Man City 6-0 West Ham: Big Sam Hit For Six In Another Hammers Horror Show

Alvaro Negredo hit a hat-trick as Manchester City steamrollered hapless West Ham in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at the Etihad. Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko with two were also on target as Manuel Pellegrini's team got this tie won at halfway. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce handed on-loan defender Roger Johnson his debut straight away, but his back four was breached a dozen minutes in. Negredo guided a precise first-time volley into the bottom corner from Toure's lofted through-ball after getting between the centre halves.

Adrian in the visiting goal then parried a David Silva effort and later tipped behind from Samir Nasri. City doubled their lead and Negredo his tally on 25 minutes. The Spaniard applied an emphatic finish, running between the West Ham centre backs again, following an exchange with strike partner Dzeko. Bosnian frontman Dzeko then blazed over after sublime footwork from Nasri teed him up. Five minutes before the break Toure put this tie beyond the Hammers. The Ivorian shrugged off an earlier ankle knock to score a third in trademark fashion.

Powering forward from his own half, Toure had Johnson backpedalling in vain in a desperate attempt to hold him off before slotting home. Negredo's clever run took away other defenders. Toothless West Ham had one shot of note through Mohamed Diame that went straight at Costel Pantilimon just before half time. Allardyce made a change in attack at the break, hauling off Modibo Maiga for Carlton Cole. It made no difference though. Negredo completed his hat-trick just four minutes into the second half. The Hammers failed to clear a corner and the second ball returned to David Silva. His deflected cross fell to Negredo and he curled beyond Adrian, so it was four. Toure curled a free kick over and Dzeko lashed off target before getting on the scoresheet himself on the hour. Nasri and Silva combined to find Gael Clichy up from left back for City. Dzeko slid in his near post centre to make it 5-0. Not even that emphatic scoreline satisfied the hosts. Adrian made two fine stops to keep Dzeko, but he capped an awesome attacking display by curling in a sixth before stoppage time.

It never rains but it pours for Allardyce, who cut a dejected figure on the touchline here. His side, though much changed, have conceded 11 in two matches, but City have mauled far better teams than the injury ravaged Hammers. Pipe and slippers stuff for Pellegini meanwhile.