Well it wasn’t a classic performance or game by any stretch, but the Blues continued their winning streak with a battling 1-0 victory over Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
Frank Lampard’s 40th minute strike was enough to see City claim a seventh consecutive win, even if bottom-side Leicester did provide a tougher test than you might have imagined.
Pellegrini opted to ring the changes following the huge win in Rome, bringing in Sagna, Kompany, Toure, Silva and Lampard at the expense of Zabaleta, Demichelis, Fernandinho, Milner and Navas. Edin Dzeko was named in the Starting XI, but an injury in the warm-up meant that Pozo was again selected up top, in the absence of the Bosnian and Stevan Jovetic – who was not in the squad.
City had most of the ball in the early moments, with Leicester defending deep and in numbers. Yet the Foxes did try and get in the faces of the Blues on occasion, Jamie Vardy racing towards goal on the 13th minute mark, but Mangala did enough.
Another appealing chance for the hosts fell to former Inter Milan and Real Madrid midfield maestro Esteban Cambiasso, who very nearly caught out Joe Hart with an unbelievably audacious 35-yard free-kick. Fortunately for City, the ball fizzed past the post.
City did however have a couple of noteworthy chances, including a volley from Pozo on his first start, but the Spaniard’s effort was tame. A more promising moment came after 32 minutes, Yaya Toure forcing a creditable save from Ben Hamer, who deputised in the absence of former Blue Kasper Schmeichel.
That seemed to spring a bit of energy into City, who did look a tad jaded after their heroics on Italian soil. Just before the break, City made the breakthrough. Nasri fooled a couple of Leicester defenders before laying it on a plate for Lampard to divert home. The loan signing of the former Chelsea man is paying dividends, and he deserves great credit here for his instinctive play and ability to adjust his feet to guide goalwards.
The second half didn’t really provide anything different to the opening period. Pozo struggled up top with a lack of service and the Blues could not pick off their opponents. At the other end of the pitch, Leicester did not trouble us majorly even if they did have a few good breaks. Mangala was utterly solid at the back, which is extremely pleasing seeing as though Kompany pulled up with a hamstring injury and was subsequently substituted.
We now enter a busy festive period and it would be a great surprise to see City drop points given their upcoming run of fixtures. But the success may depend on just how serious injuries to Kompany, Dzeko and Jovetic are. Anyway, City saw out the game comfortably and have a week’s rest before they return to action at home to Crystal Palace on 20th December.
