break down the Toffees’ typically obdurate defence.
But Balotelli brought renewed focus to City's attack, breaking the deadlock within eight minutes of coming on before fellow substitute James Milner sealed victory late on.
Far too often in his short City career, Balotelli has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. His most recent escapade came on the pre-season tour of the United States when Mancini hauled him off during a match against LA Galaxy for showboating.
However, Balotelli proved there was no bad blood remaining between him and the Blues boss by racing over to his compatriot for a hug having netted his first league goal since February. And now his boss is expecting big things.
"Mario can make a big contribution this season. I am sure of this," said Mancini.
"His behaviour has been so-so. But he is a good guy. He likes Manchester City. He likes English football.
"Sometimes when he scores, he is unhappy. Today he was really happy. Today he knew he scored an important goal."
It also proved Mancini correct to introduce Balotelli ahead of deposed skipper Carlos Tevez, who remained on the bench throughout.
However, the City chief admitted a four-match European suspension that rules the striker out of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Bayern Munich played a part.
"I needed a player who could also play on the right side," said Mancini.
"We needed to open up the defence, plus Mario can't play against Munich on Tuesday."
Balotelli has now scored in successive games, having opened his account for the season in Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Birmingham.
More importantly, Mancini's multi-talented squad proved themselves adept at overcoming difficult opponents, who had won the last four meetings between the sides and deployed Jack Rodwell to man-mark David Silva.
"Today was difficult," said Mancini. "Everton defended behind the ball for all the game. It was not easy for us to find space.
"We had to push them for 90 minutes. In the end, we deserved to win the game. I am delighted with the players."
Everton manager David Moyes made no apology for the limited tactics, believing his team were badly done to when a throw-in he felt should have been in favour of his side went against them in the build-up to Balotelli's opener.
"I wasn't going to come here for the enjoyment of Manchester City," he said. "I was going to come here and do what was right for Everton.
"I have to praise the players for how they went about their task.
"They have done a lot of really good things. For long periods we kept them at bay."
And Moyes felt City skipper Vincent Kompany caught Tim Cahill as the Everton danger-man slid in on Kompany midway through the second half.
City were awarded a free-kick and Cahill was booked for the challenge but immediately had to hobble off injured as a result of Kompany’s contact with his shin.
"It is a terrible tackle," said Moyes.
"I have seen it again. His foot goes right on his shin. I am disappointed it wasn't spotted."
Balotelli looks to have moved on from his showboating gaffe in pre-season. See it here
Roberto Mancini hopes Mario Balotelli plays a big part for Manchester City this season
September 24, 2011
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All Italian City fans too hope a new Mario Balotelli is coming to play true class football at the club! Thank you Bobby Manc! You'll really deserve the hug from him today!
Mr Moyes said: "They have done a lot of really good things. For long periods we kept them at bay" and now my team is for sale on ebay.
Cahill went in twice with the studs and reaped what he sowed.
Nice one mario,keep up the good word,as for Moyes,put a sock in it,your players did their best to clatter our boys every chance they had,so stop being bitter and get back to play second fiddle on merseyside
CTID
WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS BUNCH OF CLOGGERS AND THEIR MYOPIC MANAGER RELEGATED .TOTAL ANTI-FOOTBALL,
That celebration with RM made my day!
Moyes is clearly ready for the job at the Swamp, having learned plenty of charm and hypocrisy from the Glaswegian despot ........................based upon that interview !
How the hell can Kompany foul Cahill when his legs were being clattered from behind ?
Myopic just isn't sufficient a word for Moyes !
OOOOO BALOTELLI!!! GOOD BALOTELLI WE NEEDED THIS!!! C'MON CITY C'MON CITY C'MON CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD ROBERTO!
Mario is coming good.
Good result at the Potteries to-day, just shows you how hard it is going too be there this season.
But back to the real game a good well worked win, first 5 or 6 mins was all they really offered and then it was back to what we've got to expect this season the massed ranks, the niggling fouls, the disruptive play all to try and stop us playing, but it just shows you that if you make the changes it can and does alter the way the match is being played out, well worked Roberto!
At the start of the season I was one of many who said they expected big things of Mario and Edin this season. Sergio has come to the club and has been sensational so far and his partnership with David and Samir has been devastating up to thins point. There have been few real opportunities for Mario and Carlos in the Pl, but to-day it was not happening for Edin and Roberto tried Mario - and it worked like a charm. But that is why we have four top quality forwards - if at first one doesn't succeed...
As for David Moyes typically sour comments about Vinnie, I would simply observe that I don't consider Cahill to be one of Everton's more ruthless players, but whoever you are, if you go clattering through the back of a player, all studs showing, and he has enough warning to take evasive action, you can't complain if, at the end of that action, his foot comes down on your shin. The referee did see it, David, that's why your lad got a yellow.
Love it when a team has 3 strikers on the bench and none on the pitch get stuffed. Great karma.
mr.United, M11 born., gtr manchester (24/09/2011 at 19:27)
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Cant see that happening with all city's money.
I take it you didn't go to the Potteries to-day!
Moyes, you have the Sralic blinkered vision. It was Cahill who went through Kompany, and injured himself in the process. It was a bad tempered tackle, in retaliation for being nutmeged by Lescott. Nasty tackle from a nasty person, defended by an even nastier person!!!! Moyes again "Defending the Indefensible!"
A magical moment and picture of Mario, Papa Mancini and Platty who was leaping In the air after Super Mario had scored,
I see a lot of love from Roberto and David and Indeed his collegues on the pitch who were also delighted.
Mario is a special talent!
Super Mario! as one only simmers, one comes to the boil!
..A terrible tackle is right Mr Moyes, but who tackled who as the the pictures show Cahill went in from behind studs showing for the second time, SOUR GRIPES me thinks!
I am absolutely enthralled with the pic! It was a clean strike from Super Mario and today when he came on it changed the game and then James arrived. 2 Massive substitutions that won the game.
With so much valuable talent on show today i thought the ref bottled it a bit,it was obvious, right from the start, this horrible little golam lookalike fergie wannabe, was going to come at us a bit strong,however,the only way to beat a bully is to smack them down first,very hard, and i think we should fight fire with fire if this tactic is used against us again.
Also the way the mickey scum surrounded the ref and their own players when they went down from their mistimed tackles,trying to get us booked or sent off was so typical of another buch of vile pigs from salford and has for neville trying the old pals act with the ref just smacks of pure ignorance and arrogance like golam moaning about our tackling Everton are fast becoming my most hated team even their fans are scum.
MEN. Why the "Show Boating Gaff"? Mario scored a fantastic goal all players make gaffs. May I ask if you will show their gaffs in future editorials?
I will look forward to seeing Rooney's gaff against Chelsea when he next scores.
Once again we must have a balanced report for all teams you cover.
I say 3 Cheers for Super Mario!
moyes is a clown... his player came through the back of Kompany taking his two feet off the ground and it's a bad tackle by Kompany ? them's the breaks if you make those moves.
David Moyes has been arrested and taken to the Hague to answer charges of crime againsy football for his tactics in Manchester today !!!
Football/City till I die !!
PS Crouch was born to play for Stoke !!
Oh, Ballotelli, world class!!!!
Head down & focused , Mario is coming of age; a very gifted footballer who I am sure Roberto will bring the best out of; today the start to many goals.
As for Moyes, who cares he has little to offer the EPL with his current outfit we all know that Everton are a "off-ball" niggle team; especially with that sibling idoit Neville. Never understood why their parents wanted twins! (drowning would have been a better option!) but alas we now have to tolerate the idiot one as a pundit- amazing!
Well done Mario - keep it going:)