City Watch: Blues win six-goal thriller

Manchester City faced two Premier League games this week ahead of the Christmas period getting underway.

First up was newly promoted Leeds United at the Etihad on Saturday before a trip to Fulham on Tuesday evening.

Following two poor results against Newcastle and Leverkeven last week, these two league games were crucial to keep up with Arsenal in the title race, considering they went seven points clear of City due to their loss at St James’ last weekend.

This is something that was clearly in the mind of the players, Phil Foden especially, who scored just 59 seconds into the game against Leeds. He really seems to have returned to his full form this season following a slower campaign last year, and long may it continue!

Josko Gvardiol doubled City’s lead half way through the first period, giving the Blues a two goal cushion before the break. The game was poised for the players to do what they’ve done consistently under Pep, which is take the game completely away from their opponents, and rack the goal difference up in the process.

However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin came off the bench and scored pretty much immediately after the restart, allowing Daniel Farke’s team back into the game.City then gave away a penalty which was originally missed by Lukas Nmecha, who scored from the rebound, leveling the game at 2-2. Low and behold, though, Phil Foden once again came good and scored in the 91st minute to win the game.

You’d think after Saturday’s near miss, there would be less nerves at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night. Yet again though, typical City loved doing things the hard way. 

Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the first half, his 100th Premier League goal and the fastest any player has reached that milestone. City then scored two more before the break, a chip over Leno from Reijnders and an extraordinary outside the box left footed strike from Foden, his trademark goal.

Smith-Rowe then bagged himself a consolation goal just before the break, once again allowing our opponents back into the game. Despite losing control of the game early in the second half, the Blues scored two early on to make the tally 5-1, surely giving Pep’s players all three points.

However, once again, City made things difficult for themselves. Fulham went on to score three following this, giving the game 10 minutes of nerves for us City fans.Gvardiol cleared a shot off the line right at the death, but there just wasn’t another goal for Fulham, so the Blues took all three points.

I do still think the absence of Rodri is causing problems for us, our defence looks so exposed every time any teams attack. With a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid next week, and Sunderland at home on the weekend, who have been exceptional this season by the way, these problems need to be resolved.