Grealish strikes early to extend Leicester's miserable losing run

Billed pre-game as the injured Erling Haaland's capable stand-in, Omar Marmoush's response was to score Manchester City's second goal against a weak Leicester, who are heading for the relegation trapdoor.

- Jamie Jackson

Pep Guardiola adores the Champions League so this was business accomplished in the bid to seal a qualification berth: victory lifts City to fourth.

Jack Grealish opened proceedings but a scan of his numbers showed his early strike to be only a third goal in what goes down as a lost season on the CV. It was also a first Premier League finish since December 2023.

As is the narrative of City's own underwhelming campaign, they lacked sharpness and intensity and Guardiola will spend the close season addressing this as he targets a return to a high-octane game.

Those who waited until nine minutes to take their seat in protest at City partnering with Viagogo, a ticket resale site, missed a goal on 70 seconds. This was Grealish's, who prospered when Savinho roved down the right, spied him lurking and found the No 10, who beat Mads Hermansen to the goalkeeper's right.

Already, this felt like the Foxes would be lucky to leave without serious embarrassment. Guardiola, seated in the stands due to a one-game ban, swigged from a bottle of water and would be overjoyed at his choice of Grealish as the playmaker.