MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 02:27:16| >> :120:11142:11142:

Live Commentary: Manchester City 2-0 Leicester City - as it happened

Join Sports Mole's live commentary as Manchester City host relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
2

Goals at the end of each half from David Silva and James Milner helped Manchester City to a flattering 2-0 win over Leicester City at Eastlands.

The Spaniard tapped the hosts ahead on 45 minutes in a crushing blow for Leicester, who defended admirably throughout the first half.

The champions continued to toil in the final third after the break but found an all-important second through Milner in the dying stages.

Below, relive the action with our live text commentary.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and you're very welcome to our live text coverage of Manchester City's emphatic win over Leicester. Are we getting ahead of ourselves? Okay let's try again. Hello and welcome to our live text coverage of what promises to be a VERY evenly-fought game at the Etihad as Premier League champions Manchester City host bottom-of-the-table Leicester. We're obviously being a bit cheeky here, but let's not beat around the bush folks: the visitors will have to play very, very well to leave with anything.

It isn't quite David vs. Goliath, because City aren't actually playing all that well at the moment, but it's still David vs. Roy Keane or Duncan Ferguson or somebody of this ilk. The reason behind this perceived mismatch is because, well, Leicester have just not been very good this season.

The Foxes travel to Eastlands with just one victory in their last five league outings - and only four wins all season long! Yep, it hasn't quite being the fairytale return to the Premier League that it once looked for Nigel Pearson's side unfortunately. Simply put - if they were real foxes they'd be the ones you see on motorways!

Newly-promoted Leicester made this Premier League lark look like a stroll in the park early on; beating Manchester United 5-3 and drawing with both Everton and Arsenal. "What's all the fuss about," Pearson said. He didn't actually say that, but he might have, and it would've been a valid assessment because, as we said, they were making it look easy.

Did the good times last? I think we know they didn't. Fast forward six months and Leicester are bottom of the Premier League and look destined for a return to the Championship. In fact, it is not inconceivable that they could be as many as SEVEN points adrift of safety if other results go against them tonight, at which point we can probably start writing their top-flight eulogy.

Anywho, we'll look at Man City a little later because, like a zombie feasting on Rosie O'Donnell, there's loads to chew on there as well, but let's get down and dirty with a bit of team news first. I'll have this very soon.

Man City XI: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Fernando, Navas, Bony, Aguero, Silva

Leicester XI: Schwarzer, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Upson, Konchesky, Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp, Kramarić

Man City subs: Caballero, Clichy, Zabaleta, Kompany, Milner, Lampard, Dzeko

Leicester subs: Hamer, Drinkwater, Vardy, King, Ulloa, Wasilewski, Nugent

Okay so let's start with the hosts and I can tell you that Manuel Pellegrini gives Wilfried Bony his full debut! The Ivorian has made a few substitute appearances since his £25m switch from Swansea in January, but he's on from the start this time.

It's FIVE changes in total from their 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany drop to the bench for Bacary Sagna and Martin Demichelis. Two changes in midfield also as Jesus Navas and Fernando come in for Samir Nasri and Fernandinho, while Bony partners in-form Sergio Aguero up top.

On to Leicester now and Nigel Pearson names an unchanged side from the team that drew 2-2 at Everton 10 days ago. Kramaric spearheads the attack, with Jeff Schlupp, Matty James, Esteban Cambiasso and Riyad Mahrez in midfield. Behind them you'll find a five-man defence as Danny Simpson and Paul Konchesky line up at full back, with Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Matthew Upson forming a robust centre-back trio in front of Mark Schwarzer.

Who can the hosts look to for a bit of inspiration tonight then? Well they've got more danger men than Al Qaeda, but it has to be Aguero, doesn't it? He's got 24 goals in all competitions this season and four in his last five so you fear for Leicester's back four tonight. Bony actually scored both in Swansea's 2-0 win over the Foxes earlier in the season, so he certainly knows how to get at this back four.

What about Leicester? Leonardo Ulloa is their top goalscorer this season with seven goals - five of which were scored in August, which kinda sums up their woes - but I have liked the look of Andrej Kramaric recently.

The Foxes' club-record £9m signing has looked well worth the investment since his January move from FC Rejka and has already scored twice - including in last month's defeat at Arsenal. If Leicester do take anything away from this game, the 23-year-old will play a part in that.

We've already looked at Leicester but let's put the microscope on Manchester City now and Pellegrini's side can ill-afford any more slip-ups if they are to defend their Premier League title.

