Back to the Top of the Table : Manchester City 2 Cardiff 0

Another game, another professional performance breaking down a steady opposition and another deserved three points.

There is something delightful about the way in which Manchester City are going about this campaign. There is no fuss, no histrionics. Just a total professional approach where all opponents and competitions are fully respected. Against Cardiff last night City named a strong side and from the kick off it was clear that they had a clear intent.

The surprise for any of us watching from inside the stadium was that it took City six whole minutes to craft the opening. At least two chances were missed in the opening exchanges as City blistered off the starting blocks like Usain Bolt on steroids. The opening goal came from Kevin De Bruyne whose sharp angled run into the box was found by Aymeric Laporte. From an increasingly acute angle, De Bruyne ran at pace and struck a sweet shot which was rising and somehow squeezed into the angle between the Cardiff keeper and his post.

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I like to believe De Bruyne meant that to happen but I suspect he just hit it, expecting it to cross the six yard box towards the arriving Gabriel Jesus.

There followed a kind of purple period as City continued to press and probe whilst Cardiff suddenly realised their game plan to earn an unlikely point required them to venture out from a ten man defence. Usually once a team concedes against us and comes out in chase we are able to quickly exploit the greater spaces on the pitch. That did not happen and instead we had looked better playing a more compressed Cardiff side.

City just lacked that level of intensity. The chances were snatched and in some cases hopelessly awry. Would this be one of those games where we peppered the opposition goal but ended up with a draw because of a solitary attack?

Early in this period Zinchenko was withdrawn with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Our unlucky left back situation just rumbles on. This forced Pep Guardiola into making an early tactical change as he switched Danilo to left back and brought on Kyle Walker for the hamstrung Zinchenko. Luckily Danilo did well in the rest of this match playing a less familiar position, as he may be required upon in the coming games.

The second goal came just before half time and we all knew it would seal the game. This time it was a long ball by Riyad Mahrez from the right which was controlled on his chest by Gabriel Jesus for Leroy Sane to smash into the net.

The second half continued in mostly second gear as City effectively controlled the ball and managed the game. They achieved an incredible 79% possession against Cardiff and the game descended into a kind of training exercise where no one wanted the responsibility of actually putting the ball into the goal again.

Of note Gabriel Jesus was wasteful when he attempted to back heel the ball into the goal when if he had struck the ball normally it would have resulted in a goal. As it was his twenty second birthday we should probably forgive him that indulgence. But in the end it didn’t matter. The game was won.

Foden matched his first Premier League start with a comprehensive performance full of energetic direct running. I have always thought of him as a possible David Silva replacement but on the strength of this showing I amy have selected the wrong Silva.

Of particular note, Manchester City had a very impressive 17 corners during this match and importantly did not take a single chance from any of them. A wit on social media recently pointed out that the best way to defend against City and to keep a clean sheet is just to continually put the ball into touch for our corners. He may have a point.

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Up next is the FA Cup Semi Final and that game may prove very similar. I will certainly be happy with a similar result.

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