MANCHESTER CITY 2, FULHAM 0 (CARABAO CUP)
Manchester City comfortably beat Fulham 2-0 in the Carabao Cup with a brace by teenager Brahim Diaz.
The 19-year-old Spain U21 international was on target with a deflected opening goal and he tucked away the rebound after Gabriel Jesus hit the post in the second half.
Kevin De Bruyne went off with a knock late on as City closed in on a very routine win.
Diaz was the recipient of some good fortune as he scored his first senior goals for Manchester City.
He is yet to sign a new contract with the club and could leave in January but set City on their way when his 18th minute shot took a wicked deflection off Aleksandar Mitrovic to wrong-foot Sergio Rico in the Fulham goal.
City had made ten changes from the side that beat Spurs at Wembley on Monday and City’s second string which included Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne was the architect of several City chances to extend their lead but City didn’t extend their lead until the 65th minute when Diaz capitalised on a rebound off the post from Gabriel Jesus’ close range shot.
It was a shame that the Belgian was led off late on with a knock as he was looking in ominous form with the Manchester derby on the horizon.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Fulham 0 (Carabao Cup)
Aro Muric: 6. Virtual spectator.
Danilo: 7. Spent a lot of time upfield – hit the woodwork, little to trouble him defensively.
Vincent Kompany: 7. Chested down Delph’s cross for Brahim Diaz.
John Stones: 7. Little defensive work to do. Distributed the ball well and made tackles when needed.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7. Spent a lot of time watching out for the dangerous Vietto.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. Tried his luck after 45 seconds but Sergio Rico made the save. Feeling his way back into form and put some telling balls into the area and did some defensive work too in an all round quality performance. Had to go off with a worrying knock.
Fabian Delph: 7. Looping cross into the area set City on their way.
Phil Foden: 7. Tricky feet and a shot saved plus one blazed over. Was unlucky to head De Bruyne’s cross wide but did provide some great through balls in the second half as he started to stretch the tiring Fulham defence.
Leroy Sane: 8. Lively down the left and looked a real threat when cutting back from the byline but left his shooting boots at home. Turned Tomothy Fosu Mensah inside out to win the ball after De Bruyne’s through ball forward – then hit the side netting.
Gabriel Jesus: 8. Worked hard trying to pull Fulham’s defence out of shape but looked short on confidence in front of goal. Denied by Rico after De Bruyne won the ball in a dangerous area and played him in. Headed wide after a cut back by Sane and hit the woodwork but Diaz struck in the rebound in the second half.
Brahim Diaz: 8. Tested himself against the physicality of Tim Ream. A deflected goal after 18 minutes off but offered a lot in attack.
Riyad Mahrez (on for Brahim Diaz 78): 6. No impact on the game.
Claudio Gomes (on for Kevin De Bruyne): 86. Too late to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Fulham 0 (Carabao Cup)
Man City 1, Fulham 0: 18. Brahim Diaz’ deflected shot of Aleksandar Mitrovic deceived Sergio Rico after a looping cross by Fabian Delph from a short corner was knocked down by Vincent Kompany into his path.
Man City 2, Fulham 0: 65. Gabriel Jesus hit the post after Leroy Sane put him through, but Brahim Diaz was there to stick the rebound in from 7 yards out for his second City goal.
MATCH FACTS – Manchester City 2, Fulham 0 (Carabao Cup)
Man City: Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Stones, Zinchenko, De Bruyne (Claudio Gomes 86), Delph, Foden, Sane, Jesus, Diaz (Mahrez 78)
Man City Subs not used: Walker, Sterling, Aguero, Bernardo Silva
Booked: Kompany 80
Fulham: Rico, Fosu-Mensah, Odoi, Ream (Le Marchand 69), Ryan Sessegnon, Cairney, Zambo Anguissa, Seri, Vietto (Christie 90), Mitrovic, Schurrle (Ayite 81)
Fulham Subs not used: Fabri, Mawson, De La Torre, Steven Sessegnon
Attendance: 35,271