Despite dominating for long periods the champions lost 2-1 to a resurgent West Ham.
And that despite a sensational 76th minute David Silva goal that saw him turn past a handful of defenders and curl home an unstoppable shot. A wonder strike.
Unfortunately for the mesmeric Spaniard, City had already conceded twice to Morgan Amalfitano and Diafra Sakho and trooped off with nothing after an afternoon of pure frustration.
It has been that kind of few days for Manuel Pellegrini’s men who left Moscow in midweek subdued after surrendering a two goal lead in the Champions League.
Certainly they exited London wondering how they only managed one goal after a second half onslaught on the home penalty area.
But the in-form Sergio Aguero missed a gilt edged chance when he hit the bar from just seven yards and the champions were out of luck again when Yaya Toure also rattled the woodwork.
And when they did manage to avoid the magnetic lure of the goal’s frame, City found home keeper Adrian in top form particularly with his legs – as Aguero found to his cost.
...West Ham v City...
Injuries to Frank Lampard and Samir Nasri – both should be available next week – reduced Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield options and there were minimal changes to the starting team that led 2-0 against CSKA but eventually had to settle for a point.
Into the starting eleven came Jesus Navas and Aleks Kolarov.
West Ham were unchanged from a 3-1 win at Burnley and almost unrecognisable from the side that City defeated four times last season; scoring 14 goals in the process.
It has been a case of champagne Bubbles rather than stinging brickbats over the Boleyn so far this season.
They came into this contest in a giddy fourth place in the still embryonic Premier League table and boasting wins over Liverpool and QPR in their previous pair of home matches – though conversely they lost the other two to Spurs and Southampton.
Charged by the Upton Park hierarchy to play more expansive football this season, boss Sam Allardyce has fashioned a team that adheres to the boardroom and terrace prescription and both teams attacked with pace, precision and panache.
After a start in which they dominated possession but created only half chances and earned a couple of free kicks around the edge of the box, City fell behind in the 21st minute when livewire Enner Valencia left both Clichy and Eliaquim Mangala in his speedy wake and pulled the ball back beyond Joe Hart for Morgan Amalfitano to walk the ball in.
There was a suspicion of offside to the route one goal but there was no doubting the speed and awareness of Valencia.
The movement of the aforementioned striker and Sakho up front for the Hammers caused consistent problems for the visiting back four; indeed Valencia was almost on the score sheet a minute earlier when a straight free kick into the heart of the City box saw Hart flattened in making a brave save.
Thereafter the ball pinged across the champions’ penalty area on too many occasions for comfort though City had their moments too.
...West Ham v City...
Vincent Kompany headed just over from a Jesus Navas free kick and David Silva, silky smooth again when on the ball but not on it often enough for City’s liking in the opening 45 minutes, clipped another free kick a foot over the bar.
Adrian, the WHU keeper, made an unconventional save in injury time from a ball that cannoned off Sergio Aguero’s midriff but it was the Manchester fans who were feeling sick in the stomach at the half way point.
Pellegrini had seen enough by the 58th minute and he withdrew Edin Dzeko, sent on Stevan Jovetic and pushed Silva central from where the little maestro ran the rest of the game and City looked a more potent threat.
After Aguero had hit the bar from a Navas cross and Sakho’s header had narrowly beaten the dive of Hart to put West Ham 2-0 up, Silva scored his wonder goal and conducted the orchestra as only he can.
But Toure’s effort clipped the bar and Adrian continued his heroics to deny Jovetic a last gasp equaliser.
