This has been coming. We've been due a ''big'' result over one of the big sides in this league, and for all our close shaves against United, Arsenal and City on the opening day - this win was long overdue, but bloody well deserved.
From the opening minute we did not allow City to get into any sort of rhythm. We pressed, pressed and pressed - not just individually, but in groups over key area's of the pitch. This made City rush into their passes and as a result we managed to intercept quite a few and break on them on the back of that.
The 3 goals we scored were down to awful defending from them, but if you look again the mistakes were down to us and our harrying and pressing. We made City sweat all afternoon to the point where they wanted to rush the pass all the time.
MP has carried on the ground work Adkins put in, but has put his little twist on things - which is working. I alluded to it earlier - we hunt in packs in key area's of the pitch. We don't run around like headless chickens trying to win the ball back, we tactically hunt in certain area's of the pitch with other players cleverly positioned on the outside of that area so we can spring when we win the ball. It's exactly what he implemented at Espanyol, sides didn't have an easy game against his team - and they won't do here either.
It strikes me that the players he has available are absolutely perfect for what he wants to do. Davis, Cork and Morgan are the players you'd want in a role like that - all 3 are so interchangeable and when you have them moving around as we have, then the oppositions midfield just won't be able to get a grip onto the match.
I thought City were dreadful, but alot of that was down to our hard work and quality on the ball. We didn't rush the pass like they did, we found the time and the space whereas we didn't allow them such luxuries.
To be honest, this is a result I didn't expect. I thought we'd blown our chance to go 6 clear last weekend, but I was wrong! It was a terrific result which is made even better with the results in and around us. Let's push on from here.
Boruc - 7 - Didn't have a great deal to do, but feel confident with him in there. Made a decent save from Auguro in the 2nd half.
Clyne - 8 - Excellent I felt. Defended well, got forward well and used his pace to great effect.
Jos - 9 - Best game of the season. He dominated Edin Dzeko all evening. Some of his positioning and headers were class.
Maya - 9 - Equally as good. The more composed of the 2, but his reading of the game is brilliant.
Fox - 7 - Had a solid game, wasn't attacked as much as he could have been but used the ball well when he had it.
Punch - 7 - Nice goal and lots of endevour in the first half, lacked the final pass at times and seemed to tire in the 2nd.
Morgan - 10 - MOTM by a mile. Best midfielder in the premiership at this moment in time, he was all over Toure.
Cork - 10 - Equally 10. Can we have a dual MOTM award? Hard to pick between these 2. They both bossed the show.
Davis - 8 - Full of energy and his final pass at the ''tip'' of the midfield was often very, very good. Gets into good positions in and around the box as well, and was in hand to mop up for the 2nd goal.
Lambert - 8 - Great hold up play as usual, and he was involved in all the goals. As soon as he gets into the box you know he will make something happen, he's got such a cool head in there and can pick out a pass no matter what.
Jay - 8 - Ran his heart out all game, is growing and growing into a real player. Full of pace and worries the CB's all game.
