Manchester City made it seven Premier League wins in a row and 11-straight at the Etihad with a 4-2 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon.
In the first half Edin Dzeko opened the scoring before Craig Noone levelled with a fine individual effort. However, three minutes later Jesus Navas tapped in to put his side back ahead.
As Cardiff looked like they might get something from the game, City scored two more goals before a late Fraizer Campbell tap-in added a consolation for Cardiff.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon all! The Premier League is back for another weekend and we have more intriguing clashes to bring you. Here, I will be bringing you updates from the Etihad where Manchester City take on Cardiff City.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have won six in a row in the league and are breathing down the neck of Arsenal, who are a point above them at the top. They have won all 10 of their home games so far and have scored 46 times in the process. This is a very tough place to come for visiting teams.
Faced with the unenviable challenge today is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the new manager of Cardiff City. He lost his first game in charge to West Ham United, and although anything can happen his team face an uphill task to get anything at all from this one. They certainly could do with the points, being 18th.
In Cardiff's 10 games away from home in the Premier League this season, they have won just one - at Craven Cottage against Fulham. That, along with three draws, is all the change they have been able to get from home teams. It's easy to see why as they have scored just five times on their travels in their debut Premier League season. That's the lowest in the league.
What Cardiff do have in their favour, however, is the scalp of City from their previous meeting earlier in the season. That was during the Citizens' poor run of away form earlier in the season, which they have since rectified. Here, though, it's a totally different story.
So, who's playing today then? The good news from Cardiff's point of view is that Sergio Aguero only makes the bench. Full team news coming...
MAN CITY XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Navas, Toure, Garcia, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko
CARDIFF XI: Marshall; McNaughton, Caulker, Turner, Theophile-Catherine; Whittingham, Medel, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Noone; Campbell
So it's a whole host of changes again from Pellegrini, who brings back seven faces from the 5-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in midweek. Only strikers Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko as well as Javi Garcia and Jesus Navas keep their place from that win. Joe Hart comes back in goal, as well.
Solskjaer has opted to field just DJ Campbell up front and has packed his midfield. There's competitiveness in there with Gary Medel - who has a big challenge against Yaya Toure - as well as creativity from Peter Whittingham. They surely will need to shut out City and nick a goal if they are to do anything here.
This is the first meeting between these two sides at City's new ground the Etihad. They have often avoided each other in the league down the years, but did meet seven times between 1963 and 1985 in league and cup. Man City were unbeaten in all those encounters.
A win here would make it seven on the spin for City, which they last achieved in 2012. They won their opening game of 2012 following six unbeaten to win the previous year's title on goal difference. They are in a battle again this season, but if they keep up this form you would expect them to streak clear before long.
When Cardiff's form is taken into account, which is just one point from a possible 15, then you can see why they are being completely written off today. However, they have had another week with a new manager and you just never know. That's why the matches are played, after all.
Both sides undertaking their warm-up routines. We're just under half an hour away from kick-off. #cityvcardiff #mcfc pic.twitter.com/KYxZLB7jcQ
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) January 18, 2014
That sort of form I just mentioned is unusual for Cardiff fans. Before this season they were knocking on the door of the Premier League for quite some time, before finally managing to get up. After a strong start they have slipped worryingly down the table and if they lose today it will be their worst run of league form since March 2008.
So with a little over 10 left to play, what do the bookmakers think about this one? Well, as you might expect you won't get much of a return on a bet for City, with the odds at 1/10. It's a massive 28/1 for the visitors.
PREDICTION: But what do I think? I have to be dull and predict a City win because, well, it would be a massive shock if Cardiff claim a victory. I think it will be a big win as well, so I'm opting for 4-0.
PHOTO: The Bluebirds warm-up in front of the #cardiffcity faithful. #MCICAR pic.twitter.com/qNe2nwJnl3
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 18, 2014
Here come the players on the pitch ahead of the pre-match pleasantries. There should be goals this afternoon, but from a neutral's point of view hopefully not three for City in the opening 10 minutes.
KICKOFF! Here we go! The hosts get us underway.
