STOKE CITY 0, MANCHESTER CITY 2
Manchester City visited Stoke City on a rainy Monday night and veteran midfielder David Silva turned on the magic to score twice and restore City’s 16 point Premier League lead with eight games to go.
Silva had been commuting between Manchester and Valencia, training alone in Spain after being given compassionate leave to visit home regularly in recent months after his son had been born prematurely.
Arguably Stoke’s best chance came from a spectacular possible own goal by Kyle Walker which was tipped away by Ederson – the home side didn’t even muster a shot on target to test the Brazilian all game long.
There were a host of changes for Manchester City following their home defeat to FC Basel with Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling returning from injury while only Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leroy Sane, and Gabriel Jesus retained their places in the side. Sergio Aguero had earlier been ruled out for two weeks with a knee injury suffered in training but the big guns otherwise returned.
Stoke tried to mix it with their league leading visitors but were instead undone by City who converted their first chance after ten minutes.
David Silva capitalised on Raheem Sterling’s haring run down the flank after he was released by Jesus, and his cross was side footed home past Jack Butland. The Spaniard didn’t have to break his stride to convert the England winger’s assist which was the least that City deserved.
Badou N’Diaye’s shot was deflected wide ten minutes later after Xherdan Shaqiri nutmegged Zinchenko and laid on a chance for his team mate which deflected off Fernandinho and almost caught Ederson out.
Gabriel Jesus was offside during the buildup to a possible second City goal by Sane as City’s passing dizzied the home side.
Unable to beat the City press, Stoke had to go long but were denied by some good sweeping work by Ederson – the Brazilian tipped away a Jese effort that deflected off Kyle Walker – but City were still able to carve out chances.
Kevin De Bruyne dropping a ball into the Stoke area begging to be converted, while Fernandinho’s bobbling shot was saved by Butland.
Stoke couldn’t hold out in the second half. Less than five minutes in, David Silva beat Butland to the ball and lifted the ball past the England ‘keeper after exchanging passes with Jesus for his ninth goal of the season.
Stoke were rattled and Fernandinho could have made it three for City as he exchanged passes with De Bruyne before hitting the side netting while Sterling dribbled the ball between the static Stoke defence but was denied by Butland who also stopped a Zinchenko chance and was lucky that Sane’s long range curling shot went wide of his outstretched hand.
Peter Crouch came on for the ineffective Jese as Stoke tried to pull a goal back and the big man got his head on the free kick from a Stoke set-piece, finding Eric Choupo-Moting whose flick was nicked over by Bruno Martins Indi.
City looked to be taking it easy towards the end of the game and Kyle Walker spurned the chance to put the game to bed with a first time shot that flew well high after De Bruyne had played him in.
City were in cruise control and Sterling’s late run and effort was deflected away following a drop ball with Stoke unprepared after N’Diaye had chased back to put off the flying winger.
And Silva curled an effort wide for what could have been a hat trick with City slowing down.
Bernardo Silva replaced Sterling with six minutes to go and Jesus was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan as City, who had been resting in the second half, saw out another giant stride towards a possible title showdown at the Etihad against Manchester United on April 7.