Tuesday January 1, 2013 Day 21 Finished Etihad Stadium

Manchester City 3 - 0 Stoke City

  • Zabaleta 43’
  • Dzeko 56’
  • Agüero 74’ (pen.)

32 comments | Write your comment

  1. Premier League - Aguero injury takes gloss off Man City win

    Premier League - Aguero injury takes gloss off Man City win

    Manchester City remain seven points behind leaders Manchester United after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Stoke City. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester City
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Wednesday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4' FULL TIME. A good win for Manchester City but an injury to Aguero certainly takes the gloss off. They remain seven points behind Man Utd.
    • 90+3' Barry bodychecks Nzonzi and the Stoke man is winded. Play stops for a spell.
    • 90+2' Abdul Razak replaces Dzeko as City shut up shop.
    • 90+1' Sinclair almost gets a goal! Milner embarks on a fine run and whips in a vicious cross that is just out of the reach of the forward, arriving at the back post.
    • 90' We will have two added minutes.
    • 89' The ball smacks into Tevez and loops up into the air but the ball drops nicely into Begovic's arms.
    • 88' Just going through the motions now as Pablo Zabaleta is announced as City's man of the match.
    • 86' Stoke hit the post! Whelan with an ambitious shot from 35 yards that Hart touches onto the woodwork! A great hit and a good save.
    • 84' Kompany finds himself in the Stoke box and tries to play in a team-mate with a clever little pass. However, he fails to pull it off.
    • 82' Silva replaced by Scott Sinclair for Manchester City.
    • 81' Stat from Infostrada: "Three of the last four editions of this fixture in Manchester have finished with a 3-0 scoreline."
    • 80' Barry plays in Dzeko but he can't beat Begovic with a shot on the turn. City come forward again but Tevez has a shot blocked by a sea of Stoke shirts.
    • 78' Silva flashes a shot well off target from just outside the box.
    • 77' Carlos Tevez replaces Aguero, whose afternoon is cut short by injury.
    • 76' Aguero has done his hamstring by the looks of things. He pulled up when sprinting and that doesn't look great.
    • 75' Well, that's game over then. An undeserved third for the home side, whose fans are now indulging in a mass Poznan.
    • 74' GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Stoke! Aguero tucks the ball out of the reach of the diving Begovic. It shouldn't have been a spot-kick but in all truth it probably wouldn't have mattered in any case.
    • 73' Nzonzi is booked as replays reveal the contact clearly happened outside of the box.
    • 73' Penalty to Man City! Nzonzi brings down Silva just inside the box.
    • 72' Manchester United are winning 3-0 at Wigan so the gap at the top of the table will remain seven points.
    • 71' It's all gone a bit quiet, which will not displease Roberto Mancini.
    • 70' Stoke need to get something soon if they are to get anything out of this game.
    • 68' A change for Stoke as Adam is replaced by Dean Whitehead in midfield.
    • 67' Stat from Infostrada: "Man City have won all previous 18 EPL matches in which Edin Dzeko scored."
    • 65' Toure goes down hurt after a collision with Walters in the air. He landed awkwardly and is winded.
    • 63' Big chance for Stoke! A corner is flicked on by Jerome at the near post and Cameron is surprised when the ball comes to him, scooping his shot over the bar from eight yards.
    • 61' A slice of controversy as Lescott appears to block a goal-bound shot with his arm. Need a replay to be sure.
    • 59' Stoke take the free-kick and Joe Hart punches away.
    • 58' Lescott bundles Jerome to the ground as he approaches the box and earns a booking for himself.
    • 57' To celebrate, Dzeko lifted up his shirt to reveal a message reading 'Happy New Year' and gets booked for his troubles. Silly from the ref - nothing wrong with a nice festive message.
    • 56' GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City! City take a quick free-kick and Aguero rolls away from his man to stab a shot at goal. Begovic can only spill the ball to the feet of Dzeko, who tucks the ball home.
    • 55' Zabaleta takes a knock but he gets to his feet and then puts in a dangerous cross from the right.
    • 54' Stat from Opta: "22 of Man City’s 38 goals this season have come in the final half hour."
    • 53' Now Joleon Lescott is pulling out the tricks with a bit of juggling on the edge of the box and when the ball comes in from Toure, Dzeko has a shot deflected behind for a corner.
    • 52' Huth puts the ball behind for a Manchester City corner...
    • 51' Superb work from Toure in midfield as he holds onto the ball under pressure. City recycle possession after failing to open up the visiting defence.
    • 50' An early change for Stoke as Matthew Etherington replaces Jones, who looks a bit unimpressed.
    • 49' City go close! Toure plays a direct ball to Dzeko and he runs onto it before unleashing a ferocious drive that flies narrowly over the bar.
    • 48' Aguero with a sumptuous touch as he rolls the ball off his boot and into the path of Silva, but the Spaniard can't collect on the edge of the box.
    • 47' Huth gives away a free-kick early in the second half but Milner gets his delivery all wrong as he lifts it over the defence and out.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
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    • 45+1' HALF TIME. Zabaleta's late strike has Manchester City 1-0 in front.
    • 45' We will have one minute of added time.
    • 44' Zabaleta has been one of the unsung heroes of this Premier League season and though we expected an Argentine to score, it wasn't him.
    • 43' GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City! Pablo Zabaleta is the unlikely hero. Silva stabs a lovely pass through for Milner and Begovic gets a foot to his low cross, only to turn the ball into the path of Zabaleta. The right-back side-foots home for his second of the season.
    • 42' Stoke have done very well to frustrate Manchester City so far but it will take a real effort for them to hold out across 90 minutes.
    • 40' Toure is tasked with taking the free-kick on and tries to go under the wall. However, Stoke's wall of red and white striped shirts blocks his effort and Jerome touches the ball clear.