CHANCE! It could be 1-0 already! Firstly Dzeko looks to be bundled over in the box, before it falls to Navas who slices it wide. Cardiff got away with that there it looks a certain penalty against McNaughton.
Man City have seen all of the ball early on, but Cardiff have settled down a bit after that nervy start from McNaughton. Navas will want to quickly put that behind him.
First genuine foray forward from Cardiff brings them a corner. It was good strength from Campbell to earn it, but Toure is up to head away. Dominant there from Yaya.
Cardiff have settled into this one now and are playing some decent stuff. No real chances for them yet, but they have now had a couple of spells of possession.
SAVE! Better from City there as Silva works a chance for Dzeko to shoot. He takes it first time on his left, but Marshall gets down well to push it wide.
SAVE! Another stop from the Cardiff stopper. Navas crosses low and it's nearly turned in by Turner, but his goalkeeper is alert to tip it wide. Really good save.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Cardiff (Edin Dzeko)
Goalline tech alert! Silva does well down the left to sneak to the line and cut back. Dzeko doesn't make the best contact on it but it bobbles over the line before being hacked away. It was in by a good 50cm.
BOOKING: City now passing the ball around in complete control. Negredo and Silva are heavily involved in every move, before the former is penalised for a foul on Gunnarsson. You know what, he's studs-up, that could have been red.
City seem to have so much space whenever they have the ball. That's partly down to the shape Cardiff are trying to keep off the ball, with the wingers behind the central midfielders.
CHANCE! Chance for Negredo there. He takes a ball over the top on his left, before trying to chip Marshall with his right but it's deflected behind.
Lovely flick from Negredo, who completes a Garcia one-two with a flick. But that's why the latter is a holding midfielder - his cross is comfortable for Marshall to gather.
CHANCE! Negredo is in again and he'll wish he'd done better. The hosts work the move too easily, as Negredo is in acres of space, but slices his toe-poked shot wide when well placed.
Toure is down claiming a free kick as he's brought down on the edge of the box. However, nothing is given and he gingerly gets back to his feet to carry on. He's really starting to control the midfield, though.
Cardiff work a move with Medel pinging left to Noone. In turn he finds Mutch inside, but the shot from range is comfortable for Hart down low. He holds on.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Cardiff (Craig Noone)
Now that is a calm finish! There's good awareness from Gunnarsson to flick it into his path down the right channel. He has a lot to do, but cuts inside and puts his finish into the near post. Cardiff level with their first chance.
We might see what City are made of now. Until that point there were comfortable without dominating, but now need a goal all over again. Cardiff's game plan is paying off so far.
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Cardiff (Jesus Navas)
That's not very good defending from Turner after a wonderful outside of the foot pass to Dzeko from Toure. Caulker comes across which sees space open up for Navas and after the ball fortunately ends up in his path he finishes low. City back in front.
The timing of that goal might well be a real sucker punch for Cardiff. They were level and on a high for just three minutes. That's what Man City can do, though, so Cardiff cannot let it demotivate them.
City defending another corner and once more it's Yaya with the header away. There wasn't enough whip on it from Whittingham and it's a bit of a waste, in truth.
City are really ramping up the pressure late in the half. Can they get a third before the break?
Into the last minute here, with City still seeing all the ball. Cardiff will not be too disappointed if it stays like this to half time.
Two minutes of time have been indicated at the end of the half.
Cardiff trying to play keep ball in their own area with the hosts buzzing around them. In the end Man City win a throw-in, but I don't think there's time for another chance.
HALF-TIME: Man City 2-1 Cardiff
Man City lead at the break and they do deserve it. Cardiff have kept them down to not too many chances, but the extra quality of the hosts was enough to take a slender lead into the break. Cardiff are not out of it though.
It did not take long for Man City's 100th goal of the season. They went ahead in the 14th minute when Silva - possibly with a handball, it's hard to tell - spun to the byline and crossed for Dzeko. McNaughton's hack off the line was too late, the ball had crossed it.
