Sunday 24 April 2016 07:25, UK
Kelechi Iheanacho struck twice as Manchester City moved up to third after condemning Stoke to their second 4-0 defeat in a week.
Fernando opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium - somewhat against the run of play - after 35 minutes, before Sergio Aguero converted from the penalty spot eight minutes later to double the hosts' advantage.
After winning the penalty in the first half, the impressive Iheanacho got in on the act himself after the interval, making sure of the victory with two expertly-taken goals on 64 and 74 minutes to seal a comfortable victory ahead of Tuesday's Champions League date with Real Madrid.
The result sees City leapfrog Arsenal into third - until the Gunners play on Sunday at least - and open up a five-point gap over bitter rivals Manchester United in fifth, while Stoke remain ninth after another disappointing display.
The beginning of the game lacked any real intensity, with City struggling to find their rhythm in front of their subdued fans.
Stoke carved out a few half-chances, with Joselu missing the best of them, heading wide when picked out well by a smart Mirko Arnautovic cross.
However, as soon as City took the lead on 35 minutes, they gained control. Jesus Navas did brilliantly to win the corner, delivered it himself, and picked out the run of Fernando, who glanced his header into the corner.
Eight minutes later it was two, but Mark Hughes will be unhappy that it was more than avoidable. Iheanacho darted into the box, bamboozled Ryan Shawcross with some fleet-footed skills, before being tugged to the ground by the Stoke skipper.
Aguero stepped up to take the penalty, at the same end he missed against Paris Saint-Germain, but this time converted with consummate ease.
After the break, Stoke looked to take the game to City, as Manuel Pellegrini's men took their foot off the gas too early.
Joselu missed a great chance to get his side back it after being picked out superbly by Arnautovic, but he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
Then, as City sat too deep and invited pressure, Arnautovic created an opportunity out of nothing for himself, beating Pablo Zabaleta all ends up, only to be denied by a brilliant stop from Joe Hart.
The Potters would live to rue those missed opportunities, as City made sure of the three points with a swift goal on the counter after 64 minutes.
Navas was again at the heart of it, delaying his pass superbly, before laying the ball into the path of the onrushing Zabaleta, who pulled it back for Iheanacho to score his 10th goal of the season.
The rest of the match was a mere training exercise for Pellegrini's men, but they put further gloss on the win with Iheanacho latching onto Wilfried Bony's through-ball, before rounding Stoke substitute goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard and slotting home.
The only slight sore point for City fans was the injury Yaya Toure sustained towards the end of the match, which could make him a doubt for their midweek Champions League semi-final.
Despite their relatively impressive campaign, Mark Hughes will not be enamoured by the fact that Stoke are now the first side since Wigan in 2010 to concede four goals in three successive matches.
Player ratings
Man City: Hart (7), Zabaleta (7), Kolarov (6), Mangala (7), Otamendi (7), Toure (7), Fernando (8), Navas (8), Silva (6), Iheanacho (9), Aguero (7).
Subs used: Demichelis (6), Delph (6), Bony (6).
Stoke: Given (5), Wollscheid (6), Shawcross (5), Muniesa (6), Cameron (5), Whelan (6), Imbula (7), Bardsley (6), Diouf (6), Joselu (6), Arnautovic (7).
Subs used: Adam (5), Haugaard (6).
Man of the match: Kelechi Iheanacho
