David Silva taken to hospital after clash with Cheikhou Kouyate during Manchester City's 2-0 win over West Ham

City won the match thanks to a James Collins own goal and Sergio Aguero's strike

David Silva is treated after clashing with Cheikhou Kouyate (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed David Silva was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury during his side's 2-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday.

Silva was carried off on a stretcher in the second half of City's win, after a collision with the elbow of West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate, which required lengthy treatment on the pitch for the Spaniard.

The hosts kept themselves within striking distance of second place in the table with the 2-0 win, thanks to a spectacular own goal by West Ham's James Collins, and Sergio Aguero's 36th-minute strike.

But the biggest talking point was Silva's injury, with Pellegrini telling Sky Sports 1: "He's now in the hospital. We will see what will happen (with his) cheekbone. At this moment, we don't know."

Yaya Toure, meanwhile, felt both he and the club would continue proving the critics wrong, after the Blues provided the perfect response to losing the Manchester derby last weekend.

Toure has struggled to impose himself on proceedings this season in the manner that he has in previous campaigns, but his performance on Sunday was key towards City's return to winning ways.

But the Ivorian said: "Always when we lose, we have a lot of criticism but it's part of football, it's part of game. Today we showed great team spirit.

"The first half was a little bit difficult as we got so many chances and opportunities but I think we don't get it right. But after (the first goal)... it was very important the three points today.

"It's football - every body has an opinion. People have opinions and something like that, but for the fans I will keep fighting till the end.

"People want you to progress, but they have to understand we are human beings. It's hard. The most important thing is I have to show my commitment and respect for all the fans that have shown their support for me."

Pellegrini went on to praise City's performance, which earned them a fourth successive league victory at home.

"I think that was a difficult game, because we are (coming off) two defeats in a row," the Chilean said. "I think the team tried from the beginning to play with a lot of intensity.

"We played a good game. The last four games (at home) we had won, and all of them were a clean sheet.

"It was important to recover the trust (after the defeats) and I said before the game the best way to recover is to win."

Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, accepted the challenge to do the double over their opponents proved a hindrance for his West Ham side, who have suffered five defeats in their last seven games.

"We beat Man City at home this year so to have to beat them twice in one season was a major factor when you're dealing with our budget compared to theirs," he said.

"We're going to take a lot of credit from the players that beat Man City in October.

"It was a big task. We haven't managed to get anything out of it. We've got a few games to go where if we play our best they're winnable.

"We can't afford to make mistakes like we did with the goals, and we can't afford to miss the chances we did in the second half."