English FA Premiership/Manchester City 2 West Ham United 0:Stuart Pearce's biggest investment as a manager paid off at exactly the right time as Georgios Samaras' brace eased the pressure on the beleaguered Blues boss.
Just when Pearce needed him to, Samaras delivered the goods, lashing home a superb second-half volley before chipping Roy Carroll to give City only their third win in 17 games and take them into the relative comfort of mid-table.
Mascherano was partly culpable for City's opener, opting to let the ball drop when Christian Dailly blocked Ishmael Miller's initial effort, a decision that allowed Samaras to nip in front of him and send a tremendous volley flying into the top corner.
With results going against him and his squad decimated by injuries and suspensions, Pearce opted to place his trust in youth, handing 19-year-old Miller his Premiership debut.
And what an impact the youngster made too. His energy and enthusiasm set the tone for an industrious team performance and the run which took him into the West Ham area in the build-up to Samaras' opener was truly awesome, far too much for Hayden Mullins, who gave up the chase long before Miller struck the fateful shot that bounced up off Dailly's outstretched leg.
In Micah Richards, Pearce had another teenager willing to run himself into the ground for the Blues cause too, although the full-back did waste an excellent headed opportunity just before the break and inexplicably opted to try to square to Bernardo Corradi after showing an electric burst of pace to charge into the area.
Yet, even he took his tally to three goals in two games, it was Samaras who was the most eye-catching City player on view.
He could hardly be criticised for the precise shot he sent bouncing inches wide midway through the opening period, having cut in off the left flank, raced into the area then attempted to beat Carroll at the far post.
Samaras had Carroll in trouble again later, with a cross-shot the Hammers keeper seemed willing to let go, only to realise, just in time, it would probably creep into the far corner.
But the striker's willingness to try his luck paid off spectacularly.
There was a definite touch of class about his volley, but so too the coolness that accompanied his second finish, after he beat Carroll to Corradi's through-ball.
City were denied a third when Carroll got across to push Barton's free-kick away from the bottom corner.
In response, West Ham mustered nothing and, as they made their way home, still without a win since the opening day, the visiting fans must be wondering whether the influx of South Americans is a good thing after all.
