The Manchester City machine rolls on as they overcome defensive crisis to down Leicester
Leicester 0 Manchester City 2: Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne ensured the league leaders' unbeaten run continued at the King Power Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.There's simply no stopping Manchester City at the moment as they overcame a mini defensive crisis to continue their record-breaking start in the Premier League.
Another emphatic victory, their eleventh in twelve games, equalled the remarkable start to the 2011-12 title triumph under Roberto Mancini as they made brought Leicester City’s recent revival under Claude Puel to a shuddering halt at the King Power Stadium.
Though Vincent Kompany could easily have been sent off two minutes into his return to action and City lost England defender John Stones to a hamstring injury, it couldn’t disrupt their title charge as Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne confirmed their dominance.
Jesus finished off a goal of stunning simplicity on the stroke of half time before De Bruyne fired home a spectacular 20-yard strike to end the game as a contest.
The only thing in doubt was the margin of victory at that stage as Guardiola’s side looked to their impressive goal difference, but Leicester managed to keep it to two despite living a charmed life as the Premier League leaders showed off their striking riches.
They may be short of defensive cover with some big games to come in the next few weeks, but in this mood, they will not have too many concerns.
Kompany’s return to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Nicolas Otamendi had been one of the major talking points before the game, but his first contribution only two minutes into the action was an even bigger one.
Referee Graham Scott was left with a massive call to make when the Belgian defender brought Jamie Vardy down in full flight, but his decision to issue a yellow card was arguably the right one with John Stones alongside the England striker.
While Kompany’s return could have been short-lived, Stones’ afternoon was cut short when he limped off with a hamstring injury after pulling up clutching the back of his right leg as he chased back when Leicester threatened.
With Eliaquim Mangala replacing Stones, that meant the Premier League leaders’ central defensive pairing had only eight appearances between them.
But they regained their composure to take the lead just before the break as the highly influential Silva played a big part in opening up the Leicester defence.
The Spaniard eventually latched onto a through pass from Raheem Sterling and delivered the square pass to leave Jesus with the simplest of tasks.
On the balance of play, it was no more than Guardiola’s side deserved after they had gone close on a number of occasions with Silva forcing a fine save out of Kasper Schmeichel when he met Leroy Sane’s cross with a curling shot from the edge of the box.
The Premier League leaders gave themselves more breathing space shortly after the restart by making the most of a let-off at one end.
Within seconds of Harry Maguire hitting the outside of the post with a close-range shot, Schmeichel was picking the ball out of the net at the other end after being beaten by another spectacular long-range strike from De Bruyne.
They were clearly in no mood though to sit back on that two-goal lead as both Jesus and Sane went close to grabbing a third in quick succession.
Leicester were struggling to resist wave after wave of attacks and Silva was given far too much time when he drifted into the box only to drag his shot wide.
Yet the home side’s hopes of a dramatic fightback were raised by Vardy as he gave City some cause for concern on two occasions, firstly when he was flagged offside as he broke on Riyad Mahrez’s pass and then when he had a header cleared off the line by Kyle Walker.
Leicester City (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6; Simpson 5, Morgan 5, Maguire 6, Fuchs 7; Albrighton 6, (Sub Iheanacho 68 mins), Iborra 7 (Sub Okazaki 83 mins), Ndidi 7, Gray 5; Mahrez 6 (Sub Slimani 83 mins); Vardy 6.
Subs: Chilwell, King, Hamer, Dragovic.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson 6; Walker 6, Kompany 6, Stones 5 (Sub Mangala 30 mins, 6), Delph 7; Fernandinho 7, D Silva 8, De Bruyne 9 (Sub Gundogan 90 mins); Sterling 7 (Sub B Silva 84 mins), Jesus 7, Sane 8.
Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Aguero, Toure.
Referee: G. Scot
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