SERGIO AGUERO gave Manchester City the perfect tonic when it looked like they were struck by travel sickness again.
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| Sergio Aguero scored late to rescue a 2-2 draw for Man City at West Ham |
He scored with the only two decent shots on target sloppy City had to rescue a point after Enner Valencia had scored twice for West Ham.
His 81st-minute equaliser lifted City into second place. But it’s still just one win in their last seven away games now for City.
Revenge must have been on City’s minds after their shock home loss to the Hammers in September.
But they had already lost badly twice in the capital this season, to Tottenham and Arsenal, and they lost here last season as well.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini refused to rest anyone ahead of next Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Everton, so it was just about the strongest side he could pick.
Defeat at Newcastle last time out was West Ham’s first defeat in nine league games and, while they sing about dreams fading and dying in these parts, Europe still looks like a realistic prospect.
City barely had time to catch their breath before they went behind. Cheikhou Kouyate ghosted past Yaya Toure as if he wasn’t there to drill in a low cross which deflected off Fabian Delph into Valencia’s path – and he buried the ball past Joe Hart.
But the lead did not last long, with Aguero hitting the post after lobbing Adrian superbly, and then winning a penalty moments later.
Carl Jenkinson got a foot to the ball but he was already shoving the Argentina ace, and referee Craig Pawson pointed quickly to the spot.
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| Sergio has earlier equalised from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 |
Aguero kept his cool to level the scores, sending the Hammers keeper the wrong way – as Jenkinson limped off injured.
City dominated the rest of the half but Martin Demichelis was lucky to escape with a yellow card when he hacked down Michail Antonio, who was clear on goal.
Joe Hart produced a stunning one-handed save from the resulting free kick by Dimitri Payet.
Hart did well again to scamper back and tip the ball away later when some lovely skill from Payet resulted in Aaron Cresswell crossing for Valencia. Payet was again the dangerman just after the break, combining well with Mark Noble, whose far-post cross had Hart scrambling again.
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| Enner Valencia twice gave West Ham the lead |
Antonio should probably have done better as he rose to meet it but he headed wide.
Then it was Delph’s turn to go close, storming through the middle to crash a shot off the far post.
But there was bedlam when the home side went back in front straight afterwards.
Antonio took a quick throw-in and it took out two City defenders to reach Valencia, who volleyed home despite Nicolas Otamendi doing his best to foul him.
But that man Aguero popped up again just when the visitors needed him, pouncing on a rushed clearance from Cresswell to flick home the equaliser.
Kouyate almost snatched a dramatic late winner with the last touch of the game, but his header hit the crossbar.
Hart hailed City saviour Aguero, saying: “He is a killer – even though he is not at the standard he says is his best, he’s still scoring.
‘‘A West Ham win would not have been unfair – but a City win would have been unfair.”
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