Ronaldo nets hatrick as City top table

City break the Irons will

Cristiano Ronaldo fired a hatrick as City bear Scunthorpe 4-1

Manchester City climbed to the top of division 3 last night after a superb second half performance saw them run out 4-1 winners over a spirited Scunthorpe United. Steve Thompson's men showed their class to overpower their plucky visitors scoring 3 times inside 15 minutes late on in the second period after going in at half time 1-1.

Steve Thompson made two changes to the side that beat Chesterfield last time out in the league with new club captain John Terry handed his debut in place of Simon Kjaer who dropped to the bench. The second change saw another player handed his debut in the shape of Axel Witsel who replaced fellow countryman Kevin Mirallas who was among the substitutes.

City started the match in the best possible fashion by taking the lead with just 4 minutes on the clock thanks to a penalty from Cristiano RONALDO 1-0. The 27,000 plus supporters inside the Etihad would have been expecting their team to push on but Scunthorpe had other ideas and stunned the crowed with an equalizer courtesy of  Mauro BOSELLI who's lovely dipping shot beat De Gea 1-1.

The second period started tentatively for both sides with chances at a premium but with 71 minutes gone City finally broke Scunthorpe's resolve debutant Axel WITSEL was the scorer with a fine finish after skipping past a couple of challenges 2-1. That goal opened the gates for Thompson's men who made it 3-1 just 4 minutes later courtesy of a bullet header from Cristiano RONALDO and with 9 minutes of the game remaining Cristiano RONALDO claimed the match ball by securing his hatrick with a lovely low angled finished 4-1.

Steve Thompson was pleased with his sides second half performance when speaking after the game.

"It's another great 3 points despite us never really hitting top gear. Scunthorpe caused us plenty of problems especially in the first half but once we got that second goal i was confident we would see the game out and it was nice to get a couple of more.

Cristiano now has 5 goals in just two games and you can see how confident he is whenever he has the ball. He is more than capable of getting us 25-30 goals and if he performs like he has tonight he wont be far off. I though the two lads making their debuts did superb and Axel getting his goal will settle him down he could become a massive player for us this season.

We now look ahead to a trip to my old club Barnsley at the weekend and i am really looking forward to going back. I know i may not get the best of receptions from the supporters due to the timing of me leaving but i have great respect for everybody connected with the club. They haven't started the season in the best of form but i know that group and i know they will get it right and be back up at the top end of the table before long"

Thompson was also quizzed by the media about comments made by other managers in various news sources with regards to his side and the way teams approach playing them.

"I find it all very flattering to be honest it shows that teams fear our resurgence and they know we are on the way back up. I have read that teams should be going out to deliberately injure the likes of Ronaldo and Messi to try and gain an advantage which i hope teams wont take on board and if so i hope referees clamp down on it straight away.

I have read that the pressure is all on me that is something i do agree with and i have embraced it as have my team. We are using it positively and it's paying off as we are undefeated and top of the division. 

If people want to play mind games i am cool with that but they just need to take a look at my starting XI for the answer"