- match commentary
- English Barclays Premier League
- 1 January 2013, 3:00pm
- Etihad Stadium
- Attendance: 47,192
Man City![]() | v | Stoke![]() |
3
| 0 |
live commentary
92 mins:Full time in Manchester and goals from Zabaleta, Dzeko and Aguero hand City an easy three points against a Stoke side who struggled to have any real impact on the game
91 mins:Final change for City as Edin Dzeko is replaced by Abdul Razak
90 mins:Great work by Milner there as he dances past Wilkinson but he can't find anyone with his cross
88 mins:Sinclair almost got an immediate chance there, as the ball bounced around in the midfield and just as it looked as if it fall for him, the danger was well cleared
86 mins:Great save from Joe Hart who reacted brilliantly to a brilliant effort from Glenn Whelan
85 mins:City continue to come forward but appear to have settled for the win, playing the ball around superbly
83 mins:Another change for City as Scott Sinclair gets a rare chance to shine in place of David Silva
82 mins: Asmir Begovic has again impressed for Stoke today and has done everything asked of him to keep the score down
80 mins:City really enjoying themselves here as Gareth Barry tries his luck with a athletic volley
77 mins:First change for City as Carlos Tévez comes on for Sergio Agüero who looked to be feeling his hamstring
75 mins:Aguero gets a reward for his good work as his penalty goes just under Begovic to make it 3-0
75 mins:Penalty for City as David Silva is brought down by Steven N'Zonzi. Stoke will feel aggrieved at that as it did look outside the area
73 mins:Stoke have come into the game as City drop off but the Potters seem to be lacking inspiration
70 mins:Second chance for Stoke as Dean Whitehead comes on for Charlie Adam
68 mins:Another chance for City as Dzeko crosses in but the ball is well cleared by Huth
65 mins:The chance seems to have inspired Stoke with the likes of Steven N'Zonzi coming more and more into the game
62 mins:Stoke almost got back into the game as the ball fell to Walters in the six yard zone but the striker somehow misses the target
60 mins:City have dominated the hour and the second goal only seems to have sent Stoke even further back into their shell
58 mins: Joleon Lescott gets the first yellow card for City for a poor challenge on Cameron Jerome
56 mins:Dzeko doubles the lead by passing into the net after Begovic has spilled Aguero's effort
54 mins:Great work from Gnegneri Yaya Touré as he cuts the ball back into the area but Edin Dzeko sees his effort blocked
51 mins:First change of the game as Matthew Etherington comes on for Kenwyne Jones
49 mins: Edin Dzeko almost finds his way onto the scoresheet as he smashes a volley just over the Stoke bar
47 mins:First yellow card of the game as Robert Huth goes in the book for a rash challenge on Aguero
46 mins:Back underway in Manchester and its sure to be a good half with both teams still having plenty in the tank
45 mins:Half time at the Etihad and City certainly deserve their lead after a number of good chances and Stoke will certainly need to improve in the second half
42 mins: Pablo Zabaleta puts City ahead as despite good save from Asmir Begovic, Pablo Zabaleta is on hand to poke home
41 mins:Roberto Mancini must be getting extremely frustrated as after their bright start, City are struggling to produce any sort of final ball
39 mins:Stoke are again dropping deep and Tony Pulis will be looking to get his players in so he can tell them to move up
36 mins: Pablo Zabaleta has been one of Manchester City's brightest sparks today, regularly bombing down the right but he's been well marshalled by the Stoke rearguard
32 mins:City again go close as first Andy Wilkinson produces a great tackle as David Silva looks set to shoot before Aguero hits the post with a header
30 mins:Roberto Mancini maybe considering some changes here as Edin Dzeko seems to be really struggling today with a number of his touches not coming off
27 mins:City camped in the Stoke half again but the Potters don't seem to be too worried and look quite happy to be camped on the edge of the area
25 mins:Stoke come forward well and after some pinball in the area, Charlie Adam goes down to easily and the move breaks down
22 mins:City getting closer and closer here, as Aguero again finds space in the box but Begovic saves well
19 mins:Another chance for City as David Silva pops up with a header but he can't direct his effort on target
18 mins:Stoke have really come into the game in the last few minutes, especially in defence and City seem to be running out of ideas
15 mins:Stoke come forward with Walters flicking the ball on but there's no-one there for Stoke. Tony Pulis will probably be asking himself where Cameron Jerome and Kenwyne Jones were
14 mins:Good effort by Yaya Toure as he fires in from 25 yards but his effort sails just wide
12 mins:Jonathan Walters seems to be the only player putting any pressure on Manchester City and his legs could be vital if Stoke are to get anything from this one
10 mins:City are really on top here and you get the feeling that they really fancy it today
8 mins: Sergio Agüero looks to fancy it here as he again goes close with a left footed effort from a Gareth Barry cross but his shot sails over the bar
5 mins:City appear to be targeting the Stoke full-backs as Aguero again skips into the box and clearly has his shirt pulled but referee Michael Oliver doesn't seem interested
3 mins:Stoke coming into it now with Jonathan Walters chasing down the City defence
1 mins:Almost the perfect start for City as Asmir Begovic makes a great save from Sergio Agüero following good work from Pablo Zabaleta
Underway at the Etihad and its the home team who've made the stronger start
3 mins:City make two changes from Saturday's win at Norwich, with Joleon Lescott and James Milner coming in while defensive pair Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron are back in for the Potters
2 mins:Both sides come into the game in strong form and it will be interesting to see who can get the upper hand during what is certain to be a huge clash of styles
1 mins:Well welcome along to coverage of this Premier League match between Manchester City and Stoke
team line-up
| 1 | Joe Hart | |
| 5 | Pablo Zabaleta | |
| 6 | Joleon Lescott | |
| 22 | Gaël Clichy | |
| 4 | Vincent Kompany | |
| 18 | Gareth Barry | |
| 42 | Yaya Touré | |
| 7 | James Milner | |
| 21 | David Silva | 82 |
| 10 | Edin Dzeko | 92 |
| 16 | Sergio Agüero | 77 |
substitutes
| 14 | Javi García | |
| 33 | Matija Nastasic | |
| 11 | Scott Sinclair | 82 |
| 30 | Costel Pantilimon | |
| 62 | Abdul Razak | 92 |
| 32 | Carlos Tévez | 77 |
| 28 | Kolo Touré |
referee
Michael Oliverteam line-up
| 1 | Asmir Begovic | |
| 28 | Andy Wilkinson | |
| 4 | Robert Huth | |
| 2 | Geoff Cameron | |
| 17 | Ryan Shawcross | |
| 33 | Cameron Jerome | |
| 19 | Jonathan Walters | |
| 16 | Charlie Adam | 68 |
| 6 | Glenn Whelan | |
| 15 | Steven N'Zonzi | |
| 9 | Kenwyne Jones | 50 |
substitutes
| 26 | Matthew Etherington | 50 |
| 21 | Michael Kightly | |
| 29 | Thomas Sørensen | |
| 30 | Ryan Shotton | |
| 20 | Matthew Upson | |
| 25 | Peter Crouch | |
| 18 | Dean Whitehead | 68 |
referee
Michael Olivermatch stats
| possession % | 61 | 38 | |
| shots on target | 6 | 1 | |
| shots off target | 8 | 1 | |
| corners | 7 | 2 | |
| tackles won | 12 | 19 | |
| offsides | 0 | 1 |





