Manchester City went to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season after late goals from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan made it hard and attractive with Aston Villa.
Pep Guardiola’s side hit twice in the final 11-minutes to see the three points that see us jump Leicester City and Manchester United, although the latter will get back to first place if they beat him. Fulham tonight.
Bernardo broke the stoppage when he fired into the top corner from the edge of the area after Rodrigo had sent Tyrone Mings deep in the Villa half.
Referee John Moss dismissed the visitors’ complaints about the Spaniard recovering from a leg position and then, in the final minute, he punished City, from which Gundogan fired just down the middle after for Matty Cash handled from Gabriel Jesus’ head.
Patience pays off
Bernardo’s strike brought relief to Etihad Stadium, where City had ruled for long periods against a Villa side that looked threatening on the counter-attack.
The guests could have picked up a comfortable lead much earlier in the game, but sprained a number of golden opportunities going forward.
Emiliano Martinez made an extremely early save to deflect Bernardo from a yard, with the Portuguese midfielder unable to turn from Rodrigo’s header back across the goal, although the Argentine goalkeeper looked well-beaten when Joao Cancelo’s curling effort kicked back off the bar in the second half.
Martinez made another good stop, parrying Gundogan’s glaning header from a corner and recovering well as Ruben Dias came in for the rebound, before the German midfielder somehow missed the loose ball. with the goal closing.
More protective steel
While City were at the top, this was an open game throughout.
Villa defended in numbers, but were set up to attack, with Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley and Bertrand Traore getting on in support of Ollie Watkins.
John Stones took a Barkley pass to Grealish to stop one dangerous break early in the first half and the two midfielders would reunite before half-time, when the a Chelsea man who was on loan saved from Ederson with a curling effort.
After a promising spell in the second half Ederson made a quick stop from Traore’s 18-yard drive, before sending off a wild 25-yard volley from former City midfielder Douglas Luiz.
Dean Smith’s side took their tails up shortly before Bernardo’s opener, with Dias making a crucial intervention to turn Watkins ’center back with Jacob Ramsey waiting for a kick.
Pep guardiola – Great effect
“It was a very good performance again, against a key side. They are dangerous and just looking at their results this season. A big impact.
“The hardest part was scoring, in the second half we were more aggressive.”
Man of the Match – Bernardo Silva
With tension mounting, trumps came up with a good goal at a crucial time in the game.
Statzone
Gundogan’s goal was his seventh place in 19 appearances in all competitions this season, making 2020/21 the best goal-scoring career in his best career.
What it means
City ‘s ninth consecutive win extends our unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.
If United do not beat Fulham, we will still be at the top of the Premier League on goal difference, ahead of second – placed Leicester.
As it is now
|
1 |
|
City of Manchester Man City |
18 |
11 |
5 |
2 |
31 |
13 |
18 |
38 |
WWWWW |
|
|
2 |
|
City of Leicester Leicester |
19 |
12 |
2 |
5 |
35 |
21 |
14 |
38 |
DDWWW |
|
|
3 |
|
Manchester United Man United |
19 |
11 |
5 |
3 |
35 |
25 |
10 |
38 |
DWWWD |
What now
City face Cheltenham City League 2 away in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday 23 January, with a kick-off at 17:30 (UK).
We are back in action in the Premier League on Tuesday 26 January, when we play West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Kicks off at 20:15.
Teams
CITY: Ederson, Walker (Zinchenko 28 ‘), Clachan, Dias, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), (Iosa 59’) Bernardo, Foden, Sterling (Mahrez 72 ‘).
SUBS: Steffen, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Garcia, Bernabe.
ASTON VILLA: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Traore, Grealish, Barkley, Watkins.
SUBS: Heaton, Taylor, Guilbert, Engels, Elmohamady, Nakamba, Ramsey, El Ghazi, Davis.
CITYZENS: CITY V VILLA – Get a Bernardo home shirt