Manchester City have all but assured their place in the Capital One Cup final after a resounding 6-0 win over West Ham United.
Alvaro Negredo scored the first of his three goals with a excellent volley after 12 minutes, while Yaya Toure netted a superb individual goal before half time.
After Negredo had quickly completed his hat-trick four minutes into the second half, Edin Dzeko scored twice to cap off a dismal night for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, who could be on the brink of being replaced at Upton Park.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match between Manchester City and West Ham United in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final.
On current form, you will struggle to get a more one-sided semi-final. Manchester City's home form has been simply remarkable since the start of the season, while West Ham's only victory since November 30 was against Tottenham Hotspur in this competition. However, football isn't played on paper, and the Hammers arrive at the Etihad Stadium with nothing to lose. Can they pull off an almighty shock? Only time will tell...
The team news is already in from the North-West. If West Ham were hoping that Manchester City might play a weakened team this evening, they are going to be disappointed...
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Nasri, Toure, Garcia, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko
WEST HAM UNITED XI: Adrian; Demel, Johnson, O'Brien, McCartney; Cole, Diame, Noble, Taylor, Downing; Maiga
With Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas already known to be missing tonight, that's a very strong starting lineup for the home side, and it gets no weaker on the substitutes' bench either. Full details of that coming up.
As for West Ham, the big news coming out of their dressing room is the inclusion of Roger Johnson, who has signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has been plying his trade at Sheffield Wednesday for the past couple of months.
MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Hart, Nastasic, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Milner, Lopes
WEST HAM SUBSTITUTES: Jaaskelainen, Rat, Diarra, Collison, Morrison, Jarvis, C.Cole
The West Ham bench would suggest that Sam Allardyce has decided to rest some of his best players ahead of their crucial Premier League clash at Cardiff City at the weekend. I'm sure that several of them will make an appearance during the second half, but it appears as though preference has been given to their trip to Wales, which, I guess, is understandable.
The two teams have already met during the current campaign at Upton Park. Overall, it was a dominant display from City, who opened up a 2-0 advantage through a double from Sergio Aguero, and while the Hammers pulled a goal back through Ricardo Vaz Te, David Silva netted 10 minutes from time to give the visitors a deserved 3-1 success.
Manchester City have had to play three games to get through to this stage of the competition. They opened up with a resounding 5-0 triumph over Wigan Athletic, before they edged out Newcastle United at St James' Park. The draw was kind to Manuel Pellegrini's side in the last eight, and they eased to a 3-1 win away at Leicester City.
West Ham have had to come through a match more than their hosts to make the semi-finals. After home wins over Cheltenham Town and Cardiff City respectively, the Hammers left Turf Moor with an impressive 2-0 win away at Burnley. In the quarter-finals, they were the underdogs against Tottenham Hotspur, but after falling a goal behind, they rallied to win 2-1 against their London rivals.
You might not need reminding, but I'm going to anyway. The semi-finals of the Capital One Cup is played over two legs, with tonight's match being the first. The second match of this tie with take place at Upton Park on January 21. I imagine that West Ham's objective this evening will to ensure they are no more than a goal behind going into that match.
We are 15 minutes away from kickoff at the Etihad Stadium. How does everyone see this match going?
PREDICTION! Simply put, I can see West Ham getting blown away by Manchester City this evening. The only hope for Sam Allardyce's team is if they can keep the match close going into the final 30 minutes. At that stage, Allardyce could introduce the likes of Matt Jarvis, Ravel Morrison and Carlton Cole, but it would be a surprise if City haven't netted two or three goals by the time the Hammers chief begins to contemplate any changes. Man City to win 4-0.
If you have an interest in any of the action over the continent, then why not keep track of the matches taking place in France, Italy and Spain over the course of the evening? You can do so by clicking here.
Out come the two sides to what appears to be a bigger crowd than what was at Sunderland last night. There were around 17,000 empty seats at the Stadium of Light 24 hours ago.
West Ham get us underway.
West Ham start brightly, and keep hold of the ball for the opening 60 seconds, but City have retrieved possesion of the ball and immediately look about pushing the visitors back. A bit of confusion in the West Ham penalty area almost lets Pablo Zabaleta in, but the ball runs fortuitously to Adrian.
I must say, I'm pleased that Sam Allardyce has opted to select Adrian. I didn't fancy writing Jussi Jaaskelainen all night...
City win the first corner of the night on the left-hand side, but Javi Garcia sees a header go wide at the near post.
REFEREE DOWN! Jon Moss has taken a tumble inside the Manchester City half, much to the delight of the crowd. The official does his best to laugh it off. We've set up in the expected pattern of tonight's game - Manchester City are attacking and West Ham are defending.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United (Negredo)
It's route one, but wow, that's a delightful goal. Yaya Toure plays a raking 50-yard ball over the West Ham defence, and Alvaro Negredo takes the ball on the volley and finds the bottom corner with a powerful effort from eight yards. Great goal.
I'm sure that Sam Allardyce will be requesting an explanation as to why Alvaro Negredo was allowed to drift in so easily, but you can't take anything away from that pass and finish.
This has been a decent response from the visitors. They force a couple of corners, but someone needlessly gives away a foul before the second delivery reaches its intended target.
EFFORT! The West Ham midfield hustle the ball off Manchester City, but after a threatening run towards the penalty area, Mohamed Diame drags a 25-yard shot wide of Costel Pantilimon's post.
David Silva and Samir Nasri test Adrian with decent long-range efforts, but there's a big concern over Yaya Toure. The Ivorian appears to have twisted his knee when attempting to win the ball in midfield. It doesn't look great.
