City face anxious wait over Silva

Manchester City are waiting to learn the extent of the serious-looking injury suffered by David Silva in yesterday’s comfortable win over West Ham.

Silva suffered suspected cheekbone and collarbone damage after being caught by an elbow from Hammers midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate in the second half of City’s 2-0 Barclays Premier League success at the Etihad Stadium.

The 29-year-old Spain playmaker was carried off on a stretcher after receiving around eight minutes of treatment and taken to hospital for examination.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “It looked serious but we must wait (to see) what happens at the hospital.”

Kouyate’s challenge, which occurred in the 67th minute, attracted some debate with former professionals Niall Quinn and Glenn Hoddle, both working as TV pundits, condemning the Senegal international.

But Kouyate was booked by referee Anthony Taylor, meaning the incident cannot be subjected to retrospective action, and Pellegrini gave the player the benefit of the doubt.

He said: “I always think that a player doesn’t want to damage another player. The referee was so near and he decided he was unintentional. Nothing more happens.”

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce leapt to the defence of his player.

Asked for his opinion, Allardyce said: “Accidental. It was pretty innocuous. I didn’t think it was a foul.”

The other major talking point from the game was the freakish own goal scored by West Ham defender James Collins to set City on the way to victory.

The Wales international miscued attempting to intercept a Jesus Navas cross in the 18th minute and succeeded only in lobbing Adrian, with the ball dropping into the net via the woodwork.

Sergio Aguero doubled the advantage before half-time by finishing off a quick counter-attack after Yaya Toure had cut out a Stewart Downing pass.

It secured a win City badly needed to at least give them some respite from the pressure that has built of late.

Defeats in six of the previous eight games had left the champions’ title defence in tatters and even put their top-four place in jeopardy.

Pellegrini, whose position is also under heavy scrutiny, said: “It was important to be a consistent team and we played – especially for the first 65 minutes until the injury of David that was a distraction – as a consistent team.

“In other games we have played some minutes but today I think we played the whole game.”

Toure, who has also come in for heavy criticism, felt his performance had sent a positive message to supporters.

He told Sky Sports: “I will keep fighting till the end. People want you to progress, but they have to understand we are human beings. It’s hard.

“The most important thing is I have to show my commitment and respect for all the fans that have shown their support for me.”

West Ham’s season appears to be limping to a conclusion with the result extending their recent poor run to just one win in 11 games.

Allardyce said: “The two mistakes we made for the goals, one was pretty bizarre and the other unexpected from a player as experienced as Stewart Downing.

“We had the resilience and determination to try to fight back and in the second half. We created good chances for Kevin Nolan and Enner Valencia but you have got to convert them.”