Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 1 Manchester City 2: Moyes is hit by Jags write-off as Robinho shines
For a man meant to be celebrating his 46th birthday, David Moyes exuded all the party spirit of someone who had just reversed their car over the family pet. [LNB]And for a player who had just been all but guaranteed a place in next month's FA Cup final, Joseph Yobo did not look like he was going to burst into song anytime soon. [LNB]It was that kind of day for Everton. [LNB] Bad timing: Phil Jagielka felt the pain and will miss the FA Cup final.[LNB]If becoming only the second Barclays Premier League side to lose at home to Manchester City this season was not bad enough, the sight of Phil Jagielka being carried off with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee certainly cast a cloud over the Wembley celebrations. [LNB]Jagielka's joyous expression after scoring the winning penalty against Manchester United in the semi-final shootout less than a week earlier was replaced by a look of anguish as Everton's influential centreback left the field on a stretcher. [LNB]'Football can be a cruel game at times. It can bring you great pleasure but also big downs,' admitted Moyes, who knew his team's chances of causing a similar upset against Chelsea had just taken a turn for the worse. [LNB] Everton 1 Man City 2: Robinho piles on the agony after Jagielka injury blowEverton 1 Man City 2: How the action unfolded[LNB]Having already lost Mikel Arteta, Yakubu and Victor Anichebe to long-term injuries, the Everton manager must do without Jagielka, who will have surgery next week. [LNB]Yobo replaced him on Saturday and will now partner Joleon Lescott for the rest of the season. The Nigerian has suffered his fair share of injuries, but drew no satisfaction from the circumstances in which he will play in Everton's first Cup final of the century. [LNB]'It's very sad, it was a bad day for us,' said Yobo. 'We lost the game and we're going to lose Phil for a while. [LNB]'The Cup final is the biggest game since I've been at Everton, but I wouldn't want to play because Phil is injured. They're not the circumstances I'd like. I've been injured myself this season and I'm just getting back. Now it's happened to Jags so we're disappointed.' [LNB]It was a happier day for Manchester City, with enigmatic Robinho the star of the show.[LNB]If further proof were needed that fortunes can change very quickly in football, it was evident in the performance of City's resident enigma Robinho. [LNB]Anonymous away from home for much of the season and dropped to the bench for the first time a fortnight ago after failing to score in 2009, the Brazilian was on the scoresheet for the second time in a week and provided a timely reminder of why City paid a British record £34million for him last summer. [LNB]Robinho was simply superb and his link-up play with Stephen Ireland caused Everton constant problems. [LNB]Having latched on to a perfectly weighted pass from Elano to open the scoring 10 minutes before half-time, he provided the ball for the equally impressive Ireland to double City's lead in the 54th minute. Although Dan Gosling replied for Everton in stoppage time, it was not enough to prevent City's first Premier League away win since August 31 - the day before Robinho arrived from Real Madrid. [LNB]Ireland said: 'There's a real sense of frustration at what we might have done if we'd been more consistent away from home. All we can do now is make sure we finish the season strongly and hopefully next season you will see the real City.' [LNB]The Irishman was quick to praise his two Brazilian team-mates, an inseparable duo who have not always endeared themselves to the rest of the dressing room. [LNB]Ireland added: 'Robinho is a brilliant talent. All I had to do was run in straight lines because you know he will put it through for me. It's been a great day for us and, for me, the whole season has been a really big step up. It's been unbelievable. [LNB]'He's worked really hard today and played unbelievably. But you could say the same for Elano as well. He was in and out of the team earlier in the season and not happy about it, but has played the last 15 or so matches and his all-round game has been superb throughout. [LNB]'They are two great players and it's just fantastic to play alongside them.' [LNB]Mark Hughes' side still have ambitions of joining Everton in the new Europa League. Moyes, meanwhile, just hopes the FA Cup does not become too much of a distraction.[LNB] 'I would expect them to keep up the same level,' said the Scot. 'If it isn't, then I will be letting them know.' [LNB]No-one dared wish him a happy birthday. [LNB]EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard 6; Hibbert 5, Yobo 6, Jagielka 6, Baines 6; Osman 5, Fellaini 5 (Cahill 60min, 6), Neville 6, Pienaar 7; Castillo 5 (Gosling 60, 7), Saha 4 (Vaughan 60, 6). Booked: Neville. MAN CITY (4-3-3): Given 7; Richards 6 (Fernandes 57, 6), Onuoha 6, Dunne 6, Bridge 6; Ireland 8, De Jong 6, Kompany 6; Elano 7 (Evans 88), Caicedo 6 (Petrov 84) Robinho 8. Booked: Onuoha, Elano, Fernandes. Man of the match: Robinho. Referee: Alan Wiley.[LNB] Everton 1 Man City 2: Robinho piles on the agony after Jagielka injury blowEverton 1 Man City 2: How the action unfolded[LNB] [LNB]