The encouraging news is that Toure was helped off the pitch, rather than stretchered off. He looks intent on returning, but he would be best advised coming off. He gets a huge ovation on his return.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 West Ham United (Negredo)
Well if Manuel Pellegrini was in two minds about withdrawing Yaya Toure, that goal might make his mind up. Edin Dzeko plays in his strike partner Alvaro Negredo, and the Spaniard fires the ball into the roof of the net. It's a marvelous goal, it's a marvelous finish, and City look ready to add to their tally before the half-time whistle.
I should add, Yaya Toure is still on the pitch. It's a remarkable recovery. Manchester City continue to push forward, and Javi Garcia volleys over from a corner.
EFFORT! This match looks over as a contest. City are spraying the ball about at will, mainly through David Silva and Yaya Toure, before Alvaro Negredo attempts an ambitious effort from distance that flies several yards over the crossbar.
CHANCE! It should be 3-0. Samir Nasri dances into the West Ham penalty area, and looks ready to curl the ball into the bottom corner. Instead, he lays the ball off to Edin Dzeko, who fires the ball into the stands.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United (Toure)
This is beginning to get ugly. Yaya Toure goes on a rampaging run from the halfway line, and although he is held up in his tracks, he keeps hold of the ball before driving the ball past Adrian from 16 yards. So, so easy.
I'm starting to feel a little sorry for West Ham...the oles are coming from the Manchester City fans and we are only in the first half.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
SHOT! Mohamed Diame tries his luck from 25 yards, but his curling effort goes straight into the hands of Costel Pantilimon. That should be that for the first half.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
Referee Jon Moss finally gives Sam Allardyce the chance to deliver what needs to be the mother of all team talks at the break. Manchester City lead this game 3-0, and you wouldn't bet against them scoring more in the second 45 minutes.
West Ham supporters - I'm about to post the half-time statistics, I would advise that you turn away now. Manchester City had 73% of possession and 14 shots on goal during that half, while the Hammers posted just three attempts on Costel Pantilimon's goal. The corner count is at four apiece - that's about as positive as I can get for the visitors.
What does Sam Allardyce do from here? He surely has to make a change, but who? The defence needs tightening up, they need more creativeness in midfield, and more threat in attack!
Carlton Cole has been introduced for Modibo Maiga. That's a bit more intent from Sam Allardyce. Manchester City get us underway.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 West Ham United (Negredo)
That team talk went well...! City are cruising at the Etihad, and Alvaro Negredo has his hat-trick. David Silva's pass across the box was deflected into the path of Negredo, and the Spaniard curled the ball into the far corner from 16 yards.
SHOT! Yaya Toure has already scored five free-kicks for Manchester City this season, but he can't add a sixth, with the ball flying marginally over Adrian's crossbar. This is turning into a disastrous night for Sam Allardyce.
SHOT! This is getting ridiculous. West Ham have no answer to anything that Manchester City are doing at the moment, and after Edin Dzeko drives towards goal, he clears the crossbar by a matter of inches with a rasping drive.
Edin Dzeko goes down in the penalty area under pressure from Joey O'Brien, but the referee waves his appeals away. O'Brien is incensed with Dzeko, claiming that he dived, but Dzeko doesn't take too kindly to his accusations and the two players clash heads. However, it's unseen by the referee.
GOAL! Manchester City 5-0 West Ham United (Dzeko)
This could very well end up being Sam Allardyce's last game as West Ham manager. City have their fifth through Edin Dzeko, who converted the ball into the net at the near post after a low cross from Gael Clichy.
SUBSTITUTION! Manuel Pellegrini finally makes his first change of the night, bringing off Yaya Toure for Martin Demichelis. I'm sure that a couple more will follow shortly.
One thing that has perhaps gone unnoticed this evening is the work-rate of Alvaro Negredo. He's still tracking back deep in his own half, even with his side five goals to the good.
SAVE! Adrian makes a fine stop to prevent City making it six! Samir Nasri floated the ball to the back post for Edin Dzeko, but the Bosnian's header was superbly clawed out by the stopper. It was almost Gordon Banks like. Almost...
SUBSTITUTION! The Manchester City supporters get another chance to see 18-year-old Marcos Lopes in action, who has come on for David Silva.
The West Ham fans are making their feelings known regarding the position of Sam Allardyce. I get the impression that they want him gone before their trip to Cardiff City at the weekend.
SUBSTITUTION! Manuel Pellegrini's makes his final alteration of the evening, bringing off three-goal hero Alvaro Negredo for Aleksandar Kolarov.
As you can imagine, the intensity of this game has dropped off somewhat since the start of the second half. I think that West Ham are perfectly happy to ensure that they don't concede another, rather than sending players forward to try to score a consolation. As I mention that, Edin Dzeko forces Adrian into a super save low to his right.
Aleksandar Kolarov tries to score with one of his trademark long-range screamers, but he doesn't connect properly and the ball fizzes a couple of yards wide. The full-time whistle couldn't come soon enough for the West Ham fans who have made the long journey up to Manchester.
GOAL! Manchester City 6-0 West Ham United (Dzeko)
It goes from bad to worse for West Ham. Marcos Lopes does brilliantly to flick the ball to the advancing Aleksandar Kolarov, who drills the ball back to Edin Dzeko, who is waiting by the penalty spot, and the striker makes no mistake in driving the ball into the corner from 12 yards.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 6-0 West Ham United
The referee blows the full-time whistle, and Manchester City have all but assured their place in the final of the Capital One Cup with an easy 6-0 win over West Ham United. Could that be the end for Sam Allardyce?
City were well worth the 6-0 scoreline, and it could have easily been double figures. West Ham were woeful, but this was your typically powerful performance from City, and the Hammers simply had no answer to it.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening, for what was as one-sided a contest as you could possibly get. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
