LEICESTER CITY 0, MAN CITY 2
A happy and smiling Pep Guardiola marked his 500th match as Manchester City manager with a long-awaited and much needed win a bottom three side Leicester City.
The pain and anguish of a run of only one win in 13 matches before the visit to the King Power Stadium had been etched on Guardiola’s face in a miserable last couple of months.
There was an altogether different persona from Guardiola after goals from Savinho – his first for the club – and Erling Haaland earned a welcome three points, and it was as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.
It was City’s first win on the road for 70 days in all competitions as they had lost seven out of their previous eight away games in all competitions.
It was a far from convincing City performance, but Guardiola will be hoping it is the launchpad for better days after winning for a fifth successive visit to lucky Leicester against whom they have a great record – 12 wins in their last 14 Premier League games.
Had Leicester possessed a cutting edge, though, it might have been a different story. They twice struck the frame of the City goal and spurned other clear-cut chances.
Guardiola said: “The right word would be relief rather than happy.
“The performance was not the best and Leicester were the better team in the last 15 minutes of the first half and at the start of the second.
“Our performance against Everton was better, but today we won.”
The City manager was asked about becoming only the second in the club’s history to reach 500 games.
“The last 13 or 14 games have not been good, but we have to be so pleased and happy what we have done,” he said.
“There have been a lot of memories which will last for ever. And what has happened in the last month makes you realise how good it has been.”
There was plenty to be optimistic about for new Foxes’ manager Ruud van Nistelrooy as they more than matched City – they had more possession and 12 goal attempts to City’s 14 with little to separate the side.
He said: “It hurts me we didn’t take anything because of the performance. The players invested a lot in trying to get a result.
“It is a shame we couldn’t take something because of what we put in, but it is a foundation to buikd on.”
Kevin De Bruyne was back for City in their only change from the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Embed from Getty ImagesJeremy Doku dropped to the bench, but Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker returned to the squad for the out-of-form champions.
Jamie Vardy returned for Leicester after injury as Patson Daka dropped to the bench following Boxing Day’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.
Jordan Ayew was banned so Facundo Buonanotte was recalled by van Nistelrooy.
City carved out the first clear chance in the seventh minute when Mateo Kovacic released De Bruyne who cut the ball back for Erling Haaland whose shot was well kept out by the legs of keeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
There was a warning for City when Vardy burst clean through and was brought down by keeper Stefan Ortega.
Luckily for City a flag was raised for offside or it would have been a penalty and likely sending off for the keeper.
There was another let off for City when a weak header from Josko Gvardiol failed to find Ortega as Vardy nipped in only for the keeper to make a superb block to deny a certain goal.
City made the most of those escapes as they seized the lead in the 21st minute.
A 25-yard drive from Phil Foden was parried by Stolarczyk and Savinho, following in, fired high into the net for the Brazilian’s first goal for the club.
Haaland made a weaving run into the penalty area and, appearing to have done the hard labour, then dragged his shot wide.
Leicester continued to create chances and, after a poor City clearance, Buonanotte’s header struck the upright.
City were nervously holding on to their lead in the second period and just after the hour Leicester had a great chance to draw level.
The visitors failed to clear a free kick and James Justin’s flick was cleared off the line by Manuel Akanji.
City made their first change mid-half when Foden was replaced by James McAtee.
Leicester failed to take another gilt-edged chance when Vardy latched on to Stephy Mavididi’s cross but lifted his volley over the bar from six yards.
Guardiola made a second switch with 20 minutes left as Nathan Ake was replaced by Walker.
City made the most of this good fortune as they broke to double their lead with 16 minutes left.
A sweeping move from right to left ended with Savinho crossing for Haaland to head home from eight yards, his 19th of the season and first in five games and only his fourth in the Premier League since September.
Leicester, to their credit, never conceded defeat and in the last minute they were denied by the frame of the goal for a second time as Vardy’s header struck the top of the crossbar.