Source: Telegraph
Manchester City 2 Stoke City 0: match report
Roberto Mancini began life as Manchester City manager with three points as goals from Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez secured victory against Stoke at Eastlands. [LNB]At the end of a difficult week for the club, dominated by strong criticism of the manner of their sacking of former manager Mark Hughes, Mancini ensured that City ended a turbulent period on a high by guiding his new team to an important three points. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesTransfer TalkSport on televisionDue largely to strong pro-Hughes sentiments within the City dressing-room, Mancini will have to win round those players still angry at the Welshman's sacking. [LNB]But the former Inter Milan coach delivered an early signal of his refusal to be dictated to by his squad by surprisingly starting with Robinho in favour of Craig Bellamy. [LNB]Bellamy, having previously worked with Hughes with Wales and Blackburn before arriving at City in January, is understandably one of the former manager's biggest admirers. [LNB]But he was forced to watch from the bench as Mancini's regime began with a comfortable, if unspectacular, victory against Stoke. [LNB]Maybe as a result of Hughes's ruthless dismissal seven days ago, the Stoke fans taunted Mancini with chants of 'You're getting sacked in the morning!' as he was introduced to the home supporters. [LNB]The pressure is clearly on Mancini to deliver a top four finish in order to satisfy the ambitions of owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, so a debut victory was precisely what the Italian would have been hoping for. [LNB]Stoke did not make it easy, however. The physical and uncomplicated approach of Tony Pulis's team certainly ruffled Robinho, who was subjected to a number of tough challenges from Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson. [LNB]But City's superior quality proved decisive, even if Stoke's second-half performance asked more questions of the home side's suspect back-four. [LNB]It was Bulgarian winger Petrov who opened the scoring, however, with a far post strike on 28 minutes. [LNB]Stephen Ireland's lay-off to Carlos Tevez in the centre-circle led to the Argentina carrying the ball 40 yards before his cross inside the penalty area was touched onto Petrov by Robinho. [LNB]Petrov, usually a left-sided midfielder, arrived unmarked to finish with his right-foot. [LNB]Robinho's lay-off was his only positive contribution. Considering he remains, at £32.5m, Britain's most expensive player, the Brazilian does little to justify his price tag. [LNB]And intriguingly, when he was replaced by Bellamy on 70 minutes, Robinho waved to the crowd in a manner that suggested he was waving goodbye. [LNB]With Barcelona constantly linked with the former Real Madrid player, it would be no surprise should Mancini decide that Robinho is surplus to requirements in January. [LNB]City will not lack firepower without him, as Tevez proved by doubling City's lead two minutes into first-half stoppage time. [LNB]The former Manchester United forward confirmed victory for Mancini by prodding the ball past goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen from close range after Gareth Barry had headed on Pablo Zabaleta's cross. [LNB]
