The game: City 2-0 Stoke City
Date: December 26, 2009
The story: A sky blue and white scarf wrapped around his neck, Roberto Mancini waved to acknowledge the Etihad Stadium’s warm applause as he prepared for his first game in charge of Manchester City.
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Less than ninety minutes later the Italian’s name would be reverberating round the ground as a sell-out crowd saluted his winning start.
Seven days earlier it had been Mark Hughes waving to the fans, his final act before being relieved of his duties following a 4-3 win over Sunderland.
The decision to do so was deemed controversial in some quarters and it meant Mancini – officially appointed a matter of hours after Hughes’ final game – was at the centre of much speculation during his first week in the job.
Then, there was the matter of the team he was taking over.
City sat sixth in the league ahead of this game and while there was no reason to panic, we had won just two of our previous 11 league games, a run which included seven consecutive draws and had been characterised by some shaky defending.
How then, would the former Inter Milan manager fare against a Tony Pulis’ Stoke City side whose quintessentially English style of play has since led people to ponder whether many a continental star ‘could do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke?’
Remarkably well, was the answer.
City had to work hard for victory against the Potters, but it was a comfortable win and for Mancini, a job well done after only a week in charge.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given our defensive woes, the home side took time to settle and Shay Given was forced to make a brave block to deny Tuncay in the opening exchanges, but by the half hour mark, the Italian had the first goal of his City reign.
Released by Stephen Ireland’s first-time pass, Carlos Tevez surged down the left in trademark fashion before sending a low cross into the area for Robinho, who, unable to connect, turned it into Martin Petrov’s path to give the Bulgarian a simple tap in at the far post.
Mancini punched the air in delight and it got even better for the new manager before the break as Tevez doubled our lead in acrobatic fashion.
Gareth Barry was the provider, directing his header from Pablo Zabaleta’s cross towards the talismanic Argentine, who showed his athletic prowess to divert the ball past Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
The visitors responded by sending on the physical forward duo of James Beattie and Ricardo Fuller, but whilst the former forced Given into a good save, City’s defence were able to hold firm to ensure the Italian’s City career began in winning fashion.
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