Morrison wins the resulting header from Hoilett's corner, but he sends his attempt wide of the post.
Cardiff probe in the dying seconds of the game, but Hoilett sees his low drive deflected behind by Danilo on the slide.
90'
There will be two minutes of added time.
88'
That was the moment for Cardiff to set up a tense finale, but Ederson was on form for the home side despite barely being involved this evening.
85'
Hoilett brings down Walker on the right flank with a lunge and City are awarded a free-kick. The winger is fortunate to avoid a booking.
83'
B. De Cordova-Reid enters the game and replaces Camarasa.
Reid is on for the visitors to replace Camarasa.
82'
City press with numbers again, but Laporte sees his strike with his right foot travel wide of the target.
81'
L. Bacuna enters the game and replaces A. Gunnarsson.
Bacuna replaces Gunnarsson for the visitors.
76'
Cardiff win a corner down the right flank and Camarasa whips the ball into the box. Morrison rises highest in the area, only to nod his attempt well wide of the target.
75'
Mahrez goes on the charge in the final third and he goes down under pressure from Manga, although the referee is not interested in awarding penalty.
Minute
Description
74'
At last something for Cardiff fans to be excited about. Niasse surges through the City defence before cutting back to shoot on his left foot, but he drills his attempt straight at Ederson.
73'
Fernandinho tries to pick out the run of Jesus in the final third, but Etheridge is quickly off his line to gather ahead of the forward.
72'
How City are only leading 2-0 is anyone's guess. It has been a complete domination since the restart. Cardiff have barely left their own half.
70'
FODEN AGAIN! The teenager turns in the middle of the park and then goes for a strike at goal from 25 yards. His effort swerves away from Etheridge, but the keeper gets across to beat the ball away from goal.
63'
It's attack versus defence as it has been all game. City are knocking the ball around at their leisure, while Cardiff are sitting back hoping to avoid a thrashing.
60'
N. Mendez-Laing enters the game and replaces J. Murphy.
Murphy makes way for the visitors to be replaced by Mendez-Laing.
58'
OVER! Walker angles a cross into the box from the right flank and Laporte rises to head at goal, only to direct his attempt comfortably over the bar.
55'
Sane runs at Peltier down the flank and he forces a low ball into the middle, but Morrison is well positioned to clear behind for a corner.
53'
J. Ralls gets yellow.
Ralls pulls back De Bruyne in the final third and goes into the book. City have a free-kick on the right flank to whip into the box.
49'
Mahrez tries to open up the Cardiff defence with a weaving run and offload, but Foden is crowded out in the box before he can shoot.
48'
City will be looking for a third goal to kill off the contest as quickly as possible to allow them to take it easy with their FA Cup semi-final clash at the weekend.
46'
We're back underway at the Etihad Stadium.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 CARDIFF CITY
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
44'
L. Sané has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus chests the ball back to Sane from Mahrez's cross, allowing the German to score.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! SANE HAMMERS HOME!!! 2-0 CITY!! The home side get the second goal they've been craving as Sane drills his strike past Etheridge. Mahrez turned his man inside and out down the right flank before supplying a cross to the back post. Jesus guided the ball back to an unmarked Sane with his chest. The German struck his effort first time - low and hard towards the bottom corner, leaving Etheridge with no chance. City are in command now.
43'
De Bruyne drills the ball low into the box, but it takes a deflection off a Cardiff player to head out for a corner. The home side keep the pressure on.
Fernandinho collects in the box and wins another corner off the body of Manga. City are pushing for a second before the break.
42'
Sane draws a foul from Gunnarsson and it will allow De Bruyne to send a cross into the box from the resulting free-kick.
38'
Cardiff clear the first delivery into the box, but City come again as Jesus angles a cross to the back post. Stones tries to connect with a header, only to glance his attempt wide.
37'
Danilo's surge down the left flank results in a City corner as Hoilett is forced to put the ball behind under pressure.
34'
L. Peltier gets yellow.
Peltier brings down Foden on the charge as he uses a turn of pace to draw the foul 25 yards from goal. The full-back goes into the book and City have a free-kick in a threatening position.
