City 5 Fulham 0
March 22nd 47,202
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City are back on track with an easy win over Fulham.The sky blues did not have to go into top gear to get the three points once they took the lead. Fulham did have a couple of chances to score in the first half but in the second half Hart rarely had a difficult moment.
City went ahead through a penalty given by the linesman for a foul on Negredo by Amorebieta. Skipper for the day Yaya Toure duly scored
Early in the second half Amorebieta brought down Silva and it was another penalty and a red card for the Fulham defender. Now down to ten men it was virtually game over and when Yaya Toure completed his hat-trick with a magnificent effort from well outside the box it was just a matter of how many City would score. It was similar to his goal at Wembley recently. Toure has now scored 16 league goals and goes above Aguero! For a midfield player that is first class. Further goals by Fernandinho and Demichelis ( his first for the club) completed the scoring for City. Demichelis and Lescott did well in defence and Silva was at his creative best all over the park. He was unlucky not to score when his effort was headed off the line. Milner and Nasri worked hard and silent assassin Fernandinho deserved his 4th goal for the club.
Only a few hundred Fulham fans were present.
With Kompany suspended and Dzeko ill City made several changes from the team that won at Hull
Silva brought down early on but he was OK after treatment
early action for the Fulham keeper
Now this is a new banner!
That face does remind me of someone!!!
Milner has a shot saved by Stockdale
Fulham manage to clear the corner
Lescott has to do a bit of chasing
After 22 minutes a shot by Richardson just goes wide of the post
three minutes later and Negredo is brought down in the penalty area -the linesman has the flag across his chest and its a penalty
The Fulham players appeal but the decision stays and Amorebieta gets a yellow card
Yaya Toure makes no mistake from the spot and City get that important early lead
Toure gets a thank you and then the rain gets worse!
On 31 minutes Riether had a chance with a header from a cross by Richardson but it went wide
After 36 minutes Silva looked to have scored when his shot beat the keeper but alas Amorebieta headed the ball off the line
Just before half time Kolarov had a good shot but it hit the cross bar...
... and bounced to safety.
new Fulham manager had much to think about
The Fulham players were loathe to come out after half time as the rain lashed down
shortly after the restart Silva was brought down
..when he was right through and it was a red card for Amorebieta
Toure scored once again and it was celebration time for the City players
on 64 minutes Roberts brings down Kolarov and following the free kick.....
..... Yaya Toure shoots from long range curling the ball just inside the post
a magnificent effort and he is warmly congratulated by colleagues on his hat-trick
he gets a big thank you from his manager too when he is subbed
Negredo is foiled and the ball goes out for a corner....
...and the ball goes to Fernandinho who runs into the area and crashes the ball ......
.... past Stockwell and into the net for goal number 4 for City
Stockdale saves from Milner
on 87 minutes a Jovetic effort goes across goal
...where the waiting Demichelis has the easy task of pushing it over the line for number five
Just after the celebrations Negredo has an easy chance......
..but somehow or other he puts the ball wide
It seems ages since he has scored
There is just time for yet another Fulham player to be booked - Holtby this time
Team
Hart 6.5: Zabaleta 7, Demichelis 7.5, Lescott 7, Kolarov 7: Milner 7.5, Yaya Toure 8.5 (Rodwell), Fernandinho 7.5, Nasri 7 (Jovetic) Silva 8 (Navas) Negredo 7,
