Manchester City went into today's home encounter with Stoke City knowing that they could not afford to lose more ground to rivals Manchester United in the title race.
After a scrappy opening 40 minutes, the home team finally took the lead through Pablo Zabaleta and from that moment on there was only ever going to be one winner.
Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero added further goals in the second half as City wrapped up a routine win.
You can read how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Afternoon all and a happy New Year! Let's start 2013 as we mean to go on with some Premier League football. Here, champions Manchester City come up against Tony Pulis's Stoke City.
Talking of Pulis, it would be fair to say that he is not expecting too much from this game. In fact, the Stoke manager described this as a "bonus game" for his players. I guess you can understand what he means, all of the pressure will be on Man City to take the points.
Anyway, without further ado, here is the team news from the Etihad...
STOKE XI: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Whelan, N'Zonzi, Adam, Walters; Jones, Jerome
Fair play to Pulis because he has named a positive starting lineup there. He could have gone defensive, but the likes of Kenwyne Jones, Cameron Jerome and Jonathan Walters will all feature from the beginning. Perhaps he has seen a weakness in the Man City defence.
MAN CITY XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva; Aguero, Dzeko
It's little surprising that Edin Dzeko has kept his place in the side following his two-goal contribution against Norwich City last time out. Can't imagine Carlos Tevez will be happy sitting on the bench again mind you! Joleon Lescott also starts following Roberto Mancini's insistence that he will not be allowed to leave the club in January.
One player that continues not to feature at all for the home team is Mario Balotelli. The official word is that he is ill but several reports have raised doubts about his attitude in training over recent weeks. Mancini recently insisted that the Italian striker would not be picked unless he trained well so it wouldn't come as a major surprise if that is why he has been omitted.
Going back to this match, it will be interesting to see how Lescott will be following his stint on the bench. If he shows any signs of rustiness, you get the impression that Stoke will take advantage - particularly in the air.
Staying with Stoke, anybody that saw Gary Neville analyse the way that they defend will not be surprised to know that they have only conceded 17 goals this season. In the midfield they hunt in packs, while in defence they are always touch-tight to the opposition player that they are marking.
If they can show that sort of form today, Man City could well find it hard to break their visitors down. Mancini's side have not exactly been at their fluid best this season. Take the recent match against Sunderland, where they lost 1-0. Clear goalscoring chances were few and far between - something that rarely happened during the last campaign.
What I've failed to mention in the first 30 minutes of this commentary is Cameron Jerome's goal against Southampton on Saturday. What a hit that was! That is probably a big reason why he has been handed a starting role today.
Here is said goal - enjoy!
Also, it's not escaped notice that I haven't brought you who has been named on both benches for this match so let's put that right now.
Man City: Pantilimon, Nastasic, Sinclair, Garcia, Kolo Toure, Tevez, Razak
Stoke: Sorensen, Upson, Shotton, Whitehead, Kightly, Etherington, Crouch
We've had a bit of surprise in the early Premier League match with Fulham recording a 2-1 victory away at Steve Clarke's West Bromwich Albion. The final whistle has just been blown at the Hawthorns but if you want to find out how that match unfolded, here is how Sports Mole covered it.
Here's a tweet from James Dodd of talkSPORT, who is at the Etihad Stadium:
"Just been watching Stoke's defence warming up infront of us here at the Etihad. Very well drilled and know eachother's roles down to a tee."
Seems like City could be in for a tough afternoon!
Having said that, the Etihad has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Stoke. They've never won there in the Premier League era and on their last two visits, they have left having been dealt 3-0 defeats.
Just over 10 minutes now until we are off and running. While we wait for the start, why not give our preview of this clash a read? Here it is.
The players are now in the tunnel. Joe Hart in particular is looking extremely casual. Man City fans will not doubt hope that he is not as casual as he was at Sunderland when he left a shot from Adam Johnson squirm inside his near post.
Right, the players are out and the handshakes have been completed. Not long now until we get started at the Etihad...
Stoke, kicking from right to left, get us started.
