EB Streymur 0 - 2 Man City

EB Streymur 0-2 Man C: City Spark to life

Updated: July 17, 2008, 9:22 PM UK

Mark Hughes got his Manchester City reign off to a winning start in the unlikely surroundings of the Faroe Islands

• Hughes happy with first outing

First-half goals from Martin Petrov and Dietmar Hamann gave City a comfortable, competent victory in this UEFA Cup first qualifying round first leg, seemingly making the second leg at Barnsley on July 31 a formality.

Manager Hughes will now aim to move on from this chilly Atlantic outpost to send City on their way to a decent European run - something their fans have longed for.

In truth, City were rarely troubled by the part-timers, despite a commendable effort from the Faroe league leaders.

City had the quality in Petrov and the organisation of Richard Dunne, Micah Richards and Michael Johnson, but should have scored a few more goals and claimed the resounding victory many felt was on the cards.

Hughes showed his intentions by picking a strong side - giving a debut to £19million record signing Jo.

Richards, who has not played since February with a knee injury, made his comeback along with Nedum Onuoha- - out with shoulder trouble since April's home defeat by Chelsea.

Streymur fielded just two full-timers - recent Danish signings Anders Jacobsen and Peter Foldgast - in a game refereed by Swiss woman Nicole Petignat.

The national stadium was almost full, with the crowd of 5,400 including 250 hardy souls from Manchester, including 12 who arrived via ferry - but only as far as the Shetlands.

The final leg should have been by hired trawler, but rough weather scuppered that plan and the Faroes airline, Atlantic, stepped in with free flights to the match.

An impressed Hughes made a point of welcoming them to the Torsvollur stadium beforehand.

When the action started Darius Vassell saw a close-range header saved at the foot of a post by Rene Torgard after just three minutes - and six minutes later City were ahead.

Stephen Ireland's ball sent Vassell away down the right channel and when his cross was dummied by Johnson, Petrov slammed the ball into the far top corner.

Torgard blocked another Vassell close-range effort and Jo created space for a curling left-footed effort which went over the bar.

After 28 minutes it was 2-0, with Petrov again involved.

The Bulgarian's corner was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, where Hamann volleyed it firmly past Torgard with the outside of his left foot.

The elusive Petrov gave Barour Olsen a torrid time down the left, Jo showed strength and a clever touch up front with City in full command.

It could have been more before the break, when Petrov's cross after 33 minutes presented Jo with a diving header which flashed just wide.

Streymur started the second half with a flurry of defiance. Johnson was booked for a foul on Arnbjorn Hansen and from the free-kick from Barour Olsen - some 30 yards out - Hart managed to fumble the effort past a post.

Hart had to rush to the edge of his box to punch away a cross from Hans Pauli Samuelsen as the hosts could see the chance to punish City for a growing complacency.

After a first period of confidence and dominance, City eased up - even against part-timers a dangerous move while facing match-sharp players midway through their season.

City needed a third goal, and it almost came after 56 minutes when Jo nodded down for Vassell to see a shot deflected wide. Then Petrov sent a dipping drive just over.

City replaced Jo with young Wales international Ched Evans - now with a new three-year contract - after 74 minutes, with Gelson Fernandes coming on for Hamann at the same time.

Streymur responded with Brian Olsen and Hanus Eliasen taking over from Anders Jacobsen and Samuelsen two minutes later.

For all their commendable effort, Streymur had not really troubled Hart, and his first serious shot to save came from a drive from Hansen, who had got away from Dunne.

Evans almost scored with a shot on the turn that flashed wide - but there was no further scoring and City are overwhelming favourites to finish the job at Oakwell on July 31.

Hughes happy with first outing

Mark Hughes expressed his delight at a confident European victory in his first game in charge of Manchester City.

First-half goals from Martin Petrov and Dietmar Hamann gave City a comfortable 2-0 win over EB Streymur in the Faroe Islands in today's UEFA Cup first round first leg match.

Hughes accepted City's second half performance wasted the chance of a comprehensive victory over the part-timers - but he will go into the second leg at Barnsley on July 31 convinced of further progress in the competition.

Hughes said: 'The fitness levels were at different stages, they are halfway through their domestic season. So you are not quite sure what you are going to come up against.

'But I was pleased with the performance. Particularly in the first half when we kept possession well - we shifted it well and accurately and great purpose. Our tempo was also very good.

'We caused them problems and had plenty of chances. We scored two great goals from Martin and Didi, we are delighted with that.

'The second half was to be expected really, we were quite comfortable and they made a better fist of it.

'They tried to close us down and did that much better than in the first period. We were a little guilty of playing too much in our own half and that invited them onto us.

'But we were comfortable and still created a few more chances. It could have been a more comprehensive victory but two goals away from home in Europe and a clean sheet is a good result.'

Hughes was particularly happy with the display of £19million new striker Jo, and the quality of winger Petrov.

He said: 'We created good chances and I was pleased with Jo's performance.

'He showed great awareness of players around him, and once he gets to know the players and the way we want to play he will be a big asset to us.

'Petrov was excellent, certainly in the first half. The opposition found it difficult to cope with the quality he has.

'He put a lot of dangerous crosses into the box and with luck we could have converted more.

'But overall his performance was excellent, he got us off on the right foot with that opening goal and pushed us towards a good performance all round.

'We hope he will be proving a lot of goals this season. He has the ability to go past people, and break through the lines.

'When you have someone like that with the technical ability to affect the game positively like that, it gives you a lot more options.'

Hughes introduced teenage striker Ched Evans in the second period - and made it clear he will not be allowing the Wales international to go out on loan.

Hughes explained: 'Ched has been excellent in pre-season and I am glad we have secured him on a long-term contract now.

'He has a big future and that has been demonstrated by the amount of phone calls I have had from Championship managers wanting to get him out on loan.

'But I think I am going to frustrate a lot of teams at that level because he will not be going anywhere in this transfer window.'