Fulham 0-2 Manchester City
When you are embarking on what could be the most illustrious period in your club’s history, the goal is to get your job done as quickly as possible and move onto the next one.
And that is exactly what reigning Premier League champions Manchester City did down by the Thames as they took care of their relegation-bound opponents inside half an hour to return to the summit.
Yes, it must be remembered this Fulham side cost a small fraction of the near-billion pounds it cost to get Manchester City to where they are today.
Yet the attitude and character of players assembled have to be at the top level to be in with a chance of an unprecedented quadruple as the campaign reaches its closing stages.
Pep Guardiola’s squad have both in abundance, which is why they still are well on course to achieve that remarkable feat.
Highlights of the game
City may have felt that they would be in for a tough time in West London; Fulham have pushed both Chelsea and City’s title rivals, Liverpool, close over the past month.
Yet a close look at the statistics and most SBOBET followers would have said this was an away banker.
Fulham had not only lost seven successive league matches, but also 11 of their last 12 games in all competitions since the turn of the year. They have the worst form of any Premier League team over the past 10 matches, earning just three points.
They had also conceded 70 league goals this season, more than any other top-flight side. They’ve given up at least two goals in each of their last 11 league games – a Premier League record.
That unwanted record extended to 12 matches inside 28 minutes of their encounter with City.
The Fulham rearguard had already made two important blocks before the deadlock was broken after just five minutes.
Bernardo Silva, a player whose sublime dribbling ability is underrated by many, showed neat footwork on the edge of the area and fired low beyond Sergio Rico.
Ilkay Gundogan then tested Rico’s palms and the returning Kevin de Bruyne called the Fulham keeper into action before City grabbed a second their utter dominance merited.
They tend to pounce on the kind of mistakes that young Joe Bryan made 20 yards from goal.
In a flash, Bernardo Silva had gained possession and squared the ball to Sergio Aguero, who raced into the area and expertly poked the ball past a helpless Rico.
Aguero, rested by Argentina during the recent international break, looked fresh as he notched his 19th Premier League goal of the season. Perhaps surprisingly to many observers, it was only his fourth goal away from home.
It was once again clear to see why Fulham have kept just two clean sheets in the league, the lowest of any Premier League side.
One of the top players in the country since his arrival in English football in 2011, Aguero has been involved in more Premier League goals against newly-promoted teams than any other player with 36 (29 goals, seven assists).
Fulham needed to respond quickly if they had any chance of getting back into the game. But with top striker Aleksandar Mitrovic missing through injury, they lacked a heavyweight presence in attack.
Gundogan went close to a third before the break as City continued to control the match in the second period without overexerting themselves. Although, they will hope the sight of Aguero leaving the fray just before the hour mark is because Guardiola wanted to rest his talisman and not due to a knock.
Aguero, who has produced so many Premier League 2019 highlights singlehandedly, also has his eyes on an individual prize, too.
Just because Aguero left the fray didn’t mean City’s goal threat was weaker. Rico pushed away a fine effort from Raheem Sterling, who has eight goals in his last four starts for club and country.
Kyle Walker also crashed a shot against the post late on as City eased to victory against their spirited but limited opponents, who failed to muster a single effort on target.
A gulf in resources, a gulf in class. So the Premier League 2019 betting odds take another swing back towards City.
So much for squeaky bum time! Liverpool, it’s over to you.
Key statistics
Fulham are the first English top-flight side to concede at least two goals in 12 consecutive league games since Newcastle from May-October 1977 (14 games).
City have won their past seven league meetings against Fulham.
City have scored 12 goals without reply in their last four matches with Fulham.
It’s almost a decade since Fulham beat City – a 3-1 Premier League win at the Etihad Stadium in April 2009.
City have scored in all of their last 24 matches against Fulham.
Fulham have lost 26 of their last 27 Premier League matches against the established top six, including all 12 this season. Their goal difference of -43 is the worst in the top four divisions.
City have won their last seven league games, scoring 18 and conceding two goals. They have also scored 15 goals in their last four games in all competitions.
Guardiola’s side has scored 81 league goals this season, more than any other top-flight side.
What’s next?
Fulham have just six games remaining to save their season.
A trip to Watford awaits on Tuesday (April 2) before Everton visit Craven Cottage in a fortnight’s time.
City’s schedule is somewhat more congested. This was the first match of a spell of nine games in 29 days.
They host Cardiff in the Premier League in midweek, meet Brighton in next weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals, and then travel to Spurs in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final – the first of three clashes with the North Londoners in 11 days.
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