SAVE! It's been a frantic start from Man City and they have called Asmir Begovic into action early. James Milner picked out Sergio Aguero inside the area and the Argentine danced his way past Robert Huth. He then opted to shoot from a narrow angle, but the Stoke goalkeeper managed to clear with his feet.
Some more good football from Man City - this time involving David Silva and Gael Clichy - ends with the latter sending over a teasing cross which is eventually cleared by a sliding Huth. The hosts have set their stool out early here.
Yaya Toure has also started very well for the home team. On numerous occasions already he has won possession from a Stoke player then used his powerful stride to break into the opposition's half. City will miss him when he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations.
We've seen very little of Stoke as an attacking threat yet. They tried to venture forward moments ago, but a promising situation was wasted as Jonathan Walters played a poor ball to Glenn Whelan from the left wing and Man City were able to clear the danger.
CHANCE! Big opportunity for Man City is wasted by Aguero. Barry picked him out with a fantastic lofted pass over the top of the Stoke defence, but having chested the ball down inside the area, his second touch saw him fire way over Begovic's bar. In fairness to Aguero, he was being put under pressure by a retreating Huth.
Are there many better keepers in the Premier League than Begovic at the moment? Twice now he has rushed off his line to catch two Man City corners. It's not spectacular work, but it lifts all the pressure off of his teammates. It's no wonder that he has been linked with the likes of Man United in recent weeks.
Are there many better keepers in the Premier League than Begovic at the moment? Twice now he has rushed off his line to catch two Man City corners. It's not spectacular work, but it lifts all the pressure off of his teammates. It's no wonder that he has been linked with the likes of Man United in recent weeks.
Stoke have started to keep the ball a little better during the last few minutes. Granted they haven't been able to carve out an opportunity, but they couldn't have continued to concede so much possession to their hosts.
CHANCE! Stoke fell asleep there and allowed Silva of all people the chance to head at goal from a James Milner cross. However, the Spaniard's radar was not functioning fully and he sent the ball wide of the target from 10 yards out.
SAVE! Begovic has just proved me to be correct (for a change) with a smart diving save to his right to deny Aguero from the edge of the area. It was fantastic feet from the Argentine to carve out the chance initially, having beat two Stoke defenders before taking aim.
Charlie Adam is cutting a frustrated figure for Stoke at the moment. He's the type of midfielder that likes to get on the ball and play some passes but when his defensive teammates get possession, they are simply lumping the ball up to the attackers and bypassing Adam. Numerous times he has thrown his hands up in the air in frustration.
CHANCE! Dzeko has been in good form of late so you can hardly blame him for shooting from a narrow angle, but he did have better options in the middle as sent an effort well wide of the target. Aguero in particular did not look happy with that decision.
We've had just over half an hour at the Etihad and you can sense that the home faithful are getting a little restless. They've seen their side dominate and create a couple of chances, but they still haven't found the net. If this continues, expect the groans to getting louder!
OFF THE POST! So close for Aguero, who arguably should have done better. Barry wrapped his left foot around the ball to pick out the City striker all alone inside the area, but he only succeeded in sending his downward header against the post from six yards out.
Having scored a remarkable goal against Southampton at the weekend, Stoke striker Jerome has spent more time defending this afternoon than anything else. He's consistently tracking Man City full-back Pablo Zabaleta and to be fair, he's making a good job of it.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Stoke (Zabaleta)
There was a sense of inevitably about this to be honest! It wasn't pretty, but City won't care one jot. Full-back Zabaleta got himself into the area and after Begovic had parried a low cross by Milner, the Argentine international was on hand to turn in the rebound from close range. You can feel the relief inside the Etihad.
We will have a minimum of one minute of stoppage time here...
HALF-TIME: Man City 1-0 Stoke
City have huffed and puffed and they eventually managed to blow the Stoke house down in the closing stages! It's been hard work at times, but the hosts deserve their lead - there can be no disputing that.
