Barclays Premier League

CITY'S CLASS SHINES THROUGH STOKE'S RESOLVE

A very convincing win for the hosts indeed - they dominated from start to finish and thouroughly deserve their win. Stoke defended well for 43 minutes, but after Pablo Zabaleta opened the scoring, it was only going one way. After Dzeko doubled the lead, Stoke's heads dropped a little, allowing City to get a third as Aguero converted from the spot. They almost got one back through Glenn Whelan, but Hart denied him. A harsh reality check for the Potters, whose ten-game unbeaten run comes to an abrupt end.

FULL TIME

The game comes to a close, with Manchester City running out comfortable winners.

SINCLAIR CHANCE!

James Milner causes all sorts of problems as he twists and turns down the wing, before whipping the ball across goal. Scott Sinclair is a whisker away, and all it needed was a touch.

FINAL CHANGE

City make their final substitution, with Abdul Razak coming on for Edin Dzeko.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Today's man of the match is Pablo Zabaleta. I'm not quite sure why Aguero wasn't chosen, but to be fair, the whole City team have been wonderful today.

POST!

Stoke City almost get a consolation, with Glenn Whelan unleashing a rasping shot from nowhere. Joe Hart does a great job to tip it onto the post and deny Stoke any joy.

GAP IN THE TABLE

This game just shows the difference in quality in the top flight of English football. Stoke lie in eighth place, but second-place City are in a different class.

SUBSTITUTION

David Silva leaves the field, with Scott Sinclair his replacement.

SHOTS BLOCKED!

Shots from both Barry and Tevez are blocked by a brave Robert Huth, who doesn't deserve to have conceded three. He's been superb today.

FANS WANT MORE

It's just a training match for City now, who are happy to pass the ball around and see the game out. The fans disagree, encouraging their men to go for another.

SUBSTITUTION

With the game won, Mancini can give the reserves a run out. £25 million Carlos Tevez enters the fray, with Aguero departing.

LOOKING DISHEARTENED

The Stoke City players look really dejected now, and who can blame them - they haven't played badly, especially in defence, but as the game's gone on, City's class has shone through, and it doesn't look like they're done yet.

GOOOAAALLL

David Silva is receiving some treatment, so SERGIO AGUERO takes it upon himself to convert from the spot, placing it past Begovic. 3-0.

PENALTY!!

Steven Nzonzi takes Silva out inside the penalty area, and Michael Oliver takes his time before pointing to the spot. Nzonzi gets a yellow card for his troubles.

BEGOVIC ON HIS TOES

Having been inactive for a few minutes, Begovic does well to remain alert, this time racing out to collect a dangerous-looking ball to prevent Aguero from latching on to it.

SUBSTITUTION

Stoke make that change, with Dean Whitehead replacing a dejected Charlie Adam.

DEFENCE STILL ALERT

With Stoke committing more players forward, their defence has to be more alert than ever, with the midfielders now less inclined to help out. Andy Wilkinson cuts out a dangerous ball in from Dzeko.

STOKE PREPARING A CHANGE

Dean Whitehead is getting ready on the sidelines. Stoke have looked promising in the last few minutes, but they need to take a chance really soon if they are to sustain hope of a miracle comeback at the Etihad.

STOKE LOOKING BETTER

Stoke have enjoyed some threatening possession in the last few minutes. Charlie Adam brought Joe Hart into action for the first time in the game with a free kick, before Jonathan Walters struck over from just outside the box. Meanwhile, Lescott was cautioned.

YELLOW CARD

Edin Dzeko was booked for taking his shirt off during the celebration of that goal. Maybe Mancini will question Michael Oliver's festive spirit in the post-match interview, as Dzeko was just revealing a t-shirt saying 'Happy New Year'.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Manchester City take a quick free kick, Toure releasing Sergio Aguero into the area. His shot is parried away, straight into the path of EDIN DZEKO, who toe-pokes into the empty net from yards out. Game over.

GOOOAAAL

Edin Dzeko doubles City's lead!

FOREGONE CONCLUSION

Tony Pulis' strategy is ruined as Stoke have conceded, it seemed Stoke were playing for a goalless draw. With City now in the lead, the home crowd can sit easy, as the champions are so unlikely to give away this advantage.

EARLY CHANGE

Matthew Etherington comes on for Stoke, replacing Kenwyne Jones. Jones had been wincing earlier, so this may be a forced change, or it could just be tactical from Tony Pulis. He certainly needs to change something.

DZEKO SHOT!

Edin Dzeko wriggles free of both Stoke centre-backs, before striking the ball sweetly, narrowly missing the target as the ball travels just over the crossbar.

CAUTION

Robert Huth is the first man to go into the book, bringing down a Manchester City attacker, who had just broke free of Geoff Cameron. The resulting free kick, taken by Milner, goes over everybody and out for a goal kick.

KICK OFF

Manchester City kick off to begin the second half. Both sides are unchanged at the break.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

It's been a one-way half, in as much as all the action has taken place in Stoke's half, and Joe Hart has been a spectator. The Stoke defence remained strong for 43 minutes, keeping the world-class Dzeko and Aguero at bay, but City finally found a way through when Zabaleta scored just before the break. With Stoke offering nothing in terms of attack, you'd think this game is now won with the goal, but Pulis may opt for a strategy change in the second half.

HALF TIME

Michael Oliver brings the first half to a close.

BREAKING THE DEADLOCK

Those low crosses have been peppering the Stoke area for 45 minutes, and up to now, Shawcross and Wilkinson had been superb in clearing all the danger. However, City's determination has finally broken Stoke's resolve as their defending from that cross was below par.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Manchester City's persistence pays off, as James Milner's cross is converted by PABLO ZABALETA, who pokes home at the back post.

