Manchester City Vs. Notts County: Patrick Vieira Puts Hosts Ahead

Normal service has been resumed at Eastlands, but Manchester City will be baffled that they're had to result to get pieces to break down the Notts County defence. Not that they'll be too upset about it - they do have the opening goal after a spell of County pressure, after all, and it's broadly deserved after they were denied a clear penalty for a foul on Mario Balotelli at the half-hour mark. Since Karl Hawley hit the post for County earlier on, the home side has been much the better team, and Patrick Vieira was the man to put them ahead in the 38th minute.

David Silva swung in a corner, and Vieira, stooping at the near post, was able to get his header on target (unlike many previous lamentable efforts from various City players). It looked as though it would be a relatively straightforward save for Stuart Nelson, but Krystian Pearce's hand got in the way, deflecting it past his goalkeeper and into the net. Disaster for Paul Ince's team - while City do deserve a goal, the visitors don't deserve to be behind. They won't be too distraught with a 1-0 scoreline at half time at the Eastlands, but things could have gone very differently had their early spell of pressure netted real results.