Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy was pleased to keep the pressure on the leading sides in the English Premier League following a 3-1 win at home to West Ham on Monday.

Carlos Tevez struck a double, netting either side of Martin Petrov's free-kick, to leave City three points behind leaders and cross-town rivals Manchester United. City have a game in hand and after their best start to a season since 1961, Bellamy was happy with his side's display.

"We have a very good team. We have started the Premier League well and today it was good to get back with a win," Bellamy said after the game. "We started well, we wanted to press as high as we could.

West Ham are a difficult team they are very bright, and in a game like this you are never out of sight,
Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy after the win over West Ham.

"We got the first goal which helps in a Premier League game. We gave away a sloppy equaliser which made it difficult for ourselves," he went on. "West Ham are a difficult team they are very bright, and in a game like this you are never out of sight."

West ham boss Gianfranco Zola was predictably disappointed with his team's display. The Londoners had equalised in the first half through Carlton Cole's flick from close range, but were soon behind again following Petrov's free-kick.

"I am not feeling well now as you can imagine," the Italian said. "We didn't play in the first 45 minutes. When you play a team like City and you concede so much then it is very difficult to come back.

"I think this will be an important week for us, we will have to work hard," the coach went on. "There are many things we need to concentrate on. We are much better than we are showing right now."

Dynamic duo
City manager Mark Hughes praised the movement of his strike duo Bellamy and Tevez as the key to his side's victory. "All night Carlos and Craig were a real handful for the opposition, they couldn't handle them," he said. "It was hard for West Ham to stop them from having an influence because their movement and energy was outstanding.

"We executed our game plan perfectly," the former Manchester United star said. "I think the movement and positioning of our guys, getting into good areas and causing the opposition problems was there for all to see. We were also able to get Roque Santa Cruz and Michael Johnson, who has been out for a long time, on at the end so they were another couple of positives on a night of positives."