City 5 Swansea 0
April 22nd 2018 att.54,387
Having already won the league if we thought City would take it easy against Swansea then two goals in the first 16 minutes put paid to that idea and when Kevin De Bruyne hit a tremendous shot from well outside the area to make it three nil we knew a few records were going to be broken this season.
It was an excellent team performance once more with everybody playing a part. In the absence of Fernandinho it was good to see a very good display by Gundogan in midfield. The defence gave little away and Swansea were demolished by some brilliant football - almost perfect game control skills and almost 90% possession in the first half. A perfect pass by De Bruyne to Sterling then gave Silva the chance to open the scoring from close range. This was soon followed by a run by Delph who crossed to Sterling who had an easy task to make it two nil.
Nine minutes into the second half Kevin De Bruyne hit an amazing shot from 32 yards out that hit the Swansea net barely a second later. Shot of the season so far for me and how he did not win FA player of the season is beyond belief! He certainly will be City player of the season.
We later had a penalty which Jesus took ( surely Ederson should have had a go!) but the keeper saved and Benardo Silva following up got the ball in the net to make it four. It was good to see Yaya Toure make one of his super chips to enable Jesus to score with a header and Foden when he came on looked very good.
At last we had 15 minutes of Mendy - his first game since September -
so we may see some more of him in the remaining games.
City ended up with 83 % of possession which is now the record and we also attempted over a thousand passes
which is a premier League record and we completed 942 of those which is now the record!
Swansea players and the officials clapped the Champions onto the pitch. City had a strong side out - Gundogan standing in for the suspended Fernandinho and Danilo in for Walker.
The visitors were not present in great numbers
There was plenty of atmosphere in the ground
Ederson was soon playing as a defender well up the field!
We saw early on that the visitors were bent on keeping the score down!
Looks as though Jesus has a battle on his hands today!
Swansea manage to clear a cross for a corner
On 12 minutes Sterling gets the ball from De Bruyne and passes to Silva.......
....who flicks the ball up and shoots -much to the surprise of Jesus!.........
...and the ball flies past Fabianski to give City the lead
The players have their usual celebration
A minute or so later City score again -this time it's Delph crossing and Sterling is unmarked and puts the ball into the net easily - two nil! great stuff!
Time once more for Players and fans to celebrate
Good gracious -Swansea are in our half and they get a free kick -which is blocked
A ball boy watches intently as Kevin tries to beat two opponents!
De Bruyne takes a shot from outside the area but the keeper saves pushing the ball out.but Sterling is offside....
On dear Olsson does a dive trying to get a penalty and he gets a yellow card for his trouble
Just before half time Mawson has a shot and Ederson has to make his only save of the game!
Early in the second half De Bruyne had a shot which hit the side netting
Then on 54 minutes Kevin shot from 30 odd yards.......
...the ball went zipping towards the goal.......
.......past a diving keeper and into the top corner to make it three nil - brilliant!
and so did the North Stand
What a wonderful goal - a terrific effort
City didn't think it was a corner but anyway the kick was headed over the bar
Fabianski has to be alert to save
Sterling gets the ball......
..and goes on a run into the area but is brought down by Fernandez and it's a penalty
Jesus takes the kick and the ball is saved by the keeper who pushes it onto the post .....
...and Benardo following up puts the ball into the net
Here it is again - umpteen times!
Hurrah say the North Stand!
Jesus thanks Benardo for scoring
There is a secret message for Sterling!
Benardo gets a hug from Mendy -warming up on the touchline
Oh dear! The secret sniper been at work
Some odd goings-on in the South Stand!
Somehow Swansea manage to clear this situation
Mendy on for the last 15 minutes tries his luck
Foden -on for Sterling looks dangerous on the ball and puts in a good cross.....
...which finds the head of Jesus but the header goes right at the keeper
Foden continues to be dangerous
Oh this looks like number five....
Alas the ball eventually went out for goal kick
However we did not have to wait too long as a great chip by Yaya Toure ( on for Kevin) was headed home by Jesus and the North Stand had another goal to cheer
At last he got his goal -his 15th of the season
It's full time and the managers have a hug
As the players say their farewells a couple of fans come on the pitch
another one lights a flare and onto the pitch come the City supporters
It looks as though Kompany is getting most of the attention
I think Mendy is in there somewhere!
More get onto the pitch to celebrate
It looks as though there are more on than off the pitch! So it's time to go home with the sun setting on another great show by City
Team
Ederson 7: Danilo 7.5, Kompany 8, Laporte 7.5, Delph 8 ( Mendy 7) :Gundogan 8.5, De Bruyne 9.5
( Toure 7.5) , Silva 8, Benardo Silva 8, Sterling 8 (Foden 7) Jesus 7.5
