Source: Telegraph
Manchester City 2 Portsmouth 0: match report
Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first goal since the beginning of December to set Manchester City on course for victory against Portsmouth at Eastlands. [LNB]The Togo forward, who was starting his first game since returning from Africa following the fatal gun attack on the Togo team bus in Angola earlier this month, made it seven goals since his £25m summer move from Arsenal with a first-half volley. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterTransfer TalkPremier League fixturesSport on televisionVincent Kompany's header moments later completed a routine victory for City, who rise to fifth position, and left Portsmouth closer to relegation. [LNB]Already six points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier League before kick-off, Portsmouth's dire financial situation was perhaps and even greater concern for the 2008 FA Cup winners. [LNB]Who knows what transfer deadline day will bring at Fratton Park, with the club's £60m debt leaving every player vulnerable to a late bid from rival clubs? [LNB]Despite the lifting of the club's transfer embargo on Jan 26, Pompey face a winding up order at the High Court on Feb 10 as a result of £11m of unpaid taxes. The club's website was temporarily closed down last week due to unpaid fees and there is a genuine fear that they will become the first Premier League club to enter administration in the coming weeks. [LNB]So with that financial horror story providing the backdrop to clash against City, it could be argued that events on the pitch would be the least of Portsmouth's worries. [LNB]Relegation appears inevitable, but Avram Grant's team did at least have opportunities to take the lead at Eastlands before the home side emerged from the obvious hangover from Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final defeat at Manchester United. [LNB]John Utaka wastefully shot over the crossbar from six yards after just three minutes before he saw another effort diverted onto the bar by City defender Kompany on 36 minutes. [LNB]Prior to those near misses, City, with Kolo Toure and Adebayor back in the starting line-up following their Africa Cup of Nations commitments, had appeared devoid of creativity and goal threat. [LNB]But Adebayor gave Roberto Mancini's team the platform to build the victory when he opened the scoring five minutes before half-time. The Togolese forward escaped the loose marking of Tal Ben Haim to latch on to Stephen Ireland's long-pass on the edge of the Portsmouth penalty area. [LNB]Having taken one touch to control the ball, the former Arsenal forward beat goalkeeper David James with a powerful volley from 18 yards. [LNB]Portsmouth, with just one victory in six league games prior to this fixture, then allowed City to double their lead in first-half stoppage time when Kompany was left unmarked to head home Martin Petrov's corner. [LNB]The Belgian defender was untroubled as he beat James with an unstoppable header to record his first goal since Sept 2008. [LNB]Portsmouth's response was tame to say the least. Other than an Angelos Bassinas effort that was saved by Shay Given, the visitors provided little to concern the home side. [LNB]And Carlos Tévez almost made it 3-0 to City when he struck the post from six yards on 79 minutes. Such a scoreline would not have flattered City.[LNB]
