City shortcomings exposed by Moyes

Everton 2 Manchester City 0

But Roberto Mancini’s long-term future will hinge on whether he can persuade those above him that this poor campaign has just been a blip and that he can salvage a team that can challenge for the title and the Champions League from this rabble.

It would take a dramatic collapse to threaten his job this summer and City remain still have an FA Cup semi-final against either Chelsea or Manchester United to look forward to next month.

But although Mancini would consider the season a success if he can deliver another trophy and there is no disgrace in finishing second in the league, making this squad truly competitive once again is a major ask.

Ever since United moved 12 points clear at the top of the table with their win over Everton last week, following City’s dreadful defeat at Southampton, a day like this was inevitable.

For so long Everton’s first-team was considered a match for most in the league but that David Moyes lacked the numbers.

Yet even as he saw his players swept aside at Goodison Park for the fourth time in his reign, Mancini would probably have swapped his substitutes for those available to Moyes. While United may lack a sparkle, it is inconceivable that they would be in the position where their final change in an attempt to chase a comeback would be to bring on a left-back, as Mancini did when he threw on Gael Clichy late on.

It will also come down to whether City are prepared to fund the overhaul that is required.

Although getting the likes of Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott off the wage bill would free up plenty of cash, significant investment will be needed to improve on them.

As many as two centre-halves, a central midfielder, more wide players and perhaps as many as three strikers are needed at a time when City are preaching austerity ahead of the introduction of Financial Fair Play.

Mancini left his first-team coach David Platt to do the talking here and although the Italian was infuriated by referee Lee Probert’s mystifying decision to award a free-kick for a Marouane Fellaini handball inside the area, he will be more frustrated at the way his squad has fallen away.

“There is an appreciation of Roberto from the supporters and the owners,” Platt said. “He won’t stop wanting to win things.”

Such logic would have told Mancini and Platt that if nothing else, they would get a real chasing from a team that suffered a chastening 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Wigan seven days previously.

It would be impossible to imagine City being as ravenous and Moyes’ side took the lead when Leon Osman thumped in from the edge of the box.

Even after Steven Pienaar was sent off for a second yellow card, Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha was outstanding and they broke away for Nikica Jelavic to hit a shot that looped up off Clichy and over Joe Hart.

With Moyes’ contract expiring, Everton also face big decisions this summer.

While the Scot appears comfortable in keeping his options open, it is also significant that there has been silence from the club on the matter.

“[The win] doesn’t alter my view or my position. Last week didn’t, this week didn’t,” he said.

“I have always said where we finish and where the players are will determine a lot of what we do. I’m going to go with that, and hopefully I’ll get the respect for that as I’ve been here for 11 years.”

Whatever happens next, it is hard to contemplate Mancini being around at City for that long.

EVERTON (4-5-1): Mucha 8; Coleman 8, Heitinga 7, Distin 7, Baines 6; Mirallas 6 (Naismith 70, 7), Fellaini 7, Gibson 8, Osman 8, Pienaar 6; Anichebe 7 (Jelavic 90).

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Hart 5; Zabaleta 7, K Toure 6 (Sinclair 83), Nastasic 7, Kolarov 5; Milner 6 (Clichy 83), Garcia 6, Barry 5 (Nasri 70, 6), Silva 6; Dzeko 5, Tevez 6.

Referee: Lee Probert.