Jack the lad to frustrate City

Gianfranco Zola watched Manchester City’s expensively assembled team slump to defeat against his industrious West Ham side, and then hailed his homegrown match–winner for making it happen.

Hammers teenager Jack Collison scored the only goal of yesterday’s Barclays Premier League meeting, with a neatly–taken volley following up Savio’s parried effort.

His strike helped put the likes of £32million Brazilian Robinho and former West Ham striker Craig Bellamy firmly in the shade, and left Zola purring.

“Jack is unbelievable – he’s getting better and better,” said the Italian, whose team now lie seventh.

“He’s 19 and he’s playing nearly every week. He’s got a very good attitude and he’s going to get better and better.

“That is the beauty of football. Sometimes if you have passion and if you have belief you can be successful, and I think Jack Collison is an example of all of that.”

Collison is a left–sided player by choice but excelled on the right, and Zola insists versatility is a big part of his game.

“I feel very lucky to have him – not only him but other players” he added.

“That’s why I like the attitude here. I can play them in different positions. As long as you know how to play football, you can still produce and be important for the team.

“I’m sure I could play Jack Collison up front or right at the back, and he could still produce good results for the team.”

Collison himself was eager to spread the praise, insisting his winning goal would not have been possible without the hard work of others.

“I’m delighted with the goal, but it was a real team display,” he said.

“We were buzzing after the game. I think we worked really hard as a team to close them down and we kept a clean sheet. If you do that you’ve got a great chance to win games.”

City ended the day frustrated not only by the result but also by injury knocks to Robinho, Bellamy and Micah Richards, who was forced off early in the first half after over–stretching himself in a tackle.

The result left manager Mark Hughes cursing his side’s continued poor away form – something he thought was at an end after the impressive draw against Liverpool.

“It was frustrating, because we created good chances and there were long periods when we were in the ascendancy,” said Hughes.

“The away form has been a concern all year. We have done better in recent games and we were excellent against Liverpool.

“Perhaps we’ve played a little too much like the home team on the road this year and we’ve been caught on the break.

“I think that happened again here.”