GOOOAAALLL

Pablo Zabaleta scores for City!

FREE KICK WASTED

Man City get a free kick right on the edge of the area, but Yaya Toure smacks it straight into the wall.

POSSESSION IN FAVOUR OF HOSTS

Manchester City have had 60% possession and have created all the chances so far. Stoke haven't created anything, yet the score remains equal, meaning that either side could come up with a goal at any time, and with the great defending on display, one goal could be all that's needed.

BRILLIANT CHALLENGE

Manchester City are getting closer and the fans know it, raising the volume every time they go forward. This time Milner drills the ball in, with Aguero ready to tap in at the back post. Andy Wilkinson makes a goal-saving challenge, flooring the Argentine in the process. The danger isn't over as Barry crosses in and Aguero heads towards goal at the near post. It goes marginally wide, clipping the post on the way.

ON THE BREAK

With Stoke coming forward a little more now, Manchester City are having a little more success breaking into the penalty area. Asmir Begovic's goal is still well-protected though, at the City strikers are limited to half-chances at the moment. Dzeko lashes over from just inside the box.

HALF-HEARTED CLAIMS

Stoke City get the ball forward toward the City area, and the ball ricochets around, possibly striking the arm of a City defender. The Stoke attackers put their hands up, but they know a penalty would have been very harsh.

GOOD KEEPING

Sergio Aguero creates a chance out of nothing with a genius turn away from his marker, who got a little too tight. His shot isn't bad either, but Begovic is alert and tips it away.

SILVA CHANCE!

The Stoke defence make their first mistake and it really should have been punished. The home side already have ten goals from set pieces this season, and they should have had another as James Milner floats it in from the right and David Silva drifts free from his marker, only to head over.

STICK TO CONTAINING THEM

Stoke City have had a little more possession in the last few minutes, but it actually seems a little more nervy when they're on the ball. As they commit more players forward, it just opens the chance for a counter-attack.

PLAYING FOR THE DRAW

Stoke City are cramped up in their own area and haven't ventured into their opponent's half at all yet. It seems to be a question of whether City can break this defence down or not. Stoke certainly haven't offered anything offensively yet.

GOOD VS BETTER

It's not that City have been bad; in fact, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero's movement has been superb. It's Stoke's defence that are making them look average - statistically, they do have the best defence in the league, after all.

GOOD SAVE

Sergio Aguero tests Asmir Begovic for a second time following a Gareth Barry cross, but the Stoke stopper stays strong and palms it away.

DEFENCE LOOKING STURDY

Stoke City's back line looks as sturdy as ever with Shawcross at the heart, commanding his area and organising his defence. City's creativity looks average at the moment, with Stoke anticipating their every attacking move.

CRUCIAL INTERCEPTION

City have some joy on the left flank, with Gael Clichy receiving the ball on the overlap. Ryan Shawcross is on hand to snuff out the low drilled cross.

EARLY SHOT

Sergio Aguero gets an early sight at goal, but the angle is tight and Asmir Begovic makes a fairly comfortable save to put it behind for a fruitless corner.

KICK OFF

Stoke City get the game underway.

STOKE LINE-UP

Geoff Cameron and Ryan Shawcross return to the starting XI following their one-game ban, which saw the usually impermeable Stoke defence fall to pieces. Charlie Adam starts after watching the Southampton game from the bench, and is joined in midfield by Nzonzi. Cameron Jerome has well and truly earned his place in today's starting line-up, following his last minute screamer against the Saints last time out.

MAN CITY LINE-UP

Joleon Lescott returns to the defence, with Matija Nastasic dropping to the bench. Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero are the chosen ones; Tevez is among the substitutes. James Milner earns a start, replacing the suspended Nasri.

LIVE COMMENTARY

Kick off is at 15.00 BST. Join us shortly beforehand for confirmed team news, followed by live text commentary.

STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS

Geoff Cameron and Ryan Shawcross return to bolster the defence. Steven Nzonzi's suspension following an alleged stamp on Jack Cork at the weekend has been overturned, so he is available.

MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS

Samir Nasri is unavailable as his three-match ban begins today. Balotelli is also out with the flu, while Maicon is sidelined with a knee injury.

FOCUS ON DEFENDING

Stoke seem to have found some goal-scoring form of late, but they might want to put those ambitions of outscoring City in a goal-fest to the back of their mind and concentrate on what they do best - defend. In scoring three last time out, they managed to concede three for the first time at home this season, albeit with their defence missing two key pieces in Shawcross and Cameron, both of whom return today.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Manchester City have won all four previous Premier League meetings at home; in fact, Stoke haven't even scored in those four fixtures. Another fact that doesn't bode well for the visitors is that City have won the last four New Years' games at home. However, Stoke did hold City to a point earlier in the season with a 1-1 draw at the Britannia.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

I wonder what the blue side of Manchester have resolved to do in the new year - perhaps Tevez will vow to play when asked, or Balotelli not to set fire to his bathroom again, or even Mancini not to joke about how many Christmas dinners Kevin Friend has had. Stoke on the other hand, will want to continue doing things exactly as they are - their unbeaten stretch of 10 games is the best in the league.

MATCH PREVIEW

Today's game sees Manchester City take on Stoke at the Etihad in the first fixture of 2013. There's no time for the festivities to continue; if Mancini wants to achieve his goal of closing the seven-point gap between his team and their Manchester rivals by February, then these January games are almost must-wins.