The last time Mark Hughes oversaw a victory at the Etihad Stadium, he was sacked shortly afterwards. It is safe to say a different fate awaits him now and, whether or not this constituted revenge, it was certainly a reminder of his prowess to the club that discarded him so unceremoniously.
Hughes is now approaching the fifth anniversary of his 2009 dismissal, minutes after Manchester City beat Sunderland 4-3, and when they had already lined up his successor, Roberto Mancini, and if he was miscast as a manager of a super-rich club with vaunting ambition, he has often excelled with a lesser budget and a competitive group of players.
A superlative result was achieved in spectacular style, Mame Biram Diouf running virtually the length of the pitch to score the only goal.
Nevertheless, earthier values were as important for Stoke City. Well configured by Hughes, they defended brilliantly. Manchester City, who had scored 99 times in just 30 home games under Manuel Pellegrini, were frustrated and, as the champions had won 50 of their previous 58 league matches at the Etihad Stadium, this was both a startling scoreline and, for Stoke, a deserved one.
It had seemed a sign of Manchester City’s strength in depth that they could rest Pablo Zabaleta, arguably the division’s outstanding right-back, after a solitary start this season, and introduce Bacary Sagna for his debut. The Etihad Stadium serves as a home from home for former Gunners and a combination of Arsenal alumni almost brought the opener. Sagna squared the ball for Samir Nasri, whose low shot was touched wide by Asmir Begovic.
Stoke have a sizeable former Manchester United contingent, headed by manager Hughes. Another Old Trafford old boy attempted to give them a belated first goal at the Etihad Stadium. Diouf intercepted Phil Bardsley’s hopeful effort only to scuff his shot wide. Ruled offside then, he was irritated that the officials took no action when Aleksandar Kolarov tripped him just inside the penalty area.
It was proof that, while defending in numbers, they still possessed an attacking threat. The favourites were frustrated. Stevan Jovetic squared up to Ryan Shawcross while his team-mates showed hints of rustiness. Kolarov took the wrong option when he could cross, Yaya Touré lofted a shot over the bar and, strangest of all, David Silva overhit a pass.
Briefly, however, they returned to their seductive best. Sergio Agüero darted into the penalty area, drawing a crowd of defenders to him, and released Kolarov with a backheel. The left-back took the right option this time, finding Touré, who struck the bar.
While one penalty area was packed, however, the other was virtually deserted and, inadvertently, the pressure one City exerted brought a breakthrough for the other. Stoke cleared a corner as far as Diouf, lurking a few yards outside his penalty area. He ran a further 80, brushing off Kolarov and nutmegging Fernandinho, the last defender, before sliding a shot past Joe Hart for a magnificent solo goal.
Manuel Pellegrini responded by sending for the cavalry, in the form of Edin Dzeko and Jesús Navas, but two of his starting 11, the elusive Agüero and the persistent Touré, threatened an equaliser. The latter had a shot deflected wide before being booked for diving when he claimed a penalty after an Erik Pieters challenge. As Stoke had discovered earlier, referee Lee Mason was in no mind to point to the spot.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/30/manchester-city-stoke-city-premier-league-match-report