    • 39' Shawcross comes into the back of Dzeko 20 yards from goal and his messy challenge gives the home side a free-kick in a good area...
    • 37' Aguero has been the key protagonist in this first half and all of City's best attacks are going through him. Surely it won't be long before he gets a goal.
    • 35' Toure is very unhappy to be penalised for kicking away at Steven Nzonzi. It was the right decision though.
    • 34' Just seconds earlier, Wilkinson made a crucial tackle to prevent Aguero from tapping in from close range. A tremendous piece of defending.
    • 33' City hit the post! Barry delivers a cross from the left and Aguero ghosts in at the near post to direct his header against the woodwork!
    • 31' The home side continue to enjoy the majority of possession but are struggling to open up Stoke.
    • 30' Dzeko has the chance to play in Zabaleta but gets his pass wrong.
    • 29' Whelan plays a neat pass in for Jones and he tries to play in Adam with a first-time ball. However, the home side mop up the danger and start again.
    • 28' Wilkinson wins the ball on the left but as he advances towards the box a heavy touch sees him lose possession. City then attack and Edin Dzeko rifles a shot high and wide when trying to bag one from a tight angle.
    • 27' Stat from Opta: "Stoke have conceded the lowest proportion of second half goals this season (41%)."
    • 26' Andy Wilkinson lofts a deep cross to the back post and Charlie Adam goes to ground in the box under contact from Gareth Barry, but there's nothing doing.
    • 24' Aguero finds Silva who sees a strong shot blocked by Stoke. The pressure is building now.
    • 22' Aguero with another chance as he spins away rom Shawcross too easily! Begovic repels a clipped shot from the City striker as Stoke manage to bundle the ball clear.
    • 21' Kompany produces a lovely stepover to fool Whelan. You don't see that every day from a centre-back.
    • 20' Silva is the unexpected target of the Milner free-kick and the Spaniard stoops to head the ball at the penalty spot, only to get under it and send his effort spinning over.
    • 19' Great work from Milner as he gets his body in front of Cameron Jerome to win a free-kick for his side high up the pitch.
    • 17' Dzeko spreads the ball wide to Clichy but his cross is cleared as Stoke refuse to let the home side through.
    • 16' City's early dominance has faded somewhat and Aguero has been quietened down. A good day's work by Stoke so far.
    • 14' Toure keeps advancing as Stoke stand off and eventually unleashes a shot from range that flies miles off target. He should have done better.
    • 13' Milner tries to cut open the Stoke defence to find Pablo Zabaleta, who has burst in from the wing. However, the pass is cut out by Whelan as Stoke stand firm again.
    • 12' Stat from Opta: "Jonathan Walters has started each of Stoke’s last 73 Premier League games, the longest current run of any outfield player in the league. "
    • 11' Some fine defending from Robert Huth, who has had a very good season indeed.
    • 10' Silva plays a pass with his shoulder delightfully but sadly the ball finds Kenwyne Jones.
    • 9' Unlucky Aguero! Gareth Barry plays in Aguero with a delicious ball through the centre. He chests it down and gets a shot away but rifles the ball over from 10 yards.
    • 8' Meanwhile, at the other end Yaya Toure gets his first sight of goal but lifts his shot over the bar.
    • 7' Jon Walters pokes a pass into the path of Glenn Whelan but he is dispossessed by a City shirt. That's about as close as Stoke have got.
    • 6' Aguero spots a run from Silva and plays a nice pass round the corner, but it has too much on it and Begovic races off his line to claim the ball.
    • 5' Stoke already look like they are going to come under sustained pressure this afternoon. They have the personnel to handle that though.
    • 4' Now Shawcross is forced to make an important intervention to clear from a Gael Clichy cross after he was played in by David Silva.
    • 2' Sergio Aguero lively early on. The striker makes a surging run through the centre of the pitch and then forces Asmir Begovic into action with a firm drive at the near post following a pass from Milner.
    • 1' KICK OFF! Manchester City kicking left to right.
    • 14:50 Stoke last won a league game at Man City in October 1997. They have conceded only 17 league goals this season, the same number as Real Madrid. League table
    • 14:45 If Stoke score today, expect it to be from a set-piece: City have conceded the lowest proportion of open play goals, Stoke have scored the lowest proportion of open play goals.
    • 14:40 Stoke are unbeaten in their last 10 games. The only team to have gone on a longer unbeaten run at any point in the Premier League this season are Man City (15).
    • 14:35 Four of the last six Premier League meetings between Man City and Stoke have ended as 1-1 draws, including the last two.
    • 14:30 For Stoke, Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron are back in defence after serving bans, with Matthew Upson and Ryan Shotton making way. Charlie Adam starts in midfield for the first time since his father died while Cameron Jerome, who equalised with a stunning injury-time strike against Southampton after coming on as a sub, is picked in attack. They replace Michael Kightly and Matthew Etherington. Highlights: Stoke 3 Southampton 3
    • 14:25 City make two changes from the win over Norwich: Joleon Lescott comes in for Matija Nastasic at centre-half and James Milner replaces the suspended Samir Nasri in midfield. City are not appealing Nasri's three-match ban. Mario Balotelli is out with a virus while full-backs Aleksandar Kolarov and Maicon (knee) also remain on the sidelines. Defender Micah Richards (knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are still long-term casualties. Highlights: Norwich 3 Man City 4
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Nastasic, Sinclair, Garcia, Kolo Toure, Tevez, Razak. /// Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson, Jerome, Nzonzi, Adam, Whelan, Walters, Jones. Subs: Sorensen, Upson, Shotton, Whitehead, KEIRA, Etherington, Crouch.
    • 14:15 Welcome to live text commentary as Manchester City host Stoke City in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium.
  • Summary

