Deserved Win At Last Verses Toffees, City 3(4) vs. 1(3) Everton

"Wembley is a special stadium”, Manuel Pellegrini - 27/1/2016

Goals; Fernandhino 24', De Bruyne 70', Aguero 76';Barkley 18'

Line Up (4-2-3-1?); Cabellero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Otamendi, Demichelis, Toure (Navas 45'), Fernandhino, Delph (De Bruyne 66'), Silva (Fernando 80'), Aguero, Sterling

Stats;Possession, 55%/45%; Shots, 19(5)/4(2); Fouls, 5/16

All the talk pre-match was about line-ups and formations, who would play, who wouldn't play, etc. etc. In the end the result was down to one thing, the class of players City could put on the pitch to change things around.

To be honest I am still baffled as to what formation City played in the opening half. With noone right of the pitch beyond Zaba, and Yaya (believed to be behind Aguero) actually further back than Fernandinho. Basically City just went out to attack.

For the  first 16' it seemed to be paying off. Possession was all City, and most of it in Everton's final third, but without finding any end product in the way of clear chances in the box. There was of course the nagging doubt about the counter attack, and that doubt became a worry, as first Deulofeu, and then Lukaku broke forward. The worry then became a hold your head in your hands and scream "WHY!!" moment, as Otemendi compulsively dived into a challenge too early, slipped, and allowed Barkley a run to the  edge of the box and unleash a cracking right foot effort past Cabellero. 1-3 on aggregate, and City's away goal nullified, although still plenty of time left on the clock.

City are made of stern stuff, but the goal seemed to take something out of the crowd, if not the players. However, it only took five minutes to swing the momentum again towards City's one touch game, and get the crowd singing. First Yaya attempted a clipped shot just high of the crossbar; and then from nothing, City broke, and from Aguero's blocked effort Fernandinho's shot crashed off Jagielka and into the goal. 2-3 on aggregate.

From that point on City were in the driving seat, and perhaps were unlucky to go into half time without having taken the lead. the best chance being created by Aguero who thundered a shot past stand-in keeper Robles, only to see the ball rebound out off the post, and even when Gareth Barry failed to clear, Silva could only fire back at Robles again.

At half time Everton Manager Martinez clearly gave the "park the bus" order again, as per the 0-0 at the Etihad two weeks previously. This time, however, City knew the script. A tactical substitution saw Navas come on for Yaya at half time, and when that didn't work, (Silva hit the post with a header on 54') De Bruyne was brought on for Delph. In what might loosely be classed as 4-1-4-1, City were actually just throwing the kitchen sink into the mix.

On 70' the kitchen sink came good. Sterling released wider by the switch drove into the box and clipped the ball towards the penalty spot where Aguero and DeBruyne were waiting, and DeBruyne powered the ball into the right of Everton's goal. 3-3. There will no doubt be turmoil in the press about the ball being behind the line when Sterling crossed, but "in the opinion of the referee", the goal stood. Just as two weeks previously, Sterling had not been fouled by John Stones for a penalty. Karma had finally remembered the Etihad stadium, and the crowd were loving it!

Six minutes later, and this time DeBruyne turned provider, sending in an exquisite cross from the right to find Aguero's head, who deftly used the power on the ball to deflect the ball well into the left corner, unstoppable, 4-3 City.

Sergio could have had another with an easier header on 86, but the real news as the game drew to a close was the injury to Kevin DeBruyne. Carried off with what looks like a medial ligament injury having been dragged down by Funes Mori (no foul, let alone yellow for his fourth or fifth offence).

So fingers crossed for tomorrow that KDB's scans go OK and its not as bad as first feared. Headlines are that City are still fighting for an unlikely quadruple, and have booked their place in at least one final, verses Liverpool on Sunday 28th February. In the end class told #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me.