Grealish Strikes as Man City Defeat Leicester

Manchester City defeated relegation-threatened Leicester City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to keep their Champions League ambitions alive. Jack Grealish scored his first Premier League goal in 16 months.

Grealish scored within two minutes and Omar Marmoush added a second as City moved into fourth place with 51 points from 30 games. Leicester sits 19th with 17 points from the same number of matches, 12 from relegation.

The opening nine minutes, including Grealish’s goal, were missed by many thousand City fans who left in protest at the club’s ticket pricing. Pep Guardiola watched from the stands.

Leicester suffered their eighth straight Premier League loss without a goal on another terrible night with no shots on target. Despite their lacklustre start, City controlled the game and Grealish’s early goal calmed concerns.

Grealish scored from 15 meters after Savinho’s low cross found him in the box after Jeremy Doku won the ball in midfield. City extended their lead after Leicester custodian Mads Hermansen erred. Marmoush scored off the underside of the bar after the gloveman failed to take a cross into the box.

With Erling Haaland sidelined for seven weeks with an ankle injury, Marmoush might help Manchester City reach the Champions League. After halftime, Jeremy Doku picked him out in the box, but he blasted over the crossbar. The second half ended with Leicester delighted to keep the score down and City struggling to attack.