Jack Grealish registered his first Premier League goal in 16 months, paving the way for Manchester City to ascend to fourth place and intensify relegation fears for Leicester City with a commanding victory at the Etihad Stadium.
With City boss Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban and watching from the stands, Grealish, making his first league start since December, capitalised on Savinho’s deft cutback to find the net in just the second minute.
Unfortunately, many City supporters missed the spectacle as they arrived late, participating in a protest against anticipated season ticket price hikes and the club’s new commercial partnership with ticket resale agency Viagogo.
Taking the place of the injured Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush led the line for City and added a second goal just before the half-hour mark. He expertly converted a Ruben Dias chip that Leicester’s keeper, Mads Hermansen, failed to secure, sending a thunderous first-time effort in off the bar.
The Foxes are deep in peril, having now lost 14 of their last 15 league fixtures, and languish 12 points from safety with only eight matches remaining to avert a swift drop back to the Championship. Their dire stats include becoming the fourth team in the English top flight to endure seven successive defeats without scoring and failing to maintain a clean sheet away from home all season.
Fan Protests Overshadow Grealish’s Scoring Moment
The fan demonstrations commenced 45 minutes prior to kick-off, with noticeable gaps in the stands as late-arriving supporters—protesting against the club’s nine global ticket partners—settled in.
Consequently, these fans had to be informed of Grealish’s early goal, a straightforward strike from Savinho’s cutback, visibly enjoyed by the £100m England international. Positioned in an advanced role behind Marmoush, Grealish’s movement and positioning were sharp, even if the opposition offered little resistance.
Speculation continues about whether Guardiola was rotating his squad with a strategic eye on avenging December’s Manchester derby defeat, but the narrative surrounding Grealish’s future persists. Despite still having two years on his contract, Guardiola has hinted at wanting more from Grealish, particularly in terms of goal contribution.
Marmoush’s £59m acquisition from Eintracht Frankfurt in January presents a contrasting trajectory, with the 26-year-old netting five Premier League goals, all on home turf. He came close to a sixth, only to be denied by an impressive save before a bold run was thwarted by defensive congestion in the box.
The second half was largely uneventful, marked by the return of Norway international Oscar Bobb from a fractured leg sustained before the season started, followed by an ankle injury in February.
Leicester Lament as Relegation Nears
Leicester’s performance saw captain Jamie Vardy subbed at half-time for midfielder Oliver Skipp, a change that left fans frustrated as they trailed 2-0. The decision mirrored many of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s since his mid-season appointment, evoking a sense of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Late in the contest, a rare venture into City’s box resulted in little threat, while Bilal El Khannouss’s early effort from outside the area gave brief hope but veered wide.
City have now defeated Leicester in seven straight league meetings, highlighting Leicester’s increasing struggles. With over a fifth of the season remaining, the odds of avoiding the drop grow slimmer, and with current form, relegation might be confirmed before April concludes.
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