    • 90+1' Sinclair almost gets a goal! Milner embarks on a fine run and whips in a vicious cross that is just out of the reach of the forward, arriving at the back post.
    • 86' Stoke hit the post! Whelan with an ambitious shot from 35 yards that Hart touches onto the woodwork! A great hit and a good save.
    • 74' GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Stoke! Aguero tucks the ball out of the reach of the diving Begovic. It shouldn't have been a spot-kick but in all truth it probably wouldn't have mattered in any case.
    • 73' Penalty to Man City! Nzonzi brings down Silva just inside the box.
    • 63' Big chance for Stoke! A corner is flicked on by Jerome at the near post and Cameron is surprised when the ball comes to him, scooping his shot over the bar from eight yards.
    • 61' A slice of controversy as Lescott appears to block a goal-bound shot with his arm. Need a replay to be sure.
    • 56' GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City! City take a quick free-kick and Aguero rolls away from his man to stab a shot at goal. Begovic can only spill the ball to the feet of Dzeko, who tucks the ball home.
    • 49' City go close! Toure plays a direct ball to Dzeko and he runs onto it before unleashing a ferocious drive that flies narrowly over the bar.
    • 43' GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City! Pablo Zabaleta is the unlikely hero. Silva stabs a lovely pass through for Milner and Begovic gets a foot to his low cross, only to turn the ball into the path of Zabaleta. The right-back side-foots home for his second of the season.
    • 33' City hit the post! Barry delivers a cross from the left and Aguero ghosts in at the near post to direct his header against the woodwork!
    • 22' Aguero with another chance as he spins away rom Shawcross too easily! Begovic repels a clipped shot from the City striker as Stoke manage to bundle the ball clear.
    • 20' Silva is the unexpected target of the Milner free-kick and the Spaniard stoops to head the ball at the penalty spot, only to get under it and send his effort spinning over.
    • 9' Unlucky Aguero! Gareth Barry plays in Aguero with a delicious ball through the centre. He chests it down and gets a shot away but rifles the ball over from 10 yards.
    • 2' Sergio Aguero lively early on. The striker makes a surging run through the centre of the pitch and then forces Asmir Begovic into action with a firm drive at the near post following a pass from Milner.
    • 14:20 TEAMS - Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Lescott, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Nastasic, Sinclair, Garcia, Kolo Toure, Tevez, Razak. /// Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson, Jerome, Nzonzi, Adam, Whelan, Walters, Jones. Subs: Sorensen, Upson, Shotton, Whitehead, KEIRA, Etherington, Crouch.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.2 6
      Defenders
      Goal 6.1 8
      6.3 7
      Yellow Card 5.8 6
      5.9 6
      Midfielders
      6 6
      5.7 7
      5.7 7
      Goal Substitution Out77′ 6.5 8
      Substitution Out82′ 6.7 7
      Strikers
      Goal Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ 7.5 7
      Subs
      Substitution In77′ 4.5 6
      Substitution In82′ 4.3 6
      Substitution In90′ 4.9 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.8 7
      Defenders
      6.1 6
      Yellow Card 5.4 7
      5.4 7
      4.9 6
      Midfielders
      5.7 7
      Yellow Card 5.7 6
      6.2 6
      Substitution Out68′ 6.1 5
      5.7 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out50′ 5.9 5
      Subs
      Substitution In50′ 5.6 6
      Substitution In68′ 4 6

