West Ham rue missed chances in 4-1 defeat at Etihad

Manchester City 4 (Coufal, 10 (og), Haaland 42, 55, Foden 58)

West Ham United 1 (Fullkrug 71)

Two Erling Haaland goals helped Manchester City to a 4-1 win over West Ham - a convincing scoreline on paper but anything but in reality.

The Hammers were the better team in the first half and should have been ahead at the break.

Instead an own goal from Vladimir Coufal and a towering Haaland header gave the Londoners a mountain to climb at half time.

A fine Haaland dink over Alphonse Areola and a strike from Phil Foden within three minutes of each other early in the second half ensured City's second league win on the bounce after an atrocious run of form.

Niclas Fullkrug converted Tomas Soucek's centre to give the travelling Hammers something to shout about - but it was nothing more than a consolation.

In front of their own fans City looked nervy in the opening stages and it was West Ham who had the first chance. Crysencio Summerville played in Mohammed Kudus down the right, but he could only shoot into the side netting.

Soucek then had an even better chance but scuffed his shot wide when well placed in the centre of the box after good work from Kudus down the right.

But City rode their luck, and were in front seconds later. Savinho's cross from the left was cleared, but made its way back to the Brazilian, who controlled, took aim and saw his shot wickedly deflected off Coufal and past Areola at the near post.

But the Hammers were the better team in the first half. Summerville nicked the ball off a dithering Manuel Akanji on halfway, and gained the run of the City half of the field, but referee Michael Salisbury thought Summereville had won the ball unfairly and pulled back play.

Lucas Paqueta then had a shot from the left which striker Fullkrug was inches away from converting.

Haaland had just one touch of the ball in the opening half hour and cut a noticeably frustrated figure. But his strength created a chance for Bernardo Silva after 32 minutes, the Portuguese's attempt saved by the kegs of Areola.

City came to some sort of life and soon after Rico Lewis' shot from outside the box was well saved by a diving Areola.

And all of West Ham's hard work was undone just before the break. Foden's lovely cross-field ball found Savinho on the left. Savinho twisted and turned his defender and crossed for Haaland to nod in number two.

The Hammers continued to create chances in the second half. Good hold-up play by Kudus led to an opportunity for Coufal on the right side of the box - his effort was well tipped over by Stefan Ortega.

But it was City who continued to be the more clinical - Haaland doubling his account on 55 minutes when he collected Savinho's through ball, beat his defender and chipped the ball over the onrushing Areola for 3-0.

Foden made it four just three minutes later - West Ham taking chances at the back, and their playing out eventually led to a mistake - Kudas passing the ball to Kevin de Bruyne, who fed Foden for the finish.

West Ham did get a goal back on 71 minutes when Fullkrug converted Soucek's low cross from the left.

But it was far too late - and the Hammers were left to rue their missed early chances and returned to London, in the end, well beaten.

Teams:

Manchester City: Ortega, Ake (Walker 62), Kovacic (Gundogan 62), Haaland (Grealish 84) , De Bruyne, Silva, Gvardiol, Akanji, Savinho (McAtee 80), Foden, Lewis

West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Summerville, Paqueta, Fullkrug, Kudus (Guilherme 72), Alvarez (Ings 87), Todibo (Mavropanos 53), Kilman, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka

Referee: Michael  Salisbury

Picture: Charlie Stong