Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City 1 Fulham 1: Damien Duff snatches point for Mark Hughes on his return to Eastlands
Mark Hughes has waited 14 long months to return to Manchester City and see if anyone would look him in the eye. [LNB]He got his answer on Sunday and didn't like it one bit. [LNB]But it was Hughes' replacement Roberto Mancini, not the men who sacked him, who upset the Fulham boss most. [LNB] Look into my eyes: Mark Hughes didn't take kindly to Roberto Mancini's post match reaction[LNB] He accused the Italian of being disrespectful by not looking at him as they shook hands at the final whistle, with Mancini later admitting it was in retaliation for a half-hearted handshake from Hughes when City won 4-1 at Fulham in November. [LNB]This game had a very different ending, and a satisfying one for Hughes, on his first return to City since being harshly dismissed for results that did not meet the 'trajectory' needed to qualify for the Champions League. [LNB]The only trajectory that mattered yesterday was that of Damien Duff's shot into the back of the net, whichcancelled out a first-half opener from Mario Balotelli and dented City's hopes of finally finishing in the top four. [LNB]As his assistant Mark Bowen punched the air at the end, Hughes shook hands with Mancini, but suddenly withdrew and pointed angrily at his eyes before storming down the tunnel. [LNB] Rasping: Balotelli (right) watches as his shot flies past Mark Schwarzer to give City the lead[LNB]'It's probably my fault again, but I'm a little bit old-fashioned,' said Hughes.[LNB] 'I always think if you offer your hand, it should be accepted.[LNB] 'Sometimes it's difficult. I had to offer my hand and do it with sincerity when my team were beaten 4-1 by Roberto's. I was disappointed, obviously, but I acknowledged that his team were better. [LNB]'I just didn't think Roberto acknowledged how well we'd done by the way he offered his hand.' [LNB]It is not the first time Hughes has been involved in a squabble at the final whistle.[LNB] In December 2009, he waved Arsene Wenger down the tunnel when the Arsenal boss refused to shake hands after a defeat at Eastlands, and twice this season he and Stoke manager Tony Pulis have snubbed one another. [LNB] Welcome back: Carlos Tevez and Mark Hughes shake hands before City's draw with Fulham[LNB]Mancini said of his action: 'In London he did the same. That was probably in my mind, but it's not important. The result is more important than these stupid things.[LNB] 'He should be happy he got a draw against us.' [LNB]Hughes replied: 'I don't recall doingthat. I think he's incorrect. Everybody has pride and you want to be acknowledged for how you do your job. It was not just about me, it was about my staff and their families. To come here and get a positive result was really important for a lot of people.'[LNB] It was a fiery end to an often tepidencounter. Without the injured David Silva, City lacked penetration, and Edin Dzeko, Balotelli and Carlos Tevez were disappointing. [LNB] [LNB] Crunch! Mario Balotelli is fouled by Fulham's Brede Hangeland during the sides' Premier League match[LNB] [LNB]The Argentina striker was involved inCity's opener after 26 minutes, however, when he played a short pass into Balotelli on the edge of the area.[LNB] The youngster then brushed off Danny Murphy be fore beating Mark Schwarzer with a low shot inside the post. [LNB]Asked if he was happy with Balotelli,Mancini said: 'No. He scored a good goal but I'm not happy. He should play better than today.' [LNB] Enlarge Leveller: Damien Duff celebrates after scoring Fulham's equaliser[LNB] [LNB]Duff shocked City with an unstoppable close-range equaliser three minutes after half-time and Schwarzer then denied them twice, turning away a Tevez effort and tipping over Aleksandar Kolarov's volley from 30 yards as the City fans groaned. [LNB]Hughes will have found that music to his ears. [LNB] [LNB] No happy new year for cityManchester City 's form has markedly declined since the turn of the year. [LNB]In the last two months of 2010 they had the best set of results in the Premier League, taking 21 points from 10 games. [LNB]But their points tally in 2011 (12 from eight matches) is more like that of a mid-table side and has hampered their push for a Champions League place.[LNB] Hughes unhappy with Mancini as Fulham's point all but ends City's title hopes Napoli striker Cavani could be world's most expensive player at ?85mWe don't want sympathy! Manchester City star Joleon Lescott won't make fixture pile-up an excuseAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinionAll the latest Fulham news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Mark Hughes, Mario Balotelli, Damien Duff, Edin Dzeko, Danny Murphy, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, David Silva, Tony Pulis Places: London, Argentina
