Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Sam Allardyce: West Ham targeted Eliaquim Mangala to beat Man City

Sam Allardyce says West Ham targeted Manchester City's summer signing Eliaquim Mangala in his side's 2-1 win at Upton Park on Saturday.

Mangala became the most expensive defender in Premier League history when City paid 32 million pounds for him in August.

But Hammers boss Allardyce suggested the France international is struggling to get to grips with City's attacking style of play and feels he requires more help from his teammates.

"I think they leave him exposed," Allardyce told national newspapers. "He's only just joined the Premier League. They don't protect him and he's only just got here."

The Hammers' opening goal, scored by Morgan Amalfitano, stemmed from a pass from Alex Song to Enner Valencia -- Mangala's immediate opponent -- that went between the newcomer and Gael Clichy.

The right half of City's defence is manned by captain Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta, and Allardyce felt the left -- where Clichy and Mangala teamed up -- was the weaker side.

He added: "Kompany is used to it, he's been at this level for such a long time, but this lad's not. He's finding his feet and we made big strides down that left-hand side and caused lots of problems.

"Maybe there should have been a bit more protection for them from the other players and we could expose that.

"We all know City play a certain way, they come away from home expecting to win and go and attack you. We've seen a lot this season that those spaces they leave can be exploited by other teams. We exploited those spaces brilliantly."

Mangala was widely praised for his City debut in September's 1-1 draw with Chelsea but has endured some difficult days since then.

He conceded a penalty, was booked and scored an own goal in the 4-2 win at Hull while he was partly culpable for one of CSKA Moscow's goals in their 2-2 draw with City.

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