• Manchester City 2-0 Everton, Premier League

Super subs Balotelli and Milner fire City top

ESPN staff
September 24, 2011
Mario Balotelli came off the bench to open the scoring for Manchester City © PA Photos
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Mario Balotelli and James Milner came off the bench to help send Manchester City to the top of the Premier League after a gritty 2-0 win against Everton at Eastlands.

Everton did the double over City last season and had won their last four visits to Eastlands, but despite their defence holding firm against Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko for more than an hour, the deadlock was eventually broken by Balotelli before Milner sealed the victory.

City have scored 17 goals in their opening five league matches, but they struggled to find the net against a well-drilled Everton side.

After a bright start by the visitors, City began to settle into their stride, and Aguero came close to scoring his ninth goal of the season, firing a left-footed strike over Tim Howard's crossbar.

The ever-lively Aguero then forced a diving save from Howard as the teams went into half-time goalless. But City continued to press after the break, with Aguero making life difficult for the Toffees defence.

It was the Argentine who created City's first goal, running across the Everton box before back-heeling to Balotelli, whose curled strike deflected off Phil Jagielka and into the bottom corner.

With Everton still reeling, Aguero's strike thundered against the post just moments later, but it was Milner who sealed the victory, running through to meet David Silva's slide-rule pass to slot past Howard in the final minute.

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