Match Analysis: Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City

Manchester City have secured a 2-1 win over Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium to maintain their hold on the Premier League's top spot.

The Citizens impressed for the majority of the game but could not convert their dominance into goals until the 67th minute when Nicolas Otamendi headed home from a corner.

Just six minutes from time, Joe Hart spilled a Robbie Brady cross into the path of Cameron Jerome, who tapped the loose ball into the back of the net.

Moments later, however, Canaries captain Russell Martin was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball on the goalline, allowing Yaya Toure to get the hosts back into the lead from the spot.

Sports Mole analyses all the action at the Etihad to determine whether or not Man City were worthy winners.

Match statistics

Man City Shots: 20 On target: 6 Possession: 71% Corners: 12 Fouls: 4

Norwich Shots: 5 On target: 3 Possession: 23% Corners 4 Fouls: 13

Was the result fair?

Without a doubt. Manuel Pellegrini's charges dominated proceedings on the pitch, bossing possession and peppering the Canaries goal with plenty of shots, though they were found lacking in terms of concrete chances. Though they made things harder for themselves than they would have liked, the result is definitely fair.

Man City's performance

Across the board, you could describe Man City's performance as mixed. Hart very nearly cost his side late on by spilling a routine cross and allowing Jerome to score, but the defence in front of him rarely put a foot wrong all afternoon, especially Otamendi, a rock at the back and a goalscorer up front. Toure and Kevin De Bruyne were impressive in midfield, as was Raheem Sterling who came on a substitute, but up front, it was a day to forget for the misfiring Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Norwich's performance

Pound for pound, the Canaries do not have the same amount of quality as Man City, but they held their own very well for the whole of the first half, where they shut their more illustrious opponents out. Despite being overrun all across the board, they still defended admirably and nearly came away with a point after Hart's goalmouth gift. However, Martin's handball with four minutes left to play cost his side dear.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Nicolas Otamendi: The 27-year-old weighed in with a number of important challenges throughout the game and got his side up and running with a terrific bullet header in the second half.

Biggest gaffe

Several gaffes were made during the game, including a first-half miss from Bony and Martin's catastrophic red card and penalty concession, but Hart's spilling of a routine shot late on very nearly cost his side dear and, as a standalone moment, is by far the biggest clanger of the day.

Referee performance

Robert Madley had a fairly anonymous game at the Etihad, with little to write home about. The two penalties he granted Man City were deserved, as was Martin's dismissal. Aside from those incidents, he did not have to be called into action much otherwise.

What next?

Man City: Pellegrini's side will travel to Sevilla on Tuesday for a Champions League clash.

Norwich: The Canaries host Swansea City next Saturday in the Premier League.