The timing of Zabaleta's goal will have changed the content of both team talks that the managers had prepared. For City, it will be a case of continuing to do what they're doing. However, Stoke must be more positive after the restart or they will not get anything from this match.
A quick look at the statistics actually tells you all you need to know about that half. Man City have had 11 shots, five of which have been on target. They have also had three corners. Stoke have had none of any them! In fact, I cannot recall Joe Hart touching the ball!
Looking at that, for the sake of this game Stoke must be more positive. I'm not sure it requires a change in personnel - after all they have Jones, Jerome and Walters all on the pitch. Perhaps an alteration in mentality would be more appropriate.
Right, the players are back and City get us off and running...
BOOKING! Huth can have very few arguments with the yellow card that he has just been handed. Aguero had got away from him so the German simply tripped him up with a cynical challenge!
CHANCE! Dzeko goes really close for City from the edge of the area. Toure picked him out with a lofted through ball and the Bosnian caught out the Stoke defence by shooting instantly. Thankfully for the away team, the ball flies just over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: A very unhappy Jones is replaced by Matthew Etherington as Stoke look to add some natural width to their game.
Well, so far there has been little to suggest that Stoke are going to attack more frequently. It's understandable that they don't want to leave themselves too open, but surely it's better to lose having a go rather than accepting defeat.
GOAL! Man City 2-0 Stoke (Dzeko)
Oh dear Stoke. They fell to sleep as Toure slipped in Aguero with a quick free kick. The Argentine saw his low shot parried out by Begovic, but Dzeko was on hand to roll in the rebound from just two yards out - he couldn't miss. Having scored he is then booked for taking of his shirt to reveal a message that reads: 'Happy New Year' - and to you Mr Dzeko!
BOOKING! It's a yellow card for Lescott and he knows it is a deserved one. Jerome was about to race into the Man City area but the England defender simply stepped in his way to block him off.
CHANCE! Stoke really should be back in this. A corner from Whelan comes all the way through to Walters, but the Irish attacker somehow lifts the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box. It looked easier to score than miss!
SUBSTITUTION: A rather glum Charlie Adam trudges off and has his place taken by the energetic Dean Whitehead.
Stoke are now having a lot more of the ball in the Man City half and have even forced a couple of corners. It's a little too late though. Had they started the match like this, the scoreline could have been different.
PENALTY TO MAN CITY!
That is a poor decision from Michael Oliver. Steven Nzonzi did bring down Silva, but the foul was clearly committed outside of the area. The Spanish attacker fell into the box and the referee appointed to the spot. Aguero will take...
GOAL! Man City 3-0 Stoke (Aguero, pen)
It's not the greatest effort from Aguero, but his penalty proved to be too powerful for Begovic, who guessed correctly but could only help send the ball into the net. Game over - but to be honest it has been for a long time!
SUBSTITUTION: It won't be happy ending for Aguero though as he pulls his hamstring while going in search of a fourth goal for City. That's his afternoon over and Carlos Tevez takes his place. Not good news for Mancini.
Tevez isn't a bad replacement is he?! The striker has only been on the pitch three minutes or so but he has caused no end of problems to the Stoke defence.
SUBSTITUTION: Another switch for the home team as Silva is given a breather and the somewhat forgotten Scott Sinclair enters the action.
OFF THE POST! Where an earth did that come from?! Stoke's Whelan weighs up his options 30 yards from goal and decides to try his luck. He would have been rewarded as well had Hart not got down to his left to turn the ball onto the post. Hart's done well to stay awake today!
We will have two minutes of stoppage time here...
SUBSTITUTION: It's game over for Dzeko, who is replaced by the Ivory Coast youngster Abdul Razak.
FULL TIME: Man City 3-0 Stoke
Well that was about as routine as you could possibly get for Manchester City. They never looked in trouble as they bagged three unanswered goals. The only down side is the fact that Aguero was forced off with a hamstring injury. Stoke were disappointing, but as Pulis said before the match, this was a "bonus game" for his players.
That's all we have time for from the Etihad but be sure to look out for our analysis of the match, which will be with you shortly. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.
