Corradi nets double in City win

Bernardo Corradi ended his goal drought with a first-half double as Manchester City atoned for the loss of their home defensive record by beating Fulham 3-1.

Corradi's first goals for the club set up an easy win for Stuart Pearce's men, with Joey Barton effectively wrapping up the contest in first-half injury time.

It made up for a second half tinged with the disappointment of Collins John's consolation, which breached City's defence for the first time in over 10 hours of home Premiership football this season.

Corradi broke his City duck in the 12th minute after running onto Georgios Samaras' lofted pass and flicking the opener past Antti Niemi with his right foot.

The Italian might have had a second five minutes later when Hatem Trabelsi's ball deflected his way in the box, but Niemi saved at the second attempt.

Corradi then struck again in the 32nd minute, shooting past Niemi after Joey Barton's lung-bursting foray into the Fulham box.

Fulham's miserable afternoon got worse as Barton wrapped up a dream half for City deep into injury time, when Trabelsi charged clear on the counter-attack and squared for the midfielder to convert the simplest of chances.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman had no other option but to introduce the lively John at the interval - and twice the young striker had the ball in the net soon after the resumption, only to be caught marginally offside on both occasions.

However, after 62 minutes John's luck turned as he got on the end of a header on from fellow substitute Heidar Helguson and sent a delicious lob over Nicky Weaver and into the City net.

Corradi could have wrapped up a dream afternoon with a hat-trick, but he sent his powerful header straight into the arms of Niemi in the 85th minute.