Read more about Match Reports.
Manchester City 2-0 Portsmouth
Match Reports, 15:48, January 31, 2010 ,
Manchester City secured all three points against a battling Portsmouth side despite a largely insipid performance at Eastlands.
The game was billed as a test of both sides' character, with Pompey seeking salvation on the pitch for the multitude of off-field problems currently plaguing them, while City were looking to bounce back from their Carling Cup defeat in midweek.
It soon became clear that, while Portsmouth seemed to have the greater motivation to make a statement of intent on the pitch, with Anthony Vanden Borre desperately unlucky to see his deflected effort strike the underside of the bar, the difference in class and quality between the teams was the decisive factor.
It was this difference in quality that shone through as City, who had looked fatigued and unconvincing going forward for much of the half, opened the scoring through a clinical finish from Emmanuel Adebayor. The goal had a hint of offside about it, but the striker took the chance well to break the travelling Pompey fans' hearts.
City's second goal also came out of nowhere, as Vincent Kompany outfought the Portsmouth defenders at a corner and powered a bullet of a header past David James shortly before the break.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, with City playing laboured football across the pitch and lacking any kind of incisive forward play.
Portsmouth had several decent chances to grab a goal back, with Jamie O'Hara and Danny Webber particularly wasteful. Craig Bellamy was introduced late on in the half and brought with him a spirit and energy lacking in the City side until that point, with his pinpoint pass picking out Tevez in the box, only for the striker to whack the ball against the post just yards from goal.
Frederic Piquionne had a good chance to grab a consolation for the away side minutes from the final whistle after the ball fell at his feet a yard from goal but he failed to react quickly enough and was forced to look on as Shay Given gathered in the ball.
Roberto Mancini will be pleased enough with the three points but City won't be able to put on too many more of these limp performances if they are to succeed in their quest to break the big four's stranglehold on the league.