Mancini march gathers pace

AS HE peered through the fog that shrouded Molineux last night, Roberto Mancini will have been acutely aware that he cannot possibly visualise a future at Manchester City without Craig Bellamy.

Just days after rumours abound that Bellamy was leading a rebellion designed on undermining the new City manager, following the dismissal of mentor Mark Hughes, the urbane Italian was given an immediate reminder that the Wales international will be crucial in his attempts to progress at Eastlands.

Carlos Tevez’s double and an excellent free kick from Javier Garrido maintained Mancini’s 100% start, securing City only their first away win since August, but it was the performance of Bellamy that shone out through the gloom in the bitter cold of the Black Country.

The Wales international was recalled in place of the much maligned Robinho, with Mancini showing his cojones by dropping the underachieving Brazilian, after enduring criticism for picking him on his opening bow against Stoke City.

In came Bellamy, and these are the tough decisions Mancini will have to make if he is to balance satisfying his ambitious employers with building a team capable of splintering the established order at the top of the Premier League.

And Bellamy instantly repaid his new manager with a performance that will have silenced the doubters who insist the controversial forward is heading for another club in his tumultuous career.

However after last night’s impressive display the man himself reaffirmed his commitment to the City cause.

“For me, obviously I have great affection for Mark Hughes but that’s the nature of the business,” Bellamy said.

“You have to carry on if you want to be part of Man City. The players we’ve got, big things are going to happen here and I want to be part of it if I can.”

Mancini praised the performance of his players after successive wins over Stoke and Wolves.

He said: “I thought that the players were fantastic. After Saturday’s match we’ve had only two days but the players were fantastic. I am very happy for them because we played very well.”

Mancini praised his whole team but was particularly impressed by Bellamy and Tevez. He said: “All the players (impressed me). I think that today Craig, Carlos and the whole team played very well.’’

The first real chance of a frantic first half fell to Mancini’s new best friend, Bellamy.

Tevez, full of industry but little else early on, sent in a cross which Christophe Berra failed to deal with to present Bellamy with a virtual free shot but he somehow poked the ball high over the crossbar.

It was quite an amazing miss.

The Wales international did make instant amends, however, sending over the cross that Tevez guided past Marcus Hahnemann, with a substantial deflection off Berra’s outstretched leg.

And Bellamy could have increased City’s lead three minutes into the second half when he was sent clear by Petrov but he dragged his shot wide.

Wolves still kept roaring and Chris Iwelumo drove wide after an excellent build-up from the home side.

But the visitors secured three welcome points when substitute Garrido bent an exquisite 20-yard free kick around the wall to warm up a chilled Mancini.

There was proof that Mancini’s pledge to sparkle stardust is already bearing fruit 10 minutes from time when an exquisite counter-attack nearly produced one of the goals of the season. An excellent pass from Petrov sent Bellamy clear and he played Tevez through but the Argentinean chipped the ball narrowly wide.

It was a shame, but at least Tevez did nab a second goal when he found the corner after being given an alarming amount of space in the box by a tiring Wolves defence.

Much to ponder for McCarthy, it would seem, but Mancini already appears to be a sound appointment and the man that could meet the vast expectations of the club’s owners.

It may be early days but there was a resilience that was sadly lacking under the previous incumbent, Mark Hughes. Noisy neighbours to arch-rivals Manchester United? It could soon be deafening if Mancini can build on this.

WOLVES: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra (Stearman 46), Elokobi, Foley (Jarvis 79), Henry, Mancienne, Surman, Iwelumo, Doyle (Ebanks-Blake 73).

MAN CITY: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Richards, Petrov (Robinho 85), Ireland (Garrido 55), De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez (Sylvinho 90).

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).