Manchester so much to answer for...

Man City 3 West Ham 0

No-one expected much from this fixture with Wan-Bissaka and Diouf away in Africa and the Hammers in the bottom three. Still, it's depressing to be a goal down after just five minutes. Looking at the highlights Mateus Fernandes, who has been playing well recently, fails to track Foden as he bursts into the box and crosses for Haaland. Areola saves the Norwegian's first effort but Haaland reacts quicker than Scarles to poke home.

Haaland misses a good headed chance and Rejinders has an effort parried by Areola. The only chance for West Ham comes after good work by Walker-Peters finds Bowen, who fires across the face of Donnarumma's goal. But before the break City get the second as Fernandes tries to dribble out of the box and gets robbed by Cherki, then Haaland is allowed too much space to find Reijnders who fires home.

West Ham do give it more of a go after the break. Summerville gets down the left to fire a low cross-shot at Donnarumma, who gets up well to parry Potts' follow-up, before Fernandes shoots wastefully over. Next Bowen rounds Donnarumma to fire into the side-netting from a tight angle. The Irons' best chance comes as Paqueta plays a fine ball to the breaking Bowen, who beats O'Reilly but fires just wide of the post when he would normally be scoring.

The game is put to bed when Kilman is nutmegged by Savinho and Todibo and Kilman get in each other's way to allow Haaland to shoot home number three. There's still time for Paqueta to find Summerville, whose shot is saved by Donnarumma's face. After that City nearly get a fourth as Haaland misses an inviting chance for a hat-trick.

So it ends 3-0 and with Leeds thrashing Crystal Palace 4-1 the Irons are six points adrift in the bottom three at Christmas. Though to be positive the Hammers created three good chances at City, who could well win the league. But it's results that count and the next four games against Fulham, Brighton, Wolves and Forest are now more vital than ever. So is signing a new young striker and a big bruising defender. Or failing that we could always get a Christmas Carroll from Dagenham.