Tevez on target in City win

Carlos Tevez scored twice against his former club as Manchester City beat West Ham 3-1 at Eastlands.

The Argentinean opened the scoring within five minutes and could have scored a hat-trick as City dominated the games opening exchanges.

The Hammers scored an unlikely equaliser after 20 minutes though as Carlton Cole diverted Radoslav Kovac’s shot past Shay Given.

Martin Petrov put Mark Hughes’ team back into the lead with a curling free kick and Tevez sealed the victory in the second-half with a header past Rob Green.

Stephen Ireland was replaced by Petrov after the midfielder failed to overcome illness whilst Roque Santa Cruz took his place among the substitutes for the first time since his £18 million transfer from Blackburn in the summer.

Cole returned alongside Luis Jimenez for West Ham after their defeat to Bolton in the Carling Cup whilst Matthew Upson was still missing with a calf strain and was replaced by young Manuel da Costa.

Upson’s absence was immediately felt as Petrov latched onto Gareth Barry’s header on and squared for former West Ham striker Tevez to score his first league goal for Manchester City.

City gave West Ham no time to settle and Tevez should have added to City’s lead as he shot inches wide before smashing the ball over the from 10 yards.

Hughes’ team had dominated the opening 20 minutes but West Ham grabbed an equaliser against the run of play through Cole. City’s defence failed to clear Alessandro Diamanti’s free kick and when the ball fell to Kovac he released a shot from the edge of the box which the England striker flicked goal-wards off his heel.

The goal gave Gianfranco Zola’s team renewed confidence and only Given’s save prevented Cole putting West Ham into an unlikely lead with a header.

However, City soon regained their composure and restored their lead when Petrov curled a fierce free kick round the West Ham wall and into the bottom right-hand corner.

Hughes’ men continued to look impressive going forward with both Craig Bellamy and Petrov testing Rob Green before half time.

However they failed to carry their momentum into the second half with Shay Given doing well to reach Wayne Bridge’s weak backpass to deny the onrushing Cole.

Poor defending undid all of West Ham’s promise though as the unmarked Tevez nodded in Bellamy’s free kick to make it 3-1.

Diamanti forced a good save from Given as West Ham looked to get back into the game but the Irishman was equal to the Italian’s stinging shot and was able to tip it over the bar.

City remained relatively comfortable but continued to look suspect at set pieces and James Tomkins leapt well to meet Mark Noble’s corner but couldn’t control his header and the ball flew aimlessly across goal.

Santa Cruz replaced Shaun Wright-Phillips for the final 10 minutes to make his debut and almost scored with a header from Petrov’s cross which flew just wide as City moved up to fifth in the league table.