33'
Since the exit of Zinchenko, City have lost their balance between the two flanks. It has given Cardiff a little bit of time to settle.
31'
Fernadinho lines up a strike from distance, although he sends his effort well wide of the target. City have lost their early rhythm, which will please Warnock on the sideline.
29'
OVER! Foden brings the ball out of the middle of the park and drives at the Cardiff defensive line. Without a great deal on, he goes for the strike at goal, only to blaze his effort over the bar.
24'
Jesus bundles his way through the middle of the Cardiff defence before offloading to Mahrez on the edge of the box. However, he loses out to Gunnarsson as he tried to round the midfielder.
21'
The home side work the ball around the edge of the box before Walker is played into space down the right flank. He fires a low ball into the middle, but Ralls is there to clear the danger ahead of De Bruyne.
19'
K. Walker enters the game and replaces O. Zinchenko.
Zinchenko is forced off with a hamstring injury and is replaced Walker. Danilo will shift to left-back.
14'
Laporte curls a ball over the top for the run of Zinchenko. The left-back aims to find Foden in the middle with his cutback, but Morrison makes a vital interception on the slide.
12'
Foden controls the ball well out of the air from Danilo's lofted pass, but his offload towards Jesus goes astray.
8'
J. Bennett gets yellow.
Bennett brings down Danilo on the charge, handing City a free-kick on the edge of the Cardiff box. The full-back goes into the book for his challenge.
7'
Sane sends a teasing low cross towards the run of Jesus, but the Brazilian is just on his heels to make a late charge to the back post.
6'
K. De Bruyne has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Aymeric Laporte.
Laporte plays De Bruyne into space with a pass into the left inside channel that the Belgian collects and scores.
GOALLLLLLLLL!! DE BRUYNE SCORES FROM A TIGHT ANGLE!!! 1-0 CITY!!!! The home side break the deadlock as the Belgian beats Etheridge at his near post with a left-footed strike. De Bruyne was played into space by Laporte and he did have options in the middle. Etheridge appeared to be looking that way and was caught by surprise as the midfielder angled his attempt towards goal and he duly found the net.
3'
Niasse wins a corner off the legs of Zinchenko for the Bluebirds, but the City backline are able to clear the danger from Camarasa's corner with ease.
1'
We're underway at the Etihad Stadium.
City eased past Fulham last time out courtesy of goals from Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero at Craven Cottage. Liverpool's win over Tottenham saw Jurgen Klopp's men leapfrog City at the top of the table. However, Pep Guardiola's side have the opportunity to restore their advantage at the top by putting Cardiff to the sword this evening.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Cardiff City at the Etihad Stadium.
Cardiff suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Chelsea last time out being on the receiving end of poor decision that let the Blues back into the game. Victor Camarasa had put the Bluebirds ahead and Neil Warnock's men were six minutes away from securing a vital win in their battle against the drop. However, Cesar Azpilicueta equalised from an offside position before Ruben Loftus-Cheek snatched the win at the death. Cardiff have to issue a response tonight, although the odds are stacked against them.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Danilo, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Phil Foden; Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane.
SUBS: Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Arijanet Muric.
CARDIFF CITY (4-1-4-1): Neil Etheridge; Lee Peltier, Sean Morison, Bruno Ecuele Manga, Joe Bennett; Aron Gunnarsson; Junior Hoilett, Victor Camarasa, Joe Ralls, Josh Murphy; Oumar Niasse.
SUBS: Kenneth Zohore, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Leandro Bacuna, Greg Cunningham, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Kadeem Harris, Brian Murphy.
There was a sense of frustration for a period of the game for the home side as they searched for the second goal. Their rhythm was affected slightly by losing Oleksandr Zinchenko to a hamstring injury that narrowed the field. However, De Bruyne found his feet towards the end of the half and pressure started to build. Sane scored the second and there's a feeling that it will be too much for Cardiff to come back from, having recorded only one shot in the first half.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Manchester City are next in action on Saturday against Brighton and Hove Albion in their FA Cup semi-final clash at Wembley. Cardiff have 10 days off to prepare for their must-win game against Burnley at Turf Moor on April 13.
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