Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City 2 Portsmouth 0: City still hungover as win masks poor show after Cup nightmare
It was the richest against the wretches, will pay versus can't pay, tangible oil wealth v potential parachute payments.[LNB]Guess who won?[LNB]Surprise, surprise, money talked in the Premier League on Sunday as £25million Emmanuel Adebayor marked his first Manchester City start since the trauma of Togo's experience at the Africa Cup of Nations with a thumping volley that sent his side on their way above Aston Villa into sixth place.[LNB] Back in the old routine: Adebayor (left) scores on his first appearance for City since the Africa Cup of Nations[LNB]City are one point behind Tottenham in the all-important fourth place with two games in hand. Adebayor is back in the fold. Superficially things are looking up.[LNB]But this victory was achieved without anything approaching eloquence. [LNB]As Roberto Mancini said: 'It's a victory, it's a clean sheet, but we didn't play well.But today is important because sometimes it's like this.'[LNB]Tribute: Adebayor points to the heavens[LNB]Asked if his players had been drained by last Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final loss at Old Trafford, Mancini said: 'Maybe physically it took something out of us, we moved the ball slowly.'[LNB]Lethargically would have been more accurate. This was one lazy Sunday afternoon from a City starting XI assembled for around £140m. [LNB]Had they drawn against a Portsmouth side anchored to the bottom of the table, it would not have been an injustice.[LNB]Considering the state of Pompey, Sunday's performance from players yet to receive January's wages was the most solid thing about the club. Manager Avram Grant is another of those said not to have received money due. That in turn has fuelled speculation about his future.[LNB]Grant did his best to sound committed, saying: 'I am here with the team and, as long as I am here, I will do my best. My future is not the issue.'[LNB]But the reality is that it is one of many issues. David James played in goal for the first time in six weeks as his stand-in Asmir Begovic had joined Younes Kaboul in talks on a move out of Portsmouth.[LNB]With Portsmouth's caterers reported to have taken away their fridges from the training ground, a trip to Eastlands was not the contest the club were seeking.[LNB]City are expected to complete the £7m signing of Parma's McDonald Mariga on Monday, whereas Portsmouth are all about bringing in enough cash to stay afloat. [LNB] Argy bargy: Pablo Zabaleta's match was ended by injury to his nose[LNB]This was the first of three away league games in six days for them. [LNB]It is Fulham on Wednesday then Old Trafford on Saturday. As of Monday morning they are six points off safety. Set against all that, though, is a game in hand and a display here more encouraging in its way than City's weary effort.[LNB]In good company: Vincent Kompany (No 33) is mobbed after scoring Manchester City's second[LNB]In only the fourth minute a rare spill by Shay Given gifted a free shot to John Utaka eight yards out, but he blasted over. [LNB]Then a neat backheel by Danny Webber on 26 minutes gave Anthony Vanden Borre a chance.[LNB]Fortunately for City, Vincent Kompany cut across but the deflection took Vanden Borre's drive on to the bar. When the ball bounced down Jamie O'Hara could not get to it before Stephen Ireland and the moment was gone.[LNB]The visitors' regret at that was compounded after 40 minutes. As Marc Wilson tried to play offside and and central defensive partner Tal Ben Haim didn't, Ireland sent a lofted pass 30 yards to Adebayor. Unchallenged 20 yards out, he smacked home a fine volley.[LNB]City's play did not warrant a lead, yet five minutes later it was doubled.[LNB]Kompany showed the desire missing elsewhere to rise above Ben Haim and power in Martin Petrov's corner.[LNB]Carlos Tevez hit a post later, but City were slack. [LNB] Manchester City v Portsmouth - as it happened, with Sportsmail's Tom BellwoodMan City rush to pip Jose Mourinho in race for Parma's McDonald MarigaPortsmouth close to ruin after Asmir Begovic snubs SpursMANCHESTER CITY FC