Dzeko has been brilliant so far for City - his improvement has been remarkable in recent weeks. He's held it up so well and with Toure buzzing about the fluidity between the lines has been great to see.
A glance at the benches tells us that, naturally, City have a wealth of talent to bring on. They don't need Aguero just yet, but he's not a bad option later on if a goal is required. For Cardiff, Odemwingie or Bellamy could be options to stretch the City defence, who have been too comfortable.
Cardiff get the second half underway then, this should be intriguing.
Toure and Silva are straight away taking control of the midfield. The passing between them is great to see, but then they are being given as much time as they need - Cardiff are not closing down. Incredibly ambitious volley there from Negredo, running backwards and he slashes it over.
Cardiff are seeing a bit more of the ball in the last few minutes, but they are struggling to penetrate with their passing. The fitness levels of the hosts are excellent and they are giving Cardiff no time to settle.
There's a half-chance at one end as Fraizer Campbell can't quite get on the end of a cross and City break. In the end Dzeko slashes a shot wide from an angle and Cardiff escape.
Free kick here wide left for Cardiff as Campbell is too quick for Zabaleta. Good work from him and he's bundled over. Can they get something from Whittingham's ball?
It went right to the far post and Campbell tried to not it back, but it hits Dzeko and out for a corner.
City, who were temporarily top with this 2-1 lead, are now back to second as Arsenal have taken the lead against Fulham. Sergio Aguero is warming up for the hosts. A goal would be handy.
CHANCE! Excellent from City and Silva probably should have scored. The ball comes in and Dzeko flicks first time into the path of Silva, who diverts his effort wide. Here is Aguero, with Negredo making way.
SAVE! Brilliant run and effort from Noone! He takes the ball from his own half to nearly the edge of the box and sees his powerful low effort turned wide by Hart. Great stop.
CARDIFF SUB: Two changes for Cardiff. John is on for McNaughton and Craig Bellamy is on the pitch for Whittingham.
Cardiff are seeing plenty of the ball in the last few moments and there's a sense that they might well snatch something here. Bellamy is involved in a passing move, but Cardiff can't work a chance from it.
Noone has been excellent for Cardiff today and he's still wanting the ball every time they attack. The hosts are sitting a bit deeper and Cardiff are pressing.
BOOKING: Kolarov goes into the book for an earlier challenge on Noone. City broke a few moments ago and Aguero was forced wide, with his eventual shot slashed into the stands.
GOAL! Man City 3-1 Cardiff (Yaya Toure)
That is probably that. Toure strides forward with the ball from deep in his own half. As he advances towards the box he plays a one-two with Aguero and then slams it into the bottom corner with his left foot. That is a brilliant goal.
GOAL! Man City 4-1 Cardiff (Sergio Aguero)
The scoreline is harsh on Cardiff, but City have been so clinical. Again it's Toure with the ball forward and Aguero drives into the box. He cuts on to his left, then his right again to finish powerfully. Off comes Silva for James Milner.
City want more goals! Brilliant run there from Kompany, who powers the ball from Theophile-Catherine and then wins a corner. Another City change as Clichy comes on for Navas.
Cardiff have pretty much given up the ghost, which is fair enough when you're 4-1 down at the Etihad. In truth, Solskjaer's side did about all you can against City - they were tight and still in the game not long ago, but there's too much class.
Jeers from the home fans as Campbell falls over trying to control a through ball. Just two minutes left of this one, the result is safe.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time here. Cardiff have a corner, but it's cleared and City come again.
Another effort at goal from Noone, who has been by far Cardiff's best player. He cuts on to his left just outside the box and Hart parries it away.
GOAL! Man City 4-2 Cardiff (Fraizer Campbell)
A late consolation for the visitors, as Campbell taps in a corner right under the sticks that somehow went through everyone.
FULL-TIME: Man City 4-2 Cardiff
So City do more than enough to take a big win over Cardiff today. In the end the two-goal deficit is fair, as Cardiff did play their part but were just not good enough. Thanks for joining me for this one, but stick around for the results and reaction from today's football. Goodbye.
