WHAT HAPPENED?
City took just seven minutes to get our home campaign up and running for 2021/22.
The visitors had been pinned in their own third since kick-off and fell behind when Ferran Torres picked out Gabriel Jesus on the right of the box – his volley across goal struck Grant Hanley and then went in off keeper Tim Krull.
It was untidy, but nobody was complaining.
Seven minutes later City appeared to have doubled the lead when Ferran Torres tucked a low shot past Krul, but the Canaries were protesting virtually as soon as the ball hit the back of the net – and after VAR recommended referee Graham Scott view the pitch-side monitor, he upheld those complaints.
The infringement was on the build-up but did Bernardo really trip Milos Rachica or did he trip himself up? On first look it seemed the latter rather than former.
The Canaries’ respite was brief as five minutes later, City did increase the lead and it was home debut boy Jack Grealish who scored it – thought it maybe won’t end up in his career highlights show-reel!
Gabriel Jesus, a constant threat down the right flank, crossed low into the six-yard box and the ball seemed bounce into the net off Grealish’s leg before bouncing over the line to make it 2-0.
He ran over to the corner of the South Stand to celebrate with a grin as big as a Cheshire Cat – and why not?
Though the champions would continue to dominate, a further 42 minutes would pass until the third goal came, as a corner fell kindly for Aymeric Laporte who prodded home from six yards out to make it 3-0.
And like London (or Manchester buses), another one came along almost straight after.
The hard-working and unselfish Jesus, involved in two of the first three goals, claimed a second direct assist as he raced into the box before crossing into Raheem Sterling - on a s a sub 10 minutes earlier -who tapped home from close range to make it 4-0 with 71 minutes played.
On a chastening afternoon for the Championship champions, the torment still wasn’t over as Ruben Dias‘ delightful lofted pass picked out the run of another sub - Riyad Mahrez - putting Algerian clear on goal and his measured low shot went in via the foot of the post to make it 5-0.
And that was that...
Not a bad way to start the season on home soil!
