Hughes and Mancini at war over handshake

IT really does come to something when the most exciting moment of a Premier League encounter occurs when two silver-haired 40-somethings have a little tantrum with each other at the final whistle.

Mark Hughes, who is rapidly becoming renowned as the scourge of the post-match handshake, felt Roberto Mancini’s behaviour was arrogant and flippant as the Italian did not look in Hughes’s direction when proffering the traditional gesture.

Hughes went into the full-blown glare mode that so terrorised and terrified defenders in the 1980s and 90s as he brushed Mancini aside and stormed down the tunnel.

Mancini said afterwards that his attitude was in response to Hughes giving him a similar cold shoulder when City beat Fulham back in November and so he felt like giving him a taste of his own medicine.

It is nice to know that such grown up behaviour goes on behind the scenes isn’t it?

Mancini said: “It was like him in London. He did the same to me. He didn’t look in my face when we shook hands.”

Hughes scoffed at Mancini’s assessment of all that and defended his actions, adding: “It’s probably my fault again but I’m a bit old fashioned and I always think that you offer your hand regardless of the circumstances.

“I don’t think he really acknowledged the effort of my team when he offered his hand. I might have got the wrong impression but that was my take on it.’’

Hughes added: “I enjoyed the performance of my team. I thought we were excellent from start to finish. The only disappointment is that we didn’t take all three points.”

Neither goalkeeper had much to do until a moment of brilliance from Mario Balotelli after 26 minutes when he shrugged off the attentions of Danny Murphy and fired a low effort that left Mark Schwarzer no chance.

The rest of the first half remained just as dire as the opening stages and Fulham made City pay for their blasé attitude with a brilliant equaliser straight after the interval.

Andy Johnson’s chased down a long through ball and fired in a superb low cross which found Damien Duff just seven yards out and he clinically slotted past Joe Hart.

After the break, frustrations continued to grow as City lacked the spark of class needed to hurt the visitors, who held on for a deserved draw.

City are now 10 points of Manchester United in first place in the Premier League. As the season progresses, the early notion that they are now bona fide candidates for that accolade looks increasingly laughable.

With no David Silva through an ankle problem, they looked woefully short of intent, ideas, skill and confidence. Balotelli did nothing but score — and infuriated his team-mates with his selfish play and attitude — while Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko underlined that they still have many hours of training ground work to do if they are to be profitable stablemates.

So then, Mancini has lots to think about. And not just handshakes.

“For you maybe [the handshake] is more interesting than the match but not for me,” he added.

“I am disappointed with the result.’’

Subs for Man City: Vieira for Dzeko 60, Milner for Kolarov 77.

Sub for Fulham: Gudjohnsen for Johnson 79.