Silva the difference as City see off timid Chelsea

City went into the game looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, with Manchester United not playing until Monday, whilst Chelsea were desperate not to lose further ground on the Champions League places.

The game started as many expected, with City completely dominating the ball, though Chelsea did well in limiting the number of clear sights of goal Pep Guardiola’s side could create.

Cesc Fabregas - playing in place of the ill N’Golo Kante - almost handed City the lead with just 14 minutes gone but he was bailed out by the Chelsea defence as they blocked Sergio Aguero’s effort away after the Spaniard had squandered possession deep in his own half.

Bernardo Silva curled just over for City with 20 minutes gone before it took a stunning piece of defending from Cesar Azpilicueta to prevent the hosts from taking the lead.

Leroy Sane gathered Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick from deep and cut back onto his right foot. His low effort look destined for the bottom corner, only for 'Spanish Dave' to clear the ball off the line.

Just three minutes before the break City did have the ball in the net, but Nicolas Otamendi’s effort was rightly chalked off for an offside against Sergio Aguero in the build-up.

 

4 March 2018

Despite City’s domination, the two sides went in at the break level, though it didn’t stay that way for long.

- Silva lining - 

Within a minute of the restart City made the breakthrough. Andreas Christensen failed to clear the ball, allowing Sergio Aguero to feed the overlapping David Silva. The Spanish international crossed low and namesake Bernardo was on hand at the far post to turn the ball home.

 

4 March 2018

From that point on the hosts never looked like surrendering their lead, keeping the ball off their opponents at will.

Victor Moses could have done better after being sent away down the right, lashing well wide after being set away by Fabregas.

That was as close as Chelsea came, with even the late introductions of Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata unable to spark a comeback.

The result leaves City 18 points clear of Liverpool in second, whilst Chelsea are now five points adrift of Tottenham in fourth.