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Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a routine 3-0 win at managerless Huddersfield.<\/p>\nManchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a routine 3-0 win at managerless Huddersfield.<\/p>\n
Danilo\u2019s deflected effort gave City a half-time lead before Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane both struck in the space of two minutes early in the second period.<\/p>\n
A fourth straight league win since their Boxing Day defeat at Leicester has lifted Pep Guardiola\u2019s side back to within four points of Liverpool in pursuit of back-to-back titles.<\/p>\n
Huddersfield remain 10 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table after a ninth defeat in their last 10 league matches.<\/p>\n
It was a sobering end to an emotional week for the West Yorkshire club following the departure of David Wagner, but caretaker-boss Mark Hudson can be proud his players gave him their all.<\/p>\n
Hudson was clearly intent on stamping his mark on Huddersfield by making six changes.<\/p>\n
But they had barely settled when Sergio Aguero, back in City\u2019s starting XI after a three-game absence, spurned an early chance as his side enjoyed plenty of early possession.<\/p>\n
Huddersfield also created an early opening, but Adama Diakhaby, making just his third Premier League start, misdirected his header from Elias Kachunga\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n
Sterling was furious when referee Andre Marriner waved away his appeals for a penalty after he appeared to have been fouled by Terence Kongolo.<\/p>\n
But City took the inevitable lead in the 18th minute with their 100th goal of the season in all competitions.<\/p>\n
Danilo\u2019s speculative drive from 25 yards struck Christopher Schindler\u2019s head and wrong-footed goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.<\/p>\n
City were given a let-off in the 27th minute when Kyle Walker escaped with a yellow card for his reckless challenge on Chris Lowe as Town dug in.<\/p>\n
The visitors failed to carve out a further chance until Ilkay Gundogan fired wide after good work from Kevin De Bruyne and Walker.<\/p>\n
Town fans fell silent during the interval as they hung on every word of Wagner\u2019s farewell message played on the big screen.<\/p>\n
But City took little notice and cruised through the gears to add two more goals in the space of two minutes.<\/p>\n
Sterling dived to head home Sane\u2019s cross in the 54th minute and the latter stole clear on to Aguero\u2019s lay-off to shoot home from eight yards and seal all three points.<\/p>\n
Terriers\u2019 substitute Steve Mounie lifted the home fans with a long-range curling effort that flew narrowly wide and then forced Ederson into a flying save with a header from fellow sub Alex Pritchard\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n
Town were outclassed by a City side that rarely shifted into fourth gear, but avoided the pasting many of their fans had feared.<\/p>\n
They would even have scored just their sixth home goal this season had Mounie not mis-kicked from close range after the ball deflected to him in the box in the final seconds. His miss summed up Town\u2019s season.<\/p>\n