Alan Curbishley will hope his side can bounce back in style on Sunday when they return to the City of Manchester Stadium looking to avenge their FA Cup elimination. Click here for the match report.
The Premier League meeting this weekend will afford his players the perfect chance to make amends after the hurt of a night that had promised so much. West Ham United had dominated much of the proceedings and, on another evening, Dean Ashton and Luis Boa Morte will feel they could have scored. As it was they found City goalkeeper Joe Hart in fine form, while Robert Green hardly had anything to do all evening. Elano's winning goal for the home side gave him little chance while Freddie Ljungberg and Lee Bowyer also felt hard done by after seeing appeals for handball in the penalty area waved away.
Manchester City v West Ham United
Picture Gallery
As in the first match, defenders like Matthew Upson were on top
Anton Ferdinand was to have an outstanding game
Dean Ashton went close to a volleyed goal on the half-hour
Lee Bowyer felt one or two decisions did not go his way
Luis Boa Morte showed plenty of commitment tracking back
Julien Faubert came on but it was Elano who would come to the fore
The Brazilian was able to score after Rolando Bianchi hit the post
Bowyer nearly equalised with a hooked effort over Joe Hart
The Hammers just could not find that goal though, leaving Ferdinand low