Manchester City 2, Cardiff City 0
April started with a comfortable win for quadruple chasing Man City who beat Cardiff City with goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane.
Oleksandr Zinchenko limped off with hamstring injury to be replaced by Kyle Walker – the only blot on a routine win against the relegation threatened Bluebirds.
City could have extended their lead in the second half but settled for the win after Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge had the game of his life to deny City more goals.
Pep Guardiola made 7 changes for Manchester City from the win at Fulham with a tough April ahead.
Only Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kevin De Bruyne were retained from the side that beat Fulham at the weekend as Pep Guardiola rested several players for a busy month ahead.
Kevin De Bruyne back in form
He’s been struggling since his return from 2 lengthy spells out injured this season and has been given time to play himself back into form an at just the right time for Pep Guardiola.
Several dangerous free kicks and a goal later and, despite the lowly opposition, the Belgian appears to have returned to his best.
He peppered the Cardiff goal with free kicks and shots, tormented the Cardiff defenders and almost forced an own goal from Bluebirds captain Sean Morrison who put the ball just wide while trying to stop his cross.
He scored a goal which he later told Neil Warnock wasn’t deliberate but could have had another if Gabriel Jesus had not been greedy.
Gabriel Jesus trying too hard?
A rare chance to start because of Sergio Aguero’s injury but the Brazilian – who has been back among the goals for his country lately – snatched at chances and was greedy when a pass back to Kevin De Bruyne could have meant another goal for City.
He did lay on a goal for Leroy Sane though, chesting down Riyad Mahrez’ cross for the German to score.
Zinchenko hamstring pull – injuries mounting up for City?
Oleksandr Zinchenko didn’t want to go off but his game was ended early by a hamstring pull after just 19 minutes.
His replacement Kyle Walker was supposed to be getting a rest and may have aggravated an injury of his own but with City at the business end of the season there are players who can fill in at full back if required.
Neil Etheridge having the game of his life against City
City may have won 2-0 but could have had a lot more goals but for the Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge,
Phil Foden got his first Premier League start and acquitted himself well against modest opposition. He hit the post and produced a fine save from Neil Etheridge who was having a great game in the Cardiff goal.
And he wasn’t the only City player who was denied by the Cardiff ‘keeper as City racked up 11 shots on target from 27 in all including a purple patch in the second half which could have seen them race out of sight.
City settled for the win to go back to the Premier League summit though, and with 6 games to go can now concentrate on the FA Cup and Champions League for a week as part of their Quadruple challenge.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Cardiff City 0
Ederson: 7. Quiet night in goal. Didn’t have a shot to save until the 74th minute and Oumar Niasse’s effort was a routine save. His second save from Oumar Niasse was a brave run off his line to win the ball off Niasse who was bearing down on goal with 4 minutes to go.
Danilo: 7. Had to swap to left back and was solid with Leroy Sane in front of him.
John Stones: 7. One great pass to release Kevin De Bruyne on the break.
Laporte: 8. Little to do defensively. Very effective upfield and created De Bruyne’s goal and almost converted Phil Foden’s cross with a header but was denied by a one handed save by Neil Etheridge.
Zinchenko: 6. Lasted just 19 minutes before going down and then was withdrawn with a tight hamstring injury. Guardiola took no chances.
Fernandinho: 7. Captain for the night and was given licence to roam and create by a Cardiff side unwilling to press hard often.
De Bruyne: 9. Back in goalscoring form and coming back to his best creative mode could have been clean through for a goal if he had got a pass back from Gabriel Jesus late in the first half.
Phil Foden: 8. First Premier League start for the Stockport youngster – he had an eyecatching shot sail over the goal after 30 minutes and got more confident later. Had a second half shot saved by Neil Etheridge after being put through by Fernandinho. Hit the post and forced a fantastic save out of Etheridge as City pressed on the accelerator in the second half.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. Shooting early from wide on the right almost took Neil Etheridge by surprise. Cutting in on his left foot was too predictable and he wasted a shooting chance which Gabriel Jesus had worked hard to set up. Improved in the second half and tested Etheridge.
Leroy Sane: 8. Had a free kick saved and sent another over the bar. Joined in on the second half turkey shoot as City shot on sight to thrill the City crowd.
Gabriel Jesus: 7. Was just too late to react to Kevin De Bruyne’s early cross right after the game started. Was snatching at chances, seeing a couple go high and wide and was greedy when De Bruyne asked for the ball back in a 1-2 only to see his shot come off Lee Peltier.
Kyle Walker (for Oleksandr Zinchenko): 6. Was already warming up when Zinchenko went down.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Cardiff City 0
Man City 1, Cardiff City 0: 6. Kevin De Bruyne with opening goal after a slide rule pass by Aymeric Laporte to put him clean through wide on the left. He scored with a shot from 2 yards out from an acute angle.
Manchester City 2, Cardiff City 0: 44. Gabriel Jesus chested down Riyad Mahrez’ right wing cross and Leroy Sane pounced on the ball and drove it into the net.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Cardiff City 0
Man City: Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus
Man City Subs Not Used: Muric, Kompany, Sterling, Gundogan, David Silva, Bernardo Silva
Goals: De Bruyne 6, Sane 44
Cardiff City: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson (Bacuna 81), Hoillett, Camarasa (Reid 84), Ralls, Murphy (Mendez-Laing 60), Niasse
Cardiff City Subs Not Used: Murphy, Zohore, Cunningham, K Harris
Booked: Bennett 8 (trip on Danilo), Peltier 34 (brought down Phil Foden), Ralls 53 (hauling down Kevin De Bruyne)
Referee: Jonathan Moss