They missed the chance to move within two points of leaders Chelsea - who have played a game less - by losing at Liverpool on Sunday in a defeat which cast their title bid in doubt. If they draw, for example, and Chelsea win, then the Blues would have a seven-point cushion WITH a game in hand. Absolutely no margin for error.

Prediction: Right, we're about 10 minutes from kickoff, which means that it's time to get a prediction completely wrong! And I'm on 3-0 to Man City here tonight, my friends. Aguero, Bony and Yaya Toure on the scoresheet. The hosts will struggle at times against Leicester's back four, but they'll ultimately find a way through and it should be relatively comfortable.

However, we should point out that a) Leicester haven't played in 10 days, which means they should be that bit fresher than City, who played on Sunday and b) Pellegrini's side haven't looked anywhere near their best when it comes to dispatching relegation candidates in recent months.

Cast your mind back to December 28 and Burnley, like Leicester, would've travelled to Eastlands fearing the worst. Yet, as the clock ticked toward 5pm, Sean Dyche's side had secured a hard-earned 2-2 draw!

Two days later Sunderland rolled into town probably half expecting a thumping, but the Black Cats came within seconds of holding the champions to another 2-2 draw, only for James Milner to pounce in the dying stages! So Leicester have that going for them, but they've also got the distinction of being unbeaten in their last four league visits to Man City so, you know, anything could happen tonight. Five minutes to go!

KICKOFF! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at Eastlands, my friends. Man City, playing from left to right, get us underway. Let's go.

It's all Man City so far as you might imagine, and left-back Aleksandar Kolarov looks to fizz in one of those beautiful balls of his but it's knocked out for a corner, which ultimately comes to nothing. Not much atmosphere here at the moment, and plenty of empty seats. Par for the course for a Wednesday night really, isn't it.

Off the line! The hosts go close, and it's Wilfried Bony on his full debut, as the Ivorian heads a David Silva corner at goal but Esteban Cambiasso is on hand to clear.

Excellent work by Jesus Navas there. The Spanish winger runs on to Bacary Sagna's excellent ball, before cutting inside and firing a shot at goal but Mark Schwarzer saves with his feet. However, there was a handball by Navas in the build up so the whistle had already gone. I didn't see the infringement myself.

Shot!!! Decent strike by big Yaya Toure, but it was never going to beat Schwarzer from about 25 yards. The hosts well on top but the visiting fans are enjoying themselves, singing "I'm Leicester till I die".

Leicester might need to keep a closer check on David Silva because he's getting lots of space at the minute. He's just tried to play in Bony but Huth is around to cover well. Still, if the little Spaniard is getting this much space then it's a little ominous.

Pellegrini's side boasting 82% possession so far, which should paint an accurate picture. It's one-way traffic, with Leicester playing on the counter-attack at the minute. Best of luck to them because the game has certainly started the way we thought as the hosts dominate.

We should credit Leicester on their defensive display thus far because, despite the Sky Blues' dominance, they've had little to no clear-cut chances as of yet. It's a case of 'break us down' and the hosts are struggling to do that so far.

Few promising signs from a Leicester perspective as they prepare to whip a free kick into the box. It's Matty James, and his delivery is headed out for a corner by Bony....

Penalty appeal! The corner comes to nothing initially, but the ball drops to Jeff Schlupp who goes to ground under a challenge by Wilfried Bony, but referee Bobby Madely immediately rejects the appeal. Leicester had a case there.

Save!!! First big save of the game, and it's from Joe Hart! Matty James plays a fantastic ball past Demichelis into the feet of Kramaric, who tries to go around Hart but the England goalkeeper palms it away. Brilliant from Hart, and brilliant from Leicester.

I feel a little silly for suggesting that this is a routine win earlier because, on early evidence, Leicester have been excellent. They've defended really well and they've looked dangerous on the counter. Really good from them so far.

We're over half-an-hour deep here and, well, Man City are NOT the better team. Fair play to Leicester because they've been brilliant in this first 32 minutes. We said Leicester would have to play well to leave with a result, but that also applies to Man City, who are growing rather frustrated.

Chances!!! Pellegrini's side just turning the screw now I think as the champions threaten. Mark Schwarzer pulls off a few saves to keep out Bony and Navas, while Toure's shot was blocked from Kolarov's cut-back.

