MAN CITY 2, LEICESTER CITY 0
Manchester City are back in the Premier League’s top four after hardly breaking sweat against bottom-three side and relegation bound Leicester City on a night of protest at the Etihad.
First-half goals from Jack Grealish, after only 109 seconds, and Omar Marmoush secured the points with the second half a non-event.
City rarely looked like adding to their tally and it was clearly a damage limitation exercise for Leicester who didn’t have a goal attempt on target as they suffered seven straight league losses and the last six without finding the net.
And there was a notable absence in the technical area with City manager Pep Guardiola banished to the stands after picking up a booking at Bournemouth on Sunday.
It was left to his assistant Juanma Lillo, who was far less animated, to make the calls from the sidelines.
It was also a night when City kicked off with thousands of empty seats as fans boycotted the opening nine minutes of the match in protest to the revelation that City have nine ticket resale partners.
Guardiola described it as a “good performance” from his side.
He said: “We didn’t concede anything except one thing at the end. It wasn’t easy with 10 players behind the ball in the box.
“We missed the third goal to be more relaxed, it’s never over and there have been many times this season when it has been 2-0 and we have conceded goals and lost games.
Guardiola described Grealish as an “incredible human being” after learning he had dedicated his goal to his brother Keelan as it was the 25th anniversary of his death aged nine months.
The City manager was delighted Grealish scored his first league goal since December 2023, adding: “It is not easy when you don’t play regularly. Goal good for him and playing in a more central position he’s more comfortable on the sides. He’s playing really good.”
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said: “It was a bad start conceding early and then a second at 29 minutes. Then we have to control to make sure it’s not three or four at half time.
“Not scoring, losing games, bad start is extra hard to recover from. Situation we’re in, only by hard work can we get out. The gap is huge now it’s a challenge. Nevertheless, we have eight games to play and we have to represent ourselves in the best possible way and that’s a challenge.
Embed from Getty Images“We want to improve, the two goals we conceded are our own mistakes and you can’t afford that especially away at City. Scoring goals is a problem, the ball doesn’t seem to go in.
“Today before the game, I mentioned it because the gap was already big. I asked the players that the remaining moments we have at this level we have to make the most of it no matter the table or the score in the game. We have to go from first to last minute and give it everything.
“We can be real about it, 12 points adrift and eight games to play. It’s a very big difference, too much. Focus on game to game and presenting ourselves in the best possible way. That is the main target now.”
Guardiola made six changes to the side that beat Bournemouth to reach the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
One was forced with Erling Haaland ruled out for seven weeks with an ankle injury while Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne moved to the bench.
Nico O’Reilly’s brilliant performance at the weekend earns him a place in the starting line-up with Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Marmoush, Savinho and Nico Gonzalez promoted.
Good news for City fans came with Oscar Bobb who was on the bench for the first time since breaking his leg pre-season.
Leicester had not played since March 16 when they lost 3-0 to Manchester United and they were unchanged from that match.
The boycotters missed City’s electric start as they took the lead inside two minutes.
Doku broke forward and released Savinho who weaved his way to the byline before cutting the ball back to Grealish to fire home a low shot from 12 yards.
It was Grealish’s fifth goal of the season, and it was his first start since December 21. Since then, he has managed only 34 minutes football over three substitute appearances.
Leicester created an unwanted Premier League record having conceded first in 25 of their 30 league matches.
The Etihad looked around two thirds full at kick off but from the ninth minute it began to fill as fans streamed in.
Leicester rallied and came close to equalising when Bilal El Khannouss cut in from the left and bent a fabulous effort just wide of the far post.
City doubled their lead on the half hour after a mix up in the visiting defence.
Ruben Dias played a forward pass which keeper Mads Hermansen and Wout Faes tangled before the ball ran free to Marmoush who lashed a shot into the roof of the net, the sixth goal he has netted since his January move from Eintract Frankfurt.
Marmoush had another big chance minutes later but his goalbound effort was blocked by Faes.
Ilkay Gundogan then set up Savinho whose close-range shot was brilliantly turned over by Hermansen.
Leicester made a change at the break as Jamie Vardy, who had been booked, was replaced Oliver Skipp which gave the Foxes an extra man in midfield as it clearly looked a case of damage limitation.
They were far more solid and City were unable to prise open their defence for a third time.
City made their first change with 12 minutes left as Doku was replaced by James McAtee.
Bobb made his long-awaited return with five minutes left as he replaced Savinho.
City made two further changes in stoppage time as Gundogan and Josko Gvardiol made way for Vitor Reis and Rico Lewis.