Comment 12 - 32 of 32

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  1. We were well beaten and looked tired BUT we made 2­ mistakes and they scored and we didnt even dispute the­ rediculous penalty. The stupid thing was that even­ though we didnt look like winning, without the mistakes­ that were punished we didnt look like losing­ either........RS4 STOKE

    From , on Tue 8 Jan 17:37
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What a truly awfull team ,Pulis is a rubbish coach,all­ about kick and rush.Think Stoke should stick to making ­ sub standard pottery because they certainly can't­ play football

    From S, on Wed 2 Jan 12:09
  3. Only Huth

    From Ali, on Wed 2 Jan 6:18
  4. two scrappy goals and a pen that shouldn't have­ been! typical fluky lucky man city. your luck and money­ isn't gonna win you the title this time. Arsenal­ will destroy them in the next match

    From Chris, on Wed 2 Jan 5:10
  5. Stoke fans can just suck it!! The score proves­ everything and even without a penalty we would kick­ your #$%$ and money does buy u happiness suckers !!man­ city is the real city not stoke

    From Vedant, on Tue 1 Jan 23:33
  6. SUPERMAN Me thinks that more than half the responses­ here are United supporters and most others are­ Stoke's , so they would dispute any query that­ arises , they are prejudist for any City advantage­ ..........they are FERGAL'S ROBOTS who say YES SIR­ , MR Fergie!"

    From Stanislaw, on Tue 1 Jan 20:08
  7. Interesting, Stoke have a real claim for a penalty­ ignored, then the ref gives a penalty for a foul­ committed outside the box. Makes you think .

    From Tony, on Tue 1 Jan 16:47
  8. What the hell is going on with refs, last week stoke­ had two penalties definate hand ball turned down today­ a fowl outside the box ref gives a pen to man city,

    From IVOR, on Tue 1 Jan 16:42
  9. Blatant cheating for the penalty. Wasnt a penalty at­ all. Brown envelopes me thinks coming from a neutrals­ everywhere.

    From The Truth, on Tue 1 Jan 16:37
  10. suppose that will give fergie more ammo to try to slag­ city down

    From Neil, on Tue 1 Jan 16:36
  11. Cheating bast***s

    From Stocko, on Tue 1 Jan 16:32
  12. ., were is your mum

    From Darren, on Tue 1 Jan 16:25
  13. come on stoke

    From Student, on Tue 1 Jan 16:15
  14. Come on Stoke

    From John, on Tue 1 Jan 16:06
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    C'mon Man City...!!!!

    From Simon, on Tue 1 Jan 16:02
  16. man city dirty overpaid cheats

    From ANDREW, on Tue 1 Jan 15:50
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Stoke City are hard workers. Crouch can Now reignite­ his career for us in our national team while Owen­ deserves at least another 50 goals for his efforts

    From Azim, on Tue 1 Jan 15:24
  18. 23, theyve let fewer goals in than you lot, Man u for­ the title, you will never see it again

    From PAUL, on Tue 1 Jan 15:16
  19. come on man city stuff man u

    From jim b, on Tue 1 Jan 15:10
  20. stop saying city for man city, they are BOTH CITIES!

    From PAUL, on Tue 1 Jan 15:10
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