FOOTBALL remains what it has always been; a game of infinite shocks and surprises, even perversity. From the moment Carlos Tevez, West Ham’s Argentinian striker, appeared 10 minutes into the second half at the noisy behest of the crowd, West Ham had belatedly come to some kind of life. That the fans should so loudly and urgently have demanded Tevez was perhaps the measure of West Ham’s growing desperation.

“They’re calling for Tevez, who’s not scored!” said Alan Curbishley, West Ham’s new manager. But at least with Tevez’s arrival, a West Ham goal seemed more likely. Indeed, it was Tevez who came closer in the 77th minute to scoring one. Exchanging passes with Yossi Benayoun, he cut across from the left flank, where he had been stationed, and pivoted to hit a powerful right-footed shot that whistled just above the bar.

If anybody was going to score between then and the end of the match, it would surely be West Ham. But on 83 minutes Manchester City’s own substitute, the American international DaMarcus Beasley, getting the ball on the right, cut inside, leaving defenders in his wake, and finished with a strong right-footed shot inside the right-hand post to give City an astonishing victory.

“Although I thought it was a poor goal from our point of view because he went through two players, you’ve got to give them something to hold on to,” said Curbishley. Something, he meant, in the shape of West Ham goals.

City’s manager, Stuart Pearce, modest and objective as ever, reminded us that Beasley had played in the Champions League for PSV Eindhoven, not to mention the World Cup. Yet so far this season at Manchester City, his contributions have been limited. “It’s been difficult for him this year,” said Pearce. “He’s picked up an ankle injury. It would be easy for him to be depressed, but he’s been a smiling face about the place.”

Until Tevez came on and put life into a previously ineffectual West Ham, it was hard to think of them scoring. “Everyone keeps telling me they’re good players,” said Curbishley. “If that’s the case the confidence has got to come back.”

In the desperate closing minutes, even the West Ham keeper Robert Green was up there in the City penalty box hoping to score. “There was nothing in today’s game,” said Curbishley. “I suppose we would have both settled for a draw in the end, because I don’t think Robert Green had a save to make, nor did Nicky Weaver, but that’s what happens when you’re down at the bottom.”

Each team might partly be excused for the mediocrity, the sheer lack of penetration and excitement on the grounds that several key players were missing. In West Ham’s case, both Nigel Reo-Coker and Paul Konchesky were suspended, as was the most effective member of City midfield, Joey Barton. In his place, City moved the precocious 18-year-old Micah Richards from right-back, but it seemed a mistaken decision. On the flank, Richards is a splendid, fast and powerful raider. In midfield, that drive was subdued.

Pearce praised his side for their commitment. In their circumstances, he emphasised: “You’ve got to roll your sleeves up and defend with your life. A scrappy game, not for the purists and every time we had a bit of adversity the team has responded well. I think we were resilient. There is a steely resilience about our players in the last four games.”

It’s what you might call a siege mentality. But there are several clubs in worse situations than City.

West Ham began the game with Teddy Sheringham playing just behind the chief striker, Marlon Harewood. Sheringham provided the occasional graceful note, but, by and large, until Tevez came on West Ham were no more menacing than City.

It is interesting to see how Tevez, a controversial figure since he came to London, has suddenly become a crowd favourite. And after all, a footballer who was reckoned one of the foremost both in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo doesn’t suddenly lose his abilities. But where will he go next?

Star Man: Carlos Tevez (West Ham)

Player Ratings: West Ham: Green 6, Dailly 6, Ferdinand 6, Gabbidon 6 (Mears 86min, 6), Spector 6, Benayoun 7, Bowyer 6, Mullins 6, Etherington 6 (Tevez 56min, 7), Sheringham 6 (Cole 67min, 6), Harewood 6

Man City: Weaver 6, Onuoha 7, Dunne 7, Distin 7, Jordan 6, Trabelsi 6, Ireland 5 (Beasley 64min, 7), Dabo 6, Richards 6, Vassell 6 (Miller 87min 6), Corradi 5 (Samaras 70min, 6)

Scorer: Man City: Beasley 83

Referee: S Bennett Attendance: 34,574

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