Leicester booking: Paul Konchesky goes into the book for a wild challenge on Jesus Navas I think it was. Good decision by Bobby Madely there.

Four minutes remaining and dare I say Man City don't really look like scoring. They've had one or two half chances, but nothing concrete.

Chance!!!!!!! We've seen the first clear-cut chance. David Silva plays an exquisite scoop ball over Leicester's back four to find Bony, whose chest-and-volley glides well wide of the target. £25m? He should've scored then.

Goal!!!!!!!!!!!! Man City 1-0 Leicester (David Silva)

This is so, so cruel on Leicester, whose hard work in this half has been underdone mere seconds before the half-time whistle. It's David Silva, who finds himself on the end of Kolarov's teasing ball, which Leicester failed to deal with and Silva tucked it home at the second attempt. Harsh.

Half time: Man City 1-0 Leicester

Restart: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back at Eastlands. Leicester, playing from left to right in this half, get us underway. They trail 1-0 but they can take so much heart from that first-half showing.

Chance!!! Should be 2-0. Simple as that. It's Silva again as he races on to a neat ball from Navas before pulling back to the unmarked Bony, who scuffs his shot well wide of the mark. That's two good chances that he has missed.

Bit of controversy here as Leicester win a free kick right on the edge of the box, but it looks like it was in the box. Difficult call and I think Bobby Madely has got this one wrong.

Close! Regardless if it's a penalty or not, Kramaric comes so close to finding the net as his free-kick deflects into the side netting. The Leicester fans initially celebrate, before the City fans got their own back by mocking them. #banter

Save!!!! Fantastic save from Schwarzer as he uses every inch of his massive frame to palm away Aguero's header. Brilliant.

Double Leicester sub: Jamie Vardy and David Nugent replace Paul Konchesky and Andrej Kramaric and it looks like it's 4-4-2 now. Pearson is matching it up.

Really poor this from Matty James. He's running at Mangala, who is stood on the edge of the hosts' box, and he's got Vardy busting a gut on his right, and he does pick the pass but it's too weak as Mangala steps in to collect possession. Really poor.

Shot! Well Vardy might've scored here. He flashes a half volley well wide of Joe Hart's goal with an opportunity that he should've got on target at the very least. Disappointing finish.

I could watch Kolarov cross footballs all day. He's just brilliant at delivering a teasing ball, isn't he! He's just fizzed in a wonderful cross there that Schwarzer had to beat away. Superb.

Excellent attacking move by Leicester which finishes with David Nugent missing an open goal from about four yards out - but thankfully for him he was offside. What a shocking finish though.

Save! Yet another stunning save from Schwarzer as he tips Toure's curling effort past the post. Seriously, the 42-year-old must age like a fine wine. What a performance so far.

Man City sub: James Milner comes on for Wilfried Bony, whose full debut has passed him by. He's had chances but he's missed them all. Poor performance.

Off the post!!!!!!!! Man City are living very dangerously as Riyad Mahrez, who has been rather anonymous, strikes the post with a left-footed volley that had Joe Hart stranded. They've been unlucky.

Chance! Brilliant from Yaya Toure as the big Ivorian uses all his power to burst through on goal, but he opts for power instead of precision and ends up firing over the bar. Disappointing finish.

Man City sub: Big bad Frank Lampard is on for the last 10 minutes, replacing Silva. Silva has been excellent throughout, but Lampard might just be the player who makes this game safe.

Man City sub: Final move for the hosts as Edin Dzeko comes in for Aguero, who has looked nowhere near his best this evening.

Shot!!!!!!!!! There's an official match ball outside the Etihad if anybody wants it. I know this because Frank Lampard has just put it there with a shocking shot.

Goal!!!!!! Man City 2-0 Leicester (James Milner)

Stick a fork in it, folks. It's a brilliant delivery from Yaya Toure and James Milner gets in ahead of Wes Morgan to tap home from close range. Good finish.

Three minutes added on:

Full time: Man City 2-0 Leicester

Well, that's it. Leicester fought bravely, and probably should've had a couple of penalties, but they didn't have the rub of the green tonight and Man City labour to a 2-0 win.

That's all we've got time for, but there's analysis and ratings on the horizon so don't venture too far. Unless you're tired, in which case fair enough. Until next time...

ID:209235: cacheID:209235:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:26744:
Written by
Shane Callaghan
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson looks on ahead of the Championship playoff semi-final against Watford on May 9, 2013
Read Next:
Pearson fears Man City backlash
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!