Stones, Jesus and Aguero on scoresheet as City cruise past Fulham

John Stones, Gabriel Jesus and a Sergio Aguero penalty did the damage, with three goals in 15 minutes securing a crucial three points in our bid to regain the Premier League title.

With seven changes to the starting lineup – and a shift in formation from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3 – City looked a little disjointed in the early stages, with our usual intensity and fluidity somewhat lacking.

Our best chance of the first half fell to Ferran Torres, who forced a save from the feet of Alphonse Areola after latching on to a fine reverse ball from Joao Cancelo.

Bernardo Silva forced his way past two players inside the area, but his shot lacked power, and Sergio Aguero produced a decent effort from a tight angle but Areola saved comfortably.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first period.

However, City started the second half with more intensity, and we opened the scoring inside two minutes of the re-start, Stones tapping home with a first-time finish from Joao Cancelo’s teasing free-kick.

It was Stones’ fifth goal of the season in all competitions, and it sparked a more open, free-flowing performance.

Jesus doubled our lead ten minutes later, capitalising on some poor Fulham passing in front of their own goal before rounding Areola and finishing emphatically.

And it became 3-0 moments later. Former City academy graduate Tosin Adarabioyo was guilty of overplaying on the edge of his area and was dispossessed by Ferran Torres. Adarabioyo then brought the City forward down inside the area, leaving referee Andre Marriner no option but to award a penalty.

Aguero stepped up to score his first Premier League goal in 14 months, a wonderful sight for City fans everywhere after his injury-affected year.

Teams

Fulham

XI: Areola, Tete, Andersen, Loftus-Cheek (Mitrovic 63’), Adarabioyo, Cavaleiro (Robinson 80’), Lemina (Onomah 73’), Lookman, Reed, Abguissa, Aina

Subs: Fabri, Hector, Ream, Kongolo, Bryan, Maja

City

XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Dias (Garcia 75’), Laporte, Mendy, Rodrigo, Bernardo (Fernandinho 67’), Torres, Jesus, Aguero

Subs: Steffen, Walker, Gundogan, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden

Away record continues to bloom

The win at Craven Cottage extends our club record for consecutive away wins in all competitions to 13.

Perhaps more significantly, it equals the club record of 16 successive competitive away matches unbeaten, set from January to September 1999 when Joe Royle was manager.

And this was our 23rd win in our last 24 matches across all competitions.

Statzone

City have now scored at least three goals in a single game under Pep Guardiola on 144 occasions!

Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero have scored 29 goals in 18 starts together.

And it’s now 16 clean sheets for Ederson in the Premier League this season – matching his total for the entirety of the last campaign.

Pep reaction 

“Great performance. With a team like this who are so physical and good ideas, we were brilliant.

“The beginning of the second half was important.

“It’s an important victory for us. Eight games left - we are closer. 

“Now we have three weeks until the next Premier League game.

“We now have two finals - in the Champions League and FA Cup - but I think the team is ready to try it.”

Stones reaction 

“Really difficult game.

“Give a lot of credit to Fulham. The way they play their football doesn’t really reflect where they are in the table.

“They’re a strong opposition and they made it hard for us in the first half. It was hard to find space in the pockets and in behind.

“We corrected a few things and it was great to get three points again and another clean sheet.”

What it means

City are now 17 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having played two games more than our closest rivals.

Second-placed Manchester United have a chance to reduce the gap when they host West Ham tomorrow evening. Leicester, who sit third, one point further back, host Sheffield United in the afternoon.

City now need five wins from our final eight matches to be crowned champions for the third time in four seasons.

Next up

A cup double header awaits City in the next seven days, followed by a two-week international break.

On Tuesday we face Borussia Monchengladbach in the second leg of our Champions League last-16 tie. We lead 2-0 from the first leg, with this game once again being played in Budapest due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

And then on Saturday, we head to Goodison Park for our FA Cup quarter-final. Everton suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley earlier on Saturday, and we beat the Merseysiders 3-1 last month, but they remain a dangerous side with quality in every department.

Our next Premier League assignment sees us face Leicester in three weeks’ time.