Manchester City secured their first away league win since August with a clinical display at Everton.
Everton fall to home defeat
Manchester City boosted their hopes of European qualification with a rare away victory at Goodison Park.
The visiting side took the lead 10 minutes before half-time when an Everton free-kick was cleared and Elano played in compatriot Robinho, who slotted home through Tim Howard's legs.
Stephen Ireland doubled City's lead after another quick counter-attack and a superb ball from Robinho left him with a simple finish.
Everton were forced to play the last 30 minutes with 10 men as Phil Jagielka was eliminated with a knee injury moments after David Moyes had made a triple substitution.
Substitute Dan Gosling pulled a goal back in an extended period of stoppage time but City held on to take all three points.
Robinho was lively from the start, with six successive step-overs bamboozling Tony Hibbert before the City forward spoiled it by going down too easily in the penalty area after only eight minutes.
Pressure
The first shot on target came from Everton when a neat interchange between Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini released Louis Saha down the left but he struck his shot too close to Shay Given.
Expectant home fans, who were welcoming back their FA Cup finalists, became increasingly frustrated as on two separate occasions the ball was fizzed across the six-yard area with no Everton player able to make contact.
There was almost greater cause for concern in the 25th minute when Elano's shot was blocked by Leighton Baines but only as far as Robinho, whose powerful shot seemed destined for the net before it was batted away by Howard.
Baines saved Everton shortly afterwards when Ireland raced through the centre to collect Felipe Caicedo's pass but the left-back averted the danger with a perfectly timed sliding tackle.
City hit Everton on the break when Elano's brilliant first-time pass sent compatriot Robinho racing down the wing and he left Jagielka trailing before sliding the ball between Howard's legs.
Five minutes after half-time, Given produced a brilliant close-range save to deny Fellaini. Hibbert's initial cross had sailed over the Belgian but Pienaar collected on the left and rolled it back to his team-mate who flicked it up, spun and volleyed from six yards out only to see his effort tipped over.
Break
Just as Everton seemed to be gaining a foothold in the game they conceded a second courtesy of a swift 54th-minute counter-attack.
The ball was played up to Caicedo, there who laid it off to Robinho wide on the left and with the defence pulled over to one side no-one, apart from the Brazilian, spotted the on-rushing Ireland.
Robinho clipped the ball into the gaping space in front of the penalty area and Ireland calmly controlled before slotting a low shot into the corner.
On the hour Fellaini claimed he had been fouled by Vincent Kompany in the penalty area from Hibbert's long throw but referee Alan Wiley turned down his appeals.
Worryingly, with the FA Cup final a month away, Jagielka was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly and injuring his left knee.
Everton pressed forward despite the disadvantage and Baines appealed for a penalty when his cross hit the arm of Richard Dunne but the defender had kept his hands down and nothing was given.
Seven minutes of injury time allowed Gosling to fire home a consolation but the home crowd was ultimately sent home frustrated.
| Everton |
Team Statistics |
Manchester City |
| 1 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
8 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 5 |
Corners |
3 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.4 |
Passing Success |
72.2 |
| 12 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 75 |
Tackles Success |
61.9 |
| 55.9 |
Possession |
44.1 |
| 58.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
41.8 |
|
