Lambert commends City's performance against Stoke

Following the game, Lambert spoke to 'Monday Night Football' to credit Pep Guardiola's side as "they are as good a team as I have seen in a long time.'' The defeat at the hands of City has left Stoke one point from safety occupying 19th position in the league with another eight games to play.

Lambert conceded that ''the first goal was a bit of an error from us. If you look at the movement, Sane does really well pulling Moritz [Bauer] really wide and he's got to try and cover Silva making runs from the midfield too. Defensively we got caught and it was the same for the second goal.'' Lambert went on to applaud City's style of play, adding that ''I think the way they play the game is terrific, the passing, the movement, you don't really see it until you get close to it, it's a difficult game to stop. This is a really really top side we have come up against.''

Despite singing City's praises, Lambert was also quick to commend his own side for their perseverance, saying that ''I have to give my own team a lot of credit; we never capitulated. This game was never going to define where we are at the end of the season. I am not going to criticise the team, we gave it everything, we stuck at it. There were one or two moments that might have gone our way but it didn't.''

Stoke will play Everton next on Saturday at the Bet365 stadium, meanwhile City could be crowned Premier League champions if they succeed in beating Everton and United in their next two upcoming fixtures.