A second half goal from Yaya Toure ensured Manchester City moved back to within three points of the top of the Premier League with a battling defeat over a determined Stoke side. City hadn't scored in three of their last four games prior, and for long stages it looked as though they would again be frustrated until Toure prodded in from close range on 70 minutes. Edin Dzeko then missed a glorious chance to make it two, but it didn't matter as the home side picked up the points they needed to stay in touch with the top three. City started the game slowly, and were limited to very few clear-cut opportunities by a determined and well drilled Stoke defence in the opening half. Fernandinho had the best chance for City, his shot from the edge of the penalty area being palmed over the bar by Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after five minutes. Stoke then nearly took the lead when Charlie Adam forced Joe Hart into a good save before Fernandinho had two speculative shots easily saved and Dzeko flashed wide from a good position. City were dominating the game without really threatening, with the half-time statistics showing they enjoyed 71% possession, though were unable to make it tell when Chris Foy signalled the interval. The second half was more of the same with City camped inside Stokes half and pressing forward in waves, but time and again came up against a wall of red and white shirts. Stoke were continuing to defend in numbers as the Citizens swarmed forward, and the home side took the lead their performance deserved after 70 minutes. The marauding Aleksandar Kolarov sent in a searching ball from the left wing, and Toure duly bundled home as the deadlock was at long last broken. You got the sense that the floodgates would open and, moments later, Dzeko should have made it two when substitute Jesus Navas squared for him to tap in, but he fluffed his lines four yards out. The Bosnian was visibly flustered and took out his anger by kicking the post, but in the end the miss wasn't costly as City kept up their claim as title contenders with a gritty display. Stoke meanwhile remain just three points off the relegation zone with one win in five, though this performance should give them heart that they can beat the drop this season.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
