Football NewsMan City Hold Off West Ham Fightback in Blizzard and Freezing Temperatures
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Manchester City kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea with an important win over West Ham in a blizzard condition and freezing temperatures at the Etihad.

Elsewhere, this might have become a bit nervy and anxiety might have enveloped the ground to the same extent as the Manchester snow. West Ham were by no means out of this until the final moments yet never really in it either while City overcame a snowstorm to extend their winning run and remain on course in their title defense.

It was far from Vintage City but Guardiola’s side dug deep to beat the elements and seal a gritty win. This was courtesy of goals from Ilkay Gundogan and substitute Fernandinho.

If Guardiola’s players deserved credit for digging out the win, so too did the ground staff at the Etihad Stadium for clearing snow from the pitch at half-time to ensure the game could go on.

Guardiola was without attacking trio Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish for the third successive game. But still, his side had enough quality to edge past West Ham.

City took the lead in the 34 th minute. Ilkay Gundogan reacted the quickest to turn the ball in after Riyad Mahrez’s cross was deflected into his path off Creswell. The goal owed much to the vision and execution of Joao Cancelo who picked out Mahrez with an exquisite lofted ball that created the opening from which Gundogan was able to score.

Mahrez hit a post after a goalbound effort from Cancelo was palmed away by Fabianski although he should have squared the ball to his waiting team-mates, instead of going for glory himself.

The snow eased at kick-off but fell heavily towards the latter stages of the first-half, half-time extended by five minutes to allow the pitch to be cleared by the ground staff.

City should have made it 2-0 10 minutes after the restart when Sterling played the ball into Jesus’ path who toll a touch before Cresswell cleared the ball and clattered into a post. Declan Rice tested Ederson with a rasping effort from 25 yards, the City keeper punching the ball away while his opposite number Fabianski was out quickly at the other end to deny Gundogan.

Substitute Fernandinho made sure of the win in the 90 th minute moments after coming on, steering the ball past Fabianski after Jesus had cut it back for him. Manuel Lanzini lashed a looping effort over Ederson and into the net in the 94 th minute. But there was not enough added time for the Hammers to plunder and equalizer.