Pearce hails goal king Cole

Man City 2 West Ham 1

Cole emerged a decisive victor in his personal duel with fellow Manchester United old boy Teddy Sheringham, curling home a superb opener then adding a close-range second as City scored a well-deserved win over West Ham.

Cole, who was 34 on Saturday, has already expressed a desire to extend a contract which expires at the end of the season and his first, a pin-point curling effort into the top corner after Darius Vassell had released him with an astute back-heel was a mark of pure class.