Man City hammer Ipswich to go fourth in the Premier League

Manchester City provided six devastating blows to Ipswich as they climbed into the top four with a dominant 6-0 victory at Portman Road.

City began proceedings down in eighth place in need of a three-goal margin to move up into the top four, luckily for Pep Guardiola, Phil Foden was on hand to provide the basis to ensure they were fourth by halftime.

Foden opened the scoring, just before the half an hour mark, firing home from close range. Just three minutes later (30) Foden was in and around the box again, setting up Mateo Kovacic to fire in City’s second.

A third goal on the brink of halftime all but ensured all three points but in a vintage greedy-like fashion. City were not done there.

Player ratings:

Ipswich: Walton (3), Johnson (3), Godfrey (3), O’Shea (3), Burgess (3), Morsy (3), Cajuste (4), Davis (3), Hutchinson (3), Clarke (2), Delap (5)

Subs: Tuanzebe (4), Luongo (4), Taylor (5), Philogene (4), Broadhead, Hirst (4)

Man City: Ederson (6), Nunes (7), Akanji (7), Dias (6), Gvardiol (7), Kovacic (8), Gundogan (7), De Bruyne (8), Foden (9), Doku (8), Haaland (7)

Subs: Grealish (6), Mubama (5), O’Reilly (6), Lewis (6), McAtee (7)

Player of the Match: Phil Foden

After the break, Ipswich crumbled further when Jeremy Doku danced through the Tractor Boys’ defence to add a fourth. Erling Haaland who scored a hattrick in the reverse fixture in September, was on the periphery of the goal mouth action after he missed an early chance to open the scoring. That didn’t last long though as he joined the action, punishing a Jack Clarke mistake to guide home a fifth goal days after securing his long-term future at City.

James McAtee was introduced as it seemed City would begin to rest players for their Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. McAtee replaced Kevin de Bruyne but used the opportunity to get a goal of his own.

The final whistle couldn’t come soon enough for Kieran McKenna’s men who were chasing shadows for the last 10 minutes of the game. Defeat for Ipswich keeps them in the bottom three.

Foden: The team is bonding better

Phil Foden speaking to Sky Sports:

“Probably the best this season, in terms of all-round play. One of our best performances this year. We are building momentum, keeping players fit is important. I put it down to people being in better shape and the team is bonding better.

“When we score we are not rushing it. We are keeping possession and build-up play was important today.

“I learned everything from it [poor spell of form]. It is good to see me back scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying football. I want to keep going and adding to that. You never know what can happen. The aim is to stay in the top four.”

Guardiola: We were better, not at our best but close

Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports:

“We are really pleased, we are back to doing things that define this team for the last 10 years. Really pleased for the three points and to climb into qualification for the Champions League for next season, that will be so tough.

“We were much better. Maybe not our best but closer with the consistency we have in our game. Most of them didn’t happen in the previous games that we won.

“With the way we went without the ball, you cannot play in the short spaces. Everyone with the ball was clever, quicker, faster. Everyone is related. You cannot be quick, wise and good if you are not connected defensively.

“Ipswich beat Chelsea here, they won Spurs away. They are a good team and Liam [Delap] is a fantastic striker. The players saw what we are and that is the best thing.”

Six of the best to go fourth