FAB ZAB ... Pablo Zabaleta celebrates scoring City's opener
Published: 2 hrs ago
MANCHESTER CITY kept the pressure on their Red rivals at the top of the Premier League with the most dominant of victories against Stoke.
Pablo Zabaleta, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero all found the net as City were rarely troubled by a battling but ineffective Stoke side.
The win was never in doubt after Zabaleta and Dzeko had scored either side of half-time but the home side were handed a fortunate penalty late on for Aguero to seal the deal with a third.
City boss Roberto Mancini said: "Today we had a good performance. We scored three goals against the best defence in the Premier League.
THE HUTH, THE WHOLE HUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE HUTH ... Stoke defender Robert Huth clears the ball
"It was difficult because they defended very well and for 43 minutes we had three or four chances to score and we didn't. After the first goal it was maybe easier."
City dominated from the outset as Stoke struggled to leave their half.
ARGIE BARGY ... Sergio Aguero was a constant threat for the Stoke defence
The home side almost took the lead after 10 minutes when Aguero beat the offside trap and found himself in behind the Potters defence but fired over from close range.
Stoke’s trademark sturdy backline held strong in the opening stages though and Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic was at full stretch to brilliantly keep out another Aguero strike.
LOVE LETA ... Pablo Zabaleta scores the opener for City
The City striker then went even closer just after the half-hour when he got onto the end of Dzeko’s cross but headed against the outside of the post.
There was a stroke of luck about City's opener after James Milner’s cross was deflected right to the feet of Zabaleta who gratefully tapped the ball past Begovic two minutes before half-time.
Dzeko almost doubled the lead immediately after the break but he fired his volley over the bar from outside the box.
HERE'S JONNY ... Jonathan Walters competes with Gareth Barry
And it didn't take much longer for the Bosnian to get his name on the scoresheet as he enjoyed the simplest of tap-ins from Begovic's save after 56 minutes.
He celebrated by revealed a 'Happy New Year' shirt and was booked for his troubles.
The visitors had a shout for a penalty turned down on the hour when a long-range effort appeared to strike Joleon Lescott on the arm but the defender knew little about it.
2013 HERE WE COME ... Edin Dzeko sends a message to fans after scoring City's second
The hosts continued to have the luck and when David Silva was tripped on the edge of the box by Steven Nzonzi, he fell into the area and referee Michael Oliver pointed for a penalty rather than a free-kick.
Aguero stepped up and placed the ball past Begovic for City's third.
But he limped off moments later after appearing to pull his hamstring.
Joe Hart - a spectator for most of the afternoon - was alert to ensure City kept a clean sheet with a stunning save to tip Glenn Whelan's long-range pile-driver onto the post with four minutes remaining.
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Toure, Barry, Silva (Sinclair 82), Dzeko (Razak 90), Aguero (Tevez 77). Subs not used: Pantilimon, Javi Garcia, Toure, Nastasic
Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Walters, Adam (Whitehead 68), Nzonzi, Whelan, Jerome, Jones (Etherington 50). Subs not used: Sorensen, Upson, Kightly, Crouch, Shotton
Attendance: 47,192
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4721238/Man-City-3-0-Stoke-Match-report-pictures-and-video-highlights.html#ixzz2GklgSuQw
