Bosses clash at end of Toffees win

Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by PA

Rival managers Roberto Mancini and David Moyes were involved in a touchline bust-up after Everton dented Manchester City's Champions League qualification hopes with a 2-0 win at Eastlands.

Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta were both on target as fast-finishing Everton snatched a victory that denied City fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

City had dominated most of the game and the pressure on boss Mancini was evident as tensions spilled over when he and Moyes clashed in injury time. Mancini took exception to Moyes picking up a ball, apparently interpreting the Scot's action as an attempt to waste time.

It needed fourth official Howard Webb to intervene and referee Peter Walton sent both managers to the stand.

Yet Everton boss Moyes will have cared less after watching his side maintaining their stunning late charge for a European place.

The Toffees have lost just twice in 17 games while City, having apparently reasserted themselves as favourites for fourth place, let a golden chance slip.

Mancini had made three changes for the game with Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland and Nigel de Jong coming in and Pablo Zabaleta filling in at left-back for the injured Wayne Bridge.

Everton made two with fit-again top scorer Louis Saha replacing Ayegbeni Yakubu and Leon Osman coming in for Victor Anichebe.

Everton had a worrying moment early in the game as Steven Pienaar appeared to hurt his neck in a heavy, but fair, challenge from Richards.

The South African required treatment but was fit enough to continue.

City's Carlos Tevez was booked in unusual circumstances after nine minutes as he dived towards Phil Jagielka in an attempt to block a cross but caught the Everton defender.

After a slow start, City first threatened after 13 minutes as Kolo Toure burst forward from the back but Sylvain Distin dealt with the danger.

Osman then had an opportunity for Everton but volleyed well wide.

City pieced together a good move with Zabaleta crossing for Richards to force a save from Tim Howard with a firm header.

The hosts gradually began to assert their authority and Howard needed to be alert to prevent the onrushing Tevez getting in a shot from Ireland's pass.

Moments after thinking he might have had a penalty for a push in the area, Tevez was awarded a free-kick on the left.

After Craig Bellamy's initial cross was cleared, Adam Johnson clipped the ball back into the box for Tevez but the Argentinian failed to make firm contact.

But Tevez continued to look dangerous and charged past Distin into the area on another break, only for Jagielka to get a foot in.

Everton replied with Cahill firing narrowly over and then winning a free-kick on the right.

Arteta took the set-piece quickly and laid off for Leighton Baines to whip in a cross for Cahill to turn in for the opener with a trademark header.

City suffered a further blow before the break as Ireland was forced off injured and was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Everton had the first serious opportunity of the second half as Osman's long-range effort was deflected wide.

Cahill then went close to adding a second as Walton played advantage following a crunching tackle on Arteta by Zabaleta.

The midfielder picked up possession on the edge of the box and, having spotted Shay Given off his line, attempted a chip but his delicate effort floated wide.

Mancini responded by introducing the additional firepower of Roque Santa Cruz in place of Johnson and that appeared to spark a prolonged spell of City pressure.

Richards got clear, only to shoot well wide, and Wright-Phillips was also off-target after Santa Cruz left a Zabaleta cross to the England international.

City continued to pile forward but Everton coped well by blocking a Bellamy shot and clearing a number of crosses.

A brilliant turn by Tevez in the area then looked to have opened Everton up but again Howard was quick to smother at his feet.

After withstanding the bombardment, Everton enjoyed some respite as John Heitinga got forward and had a long-range shot deflected over.

City came back with Vincent Kompany threading through a fine ball for Santa Cruz but, off balance, the former Blackburn striker shot over.

The hosts then paid for their profligacy as Everton stole forward again to secure victory with a breakaway goal five minutes from time.

Substitute Jack Rodwell burst down the left and turned inside Kompany before pulling back into the box for Cahill, who sensed Arteta rushing behind and dummied for the Spaniard to score.

Tevez battled on for City but had another good run blocked by Jagielka.

The game was not quite over as trouble broke out between the managers on the touchline in injury time.