Manchester City faced off against Fulham at Craven Cottage earlier tonight as they looked to pick up a victory and stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League standings. Pep Guardiola’s dominated the game in the first half but struggled to net the opener as they went into the half-time break all level on the scoreline.
Man City made an electric start to the second half courtesy of John Stones’ side-footed finish from close range in the 47th minute. Just nine minutes later, Gabriel Jesus doubled his team’s advantage after capitalising on a mistake by the opposition. Sergio Aguero put daylight between the two sides as he got his name on the scoresheet from the penalty spot at the hour mark. The contest finished with the Mancunian giants securing a comfortable 3-0 win at the English capital.
Let’s take a look at how each Man City player performed during the clash against the Cottagers.
GK: Ederson – 7/10
The Brazilian keeper passed the ball well and made an important clearance during the game. However, he was hardly tested at the back and earned an easy clean sheet on the road.
CB: Aymeric Laporte – 7/10
The French defensive ace cleared the danger when required and even made a couple of crucial blocks to deny the Fulham attackers from causing too many problems during the 90 minutes.
CB: Ruben Dias – 7/10
Dias hardly put a foot wrong in the game and secured another clean sheet in the Premier League. He even got some rested after Guardiola decided to replace him in the 74th minute.
CB: John Stones – 8/10
Stones managed to keep the Cottagers at bay throughout the game and was responsible for giving his team the all-important lead with a good side-footed finish just after the half-time break.
LM: Benjamin Mendy – 6/10
He was hardly troubled defensively and offered very little in the attacking third.
CM: Bernardo Silva – 7/10
The Portugal international put in another tireless display at the centre of the park and managed to make a positive impact in the Fulham half. He was lively on the ball but didn’t do enough to get himself a goal.
CM: Rodri – 7.5/10
The Spaniard protected his backline well by making some well-timed tackles, which disrupted the Cottagers’ rhythm in the game.
RM: Joao Cancelo – 9/10
Cancelo got stuck in with some tackles to make life difficult for the opposition out on the flanks. He also engineered some decent openings in the attacking third and has got an assist to show for his efforts.
CAM: Ferran Torres – 7.5/10
Torres was bright and inventive with the ball and caused some real problems for the Fulham defenders.
ST: Sergio Aguero – 7.5/10
The Argentine veteran kept his composure to convert his penalty. This goal would do his confidence a world of good.
ST: Gabriel Jesus – 8.5/10
The Brazilian attacker was always willing to run with the ball and scored a good goal in the second half as well.
Substitutes:
CM: Fernandinho – 6/10
He did enough to see out the victory with the clean sheet intact.
CB: Eric Garcia – 6/10
Garcia made a couple of crucial defensive contributions after coming off the bench.
