Mancini gets maximum on City bow

First-half goals from Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez earned Roberto Mancini maximum points on his bow as Manchester City manager as they defeated Stoke 2-0.

It cemented City's position in the top six, while allowing the Blues to put a turbulent week behind them.

However, Mancini was also indebted to two superb saves from Shay Given and is bound to have noted an exceptionally lacklustre performance from £32.5million record signing Robinho.

Robinho and Petrov, two players with uncertain futures that Mancini must decide, combined for the first goal.

In fairness, Robinho's contribution was wholly accidental as he scuffed his shot terribly after being set up by a surging run from Tevez. The ball ran on to Petrov, who fired past a despairing Thomas Sorensen at the far post.

Tevez was the star man for City and it was appropriate he should snaffle the second in first-half stoppage time when Gareth Barry cushioned a header into his path, allowing the Argentinian to lift the ball delicately over Sorensen.

Yet, as he reflected on such an advantageous position, Mancini would have been aware City were indebted to a brilliant feet-first save from Given to deny Tuncay when the scores were still level.

Stoke brought on James Beattie, a player set for the Britannia Stadium exit in January, but still a key part of their attack.

It was evident when he controlled Abdoulaye Faye's wayward header at the far post before letting fly with a ferocious volley that Given kept out with a brilliant one-handed save.