A RUSH of blood from Tim Ream turned this into a nightmare afternoon for his Fulham team.
The US international saw red after just six minutes for foolishly pulling back Gabriel Jesus – and his team-mates for chasing shadows for the rest of the day.
Tim Ream was sent off for Fulham after just six minutes at the Etihad for pulling down JesusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ilkay Gundogan slotted his penalty into the bottom corner, out of Marek Rodak’s reachCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Holders Manchester City do not need any extra help in these kind of games.
In six home FA Cup ties under Pep Guardiola they have now rattled in 29 goals and once again they won with ease here.
The second of the afternoon – scored by Bernardo Silva – saw them become the first team in Europe’s top-five leagues to chalk up 100 goals this season.
They also still have a chance of winning three cups this term. For a team who are supposedly having a disappointing campaign, it’s not going too badly.
Guardiola made eight changes from the starting line-up to the team that won at Sheffield United – but there was still a strong look to his team.
And he gave himself a little insurance policy by having the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling on the bench.
Scott Parker said he wanted his Championship high-fliers to come and have a go at City – but they were put on the back foot almost immediately.
Ream – who began his Premier League career down the road at Bolton – had already shanked a clearance to Riyad Mahrez but the Algerian was unable to take advantage.
However disaster struck for the American as Ilkay Gundogan’s pass was expertly dummied by David Silva and Jesus was through.
The Fulham skipper had got on the wrong side of him and pulled back the Brazilian – which Kevin Friend saw as a deliberate foul – meaning a penalty and a red card.
Ream’s rush of blood to the head ensured it was a long afternoon for FulhamCredit: Reuters
VAR backed him and Gundogan stroked the spot-kick past Marek Rodak – as City put their recent woes from the spot behind them.
Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero have all missed them recently – giving the champions something of a headache.
Guardiola said on Friday he knew who he wanted to take them from now on – and Germans tend to know what they are doing from 12 yards.
It was always going to be a long afternoon for the Championship side – now it was going to be even longer.
It was D:Ream who sang ‘Things can only get better’ – but after T:Ream’s rush of blood it was only ever going to get worse for his team.
Rodak made a smart save to deny Mahrez while Phil Foden just failed to get on the end of a low cross from the Algerian.
But the second goal was not long in coming as David Silva and Foden worked the ball out to Bernardo.
The chance looked to have gone as the Portuguese ended up with his back to goal but he spun sharply and fired a low 20 yard shot past Rodak and into the corner.
That goal made it a century for Manchester City – and there’s still four months left of the current campaign.
This is the seventh year in a row City have clocked up a ton – four of which have been under Guardiola.
It is almost two years since his team lost a domestic cup tie – and they went in at the break comfortable that record was not under threat.
Bernardo Silva found the bottom corner after twisting and turning on the edge of the boxCredit: AFP or licensors
Riyad Mahrez congratulates Bernardo Silva after the Portuguese found the back of the netCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bobby Reid did have a chance to reduce the deficit – but blasted his effort straight into the hands of Claudio Bravo.
With a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United looming on Wednesday – then a trip to Tottenham on Sunday, City have an important week ahead.
So it was understandable if some players were going through the motions ready for some bigger tests ahead.
Guardiola clearly didn’t want that though – throwing on Sterling less than ten minutes into the second half to try to liven things up.
It almost worked as well as he was sent clear down the right by David Silva but blasted his shot against the top of the bar.
The England man has yet to score in 2020 – his last goal came back on December 27 – and he is struggling to hit the heights of the first half of the season.
Another bit of magic from Silva – who looked much more like his old self – sent Jesus clear but he was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle from Terence Kongolo.
The Brazilian finally did score when Fulham made a terrible mess of trying to play out from the back and were robbed by the home side.
Joao Cancelo clipped over a cross and Jesus got away from his marker to head down and past Rodak.
And just a couple of minutes later, he got another as more disastrous defending saw Silva feed Foden.
The England Under-21 man’s shot was parried by the Cottagers keeper but there was Jesus to nod in from close range.
That’s 16 in all competitions now this season for Jesus – no wonder he gets called the best reserve striker in world football.
That completed the scoring and Fulham probably headed home feeling they got off lightly.
Gabriel Jesus netted two headers in three minutes to make absolutely certain of victoryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jesus has now scored 16 goals for Manchester City this season – with six in a row at homeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
