Man City take big step to Premier League title with routine win at Fulham
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol celebrates scoring their side's third goal at Craven Cottage. Pic: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.
ANY hope Arsenal had that Manchester City might stumble in the penultimate weekend of the Premier League title race disappeared when Pep Guardiola’s side secured a seventh successive league win to return to the top of the table for the first time since mid-April.
Josko Gvardiol once again emerged as City’s unlikely goal-hero with the left-back scoring twice to take his tally to five goals in his last seven games, either side of Phil Foden’s 25th goal of the season.
The Croatian might even have had a hat-trick had he not passed up the chance to step up when Julian Alavarez was brought down by Issa Diop to win a 97th minute penalty. Alvarez took the honours instead after Diop had been dismissed and victory was complete.
The focus now shifts on to Arsenal who visit Manchester United on Sunday with a two-point gap to the leaders, who also moved closer to matching the Gunners’ superior goal difference.
Guardiola insisted before kick-off that his side faced three finals in the final week of the season, starting with the visit to Craven Cottage. And there was little doubt his players’ eyes were very firmly on the prize as they dominated Fulham throughout.
A positive opening suggested Marco Silva’s side might make Guardiola’s men work hard for victory. But once Gvardiol had made the 12th minute breakthrough there was little doubt City would get the job done.
The goal highlighted City at their best as they pieced together a fluent passing move before the ball arrived at Gvardiol on the left wing. The left-back moved inside and exchanged passes with Kevin De Bruyne. moving past Issa Diop before placing a composed finish past Bernd Leno.
From that moment City controlled the first half as Fulham struggled maintain possession for any significant period of time. Gvardiol continued to provide and outlet on the left while De Bruyne, Foden and Bernardo Silva proved too elusive for the home side to contain. Leno was called into action to save from Silva after the Portuguese had been teed up by De Bruyne and then again when Foden fired off a powerful shot from 25 yards out.
Fulham, though, remained in sight of Guardiola’s side at half-time thanks largely to Manuel Akanji’s failure to make more of a clear opportunity immediately before the break. De Bruyne was again the architect, delivering a teasing cross towards the far post where Akanji volleyed over from close range.
Marco Silva responded to his side’s first half showing by making a double substitution at half-time, including the introduction of Adama Traore. The winger showed signs he was capable of troubling the left side of City’s defence and his low cross was met by a Rodrigo Muniz flick that Ederson was forced to dive full length to gather.
That, though, proved to be a rare moment of threat from the home side as City efficiently wrapped up the win.
Foden added the 59th minute second, moving onto a loose ball and firing in a low right foot shot after Bernardo Silva’s forward run had been halted on the edge of the penalty area. And after Erling Haaland had wasted an excellent chance to extend City lead, Gvardiol slid in at the far post to meet Silva’s cross and add the third goal.
Leno 6; Castagne 6, Diop 6, Bassey 6, Robinson 5; Iwobi 6, Palhinha 6; De Cordova-Reid 5 (Cairney 46, 6), Pereira 5 (Wilson 74, 6), Willian 5 (Traore 46, 6); Muniz 6 (Broja 69, 6).
Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Jimenez, Ream.
: Ederson 6; Akanji 6, Dias 7, Ake 6 (Walker 22, 6), Gvardiol 9; Rodri 8, Kovacic 6 (Lewis 81, 6); Silva 7, De Bruyne 9 (Doku 75, 6), Foden 8 (Bobb 81, 6); Haaland 6 (Alvarez 81, 6) Subs: Ortega, Stones, Gomez, Luiz.
: Antony Taylor 6 ENDS
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