FA Cup Third round replay/ Manchester City 1 West Ham Utd 0: The FA Cup presents Manchester City with their best chance of ending a 32-year wait for silverware.
West Ham were eventually overcome courtesy of that rarity, an Elano header, and Sven-Goran Eriksson's side now have to negotiate a trip to Sheffield United, reports Richard Jolly from the City of Manchester Stadium.
City boasted a surfeit of what, in earlier eras, might have been described as inside-forwards, in Elano, Stephen Ireland and Nery Castillo. Some tidy interplay in the midfield was a consequence, along with a shortage of bodies in the penalty box. City were reduced to two playmakers, however, when Castillo's contribution was curtailed by Lucas Neill, whose forceful challenge left the Mexican with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
While others converged on the centre of the pitch, Martin Petrov maintained his station on the left touchline. Indeed, City can be lopsided, such is their emphasis on the winger.
City's striking change had been the introduction of Rolando Bianchi for the unfortunate Castillo. When one whipped, low cross was parried by Green into his path, Bianchi scuffed a shot wastefully wide.
It was no surprise when Petrov played a pivotal part in the winner. His chipped cross was headed against the post by Bianchi and Elano plunged forward to evade Ferdinand's boot and convert the rebound.
- Guardian Service
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Hamann, Ireland, Elano, Castillo (Bianchi 34), Petrov, Vassell (Gelson 81). Subs not used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido. Booked: Hamann.
WEST HAM UTD: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg (Faubert 62), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington, Boa Morte (Cole 70), Ashton. Subs not used: Wright, Mullins, Spector. Booked: Boa Morte.
Referee: M Clattenburg(Tyne & Wear).
