* Sergio Aguero’s penalty gave Man City a 1-0 win over West Ham
* The Hammers frustrated City in a goalless first half
* Bernardo Silva went down under a challenge from Felipe Anderson
* Sergio Aguero confidently converted from the spot
* City are at Bournemouth and West Ham host Newcastle on Saturday
MANCHESTER CITY 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0
Feb 27 (Reuters) -Sergio Aguero’s penalty gave champions Manchester City a 1-0 win over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay a point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Felipe Anderson was ruled to have brought down Bernardo Silva and Aguero coolly slotted home from the spot.
Former City manager Manuel Pellegrini set his West Ham team up to frustrate the hosts and they did an excellent job for most of the game, forcing City into wide areas where they struggled to create openings.
City camped in the visitors’ half for the opening 45 minutes with David Silva going close to breaking the deadlock when he hit the post after an excellent low cross.
West Ham went close after the break when substitute Manuel Lanzini found Andy Carroll at the back post, but City keeper Ederson did well to parry the forward’s well-struck effort.
City boss Pep Guardiola promptly threw on Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva from the bench and they changed the tempo and flow of the game.
Second-placed City have 68 points while leaders Liverpool are on 69. (Reporting by Simon Evans Editing by Toby Davis)