O. Shenton enters the game and replaces S. Nzonzi.
FULL TIME! And that's it - Manchester City take the three points back to the Etihad today after a 4-1 victory against Stoke.
90' +3
And here is the sub now for Stoke as youngster Oliver Shelton makes his debut for the club. He was only drafted in at the last minute after an injury to Jonathan Walters. He receives a standing ovation.
90' +2
Stoke are ending this game in possession of the ball and look to be introducing a final substitution if play allows them to - with only 40 seconds or so left in the game.
90'
Three minutes of added time have been given by the officials here.
89'
A long ball is pumped forward towards Diouf. He can't quite control it but it bounces perfectly into the path of Adam. He's quite a distance out but, in trademark Adam fashion, he tries a speculative shot from distance. He has a record for long-distance goals but this one is wide of the goal and out of play.
88'
Home supporters are leaving a little early now as their side slowly slip to their first home defeat against City in seven attempts. No chance at the double either then for them after their narrow 1-0 victory at the Etihad back in August.
87'
This could be a significant victory for Manchester City with Chelsea currently being held to a score draw with Everton. Just three minutes remain here but they will be pleased with this performance and the second half in particular. Stoke haven't really had much of a sniff since the break.
86'
Jesús Navas enters the game and replaces S. Nasri.
85'
C. Adam enters the game and replaces G. Whelan.
Another change now for Stoke as Charlie Adam comes on in place of Whelan.
83'
That could have been five for City. Fernandinho storms through on goal with ease, breaking into the penalty area, but his effort is saved from close range by Begovic.
Minute
Description
81'
Frank Lampard has come on now for the visitors as Silva comes off. Steve Sidwell replaces Moses for Stoke.
80'
S. Sidwell enters the game and replaces V. Moses.
F. Lampard enters the game and replaces David Silva.
79'
A half-hearted penalty appeal from Diouf after he tussles with Mangala in a battle with the defender for the ball. It started outside the box but the Stoke striker fell to the ground once in it. Nothing given and City have the goal kick.
77'
No home team has stopped Manchester City from scoring in their last 18 Premier League away trips. It is now 19. It's not been your typical 4-1 game but they've been clinical in front of goal tonight.
76'
S. Nasri has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by E. Džeko.
GOAAAAL! And that's a fantastic four for City! Nasri has the ball midway through the Stoke half, skips past their defenders with ease and cooly slots it away. He's had a strong game tonight and deserves that goal.
73'
E. Džeko enters the game and replaces S. Agüero.
And that is Aguero off for City as Dzeko comes on in his place. Not sure what the cause of that injury was as he seemed to just drop to the floor holding his calf. Not the sight City fans wanted to see.
71'
A break in play now as Aguero falls to the ground. He's receiving treatment from the club's physios who have raced onto the pitch.
70'
Penalty goal scored by S. Agüero for Manchester City!
GOAAAAL! Aguero dispatches from the penalty spot! Begovic dives the right way but can't get his hand to the ball. It's 3-1 to City and this is surely three points won for Pellegrini's side.
69'
PENALTY! Man City have a penalty! Silva twists and turns inside the box and Cameron brings him down!
67'
CHANCE! It is Moses with the free-kick but it's just over. Nicely weighted and the positioning was almost perfect, but it's just a little too high of the top-left corner and narrowly misses the bar.
66'
Now this is a good position. Bardsley drives forward with the ball, cutting inside towards the centre of the goal. Silva clips his heel and the converted left-back tumbles to the floor. A strong position now for Stoke with Moses looking likely to hit this.
65'
Stoke see a decision go there way now as Zabaleta crashes into the back of Moses. But the free-kick is played short, on the halfway line, and straight out of play. It trickles over the line for a throw-on, right in front of Mark Hughes, who looks less than pleased with that one.
64'
M. Arnautović gets yellow.
63'
Stoke are getting a little frustrated now in this second half and Arnautovic has just reacted angrily to a decision to award City a free-kick for a foul against him. He finds himself in the book for venting his fury right in the face of the referee.
61'
A ball is played into Crouch from deep but his header is across goal and Hart is happy to see it wide. Crouch can equal Alan Shearer's Premier League record for headed goals - 47 - with his next.
59'
Stoke are looking to find an instant reply but their play is too narrow and they can't work an opening. Crouch tries to create something out of nothing with a snap-shot from distance but it's wide of the goal.
55'
J. Milner has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by S. Nasri.
GOAAAAAAAAAAL! James Milner! City are ahead! A cross comes in from the right off the boot of Nasri and he guides it into the corner of the net. Another fine cross in this game but Milner was left unchallenged for that one.
53'
PENALTY? Not so according to the referee. Wollscheid looks to have brought Aguero down as he cuts across his back, running into the penalty box, and the Argentine falls to the ground. But play is waved on as Stoke get the goalkick.
52'
J. Milner gets yellow.
51'
A rash challenge from Milner on Muniesa earns the England international a yellow card. He jumps high for the ball in a challenge with the former Barcelona man but catches him with his studs.
48'
Could have been an early chance for Man City at the start of this second half but Silva, running with the ball into the box, lifts a half-hearted cross into Aguero which is blocked by Stoke and cleared out of danger.
45' +1
S. Agüero gets yellow.
HALF TIME! And that's the whistle for the break with the score at 1-1.
GOAAAAAL! Is it? A bit of confusion here as Aguero puts the ball into the back of the net. A ball over the top finds Silva in the penalty area who slips in Aguero with a first time pass to prod in from yards out. He races away to celebrate but after about 30 seconds the referee spots a flag. Aguero isn't happy with the decision as it looks like they've given it for handball with the ball bouncing off his hand and into the net. He's handed a yellow card for his protests.
45'
CHANCE! He has to score! Fernando makes a run into a crowded penalty area and Zabaleta picks him out with a cross low across goal. But he misses from yards out and puts it wide of the post.
A minute of added time now.
SECOND HALF! And we're back underway!
44'
Milner curls in his corner but is ordered to take it again - presumably as it was slighty outside the markings. It's whipped in again but cleared.
43'
Milner relieves some pressure by earning a corner for his side after his left-wing cross is blocked.
42'
Stoke ending this half the stronger now as they earn a throw-in near the corner flag after Whelan's cross was blocked. Arnautovic whips in another cross but it's cleared. Stoke still pile on the pressure but another cross - this time from Moses - is claimed well by Hart.
39'
Well, I did say that 1-0 scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on Stoke but it's all equal now. It's now eight league games without a clean sheet for City.
38'
P. Crouch has scored a goal for Stoke City! Assist by M. Arnautović.
GOAAAAAAAAL! Lovely! Beautifully worked goal and Stoke are back on level terms! Crouch does finally have his goal with a cushioned header but he has Arnautovic to thank for that one. His delivery from the right was wonderfully weighted. A proper old-school cross from the wing and header - as good as any you'll see this season.
35'
City's fans are chanting "there's only one James Milner" - and who can blame them? It was the England midfielder's pass into the feet of Aguero that set up the goal. After saving his side from defeat in their last game to earn himself a starting berth here, he's certainly justified it so far.
34'
That goal is perhaps a little tough on Stoke who had started this game the brighter of the two and should be ahead after Crouch's shot off the line, but they've been second best in the last 10 minutes here and a City goal did look coming.
33'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by J. Milner.
GOAAAAAAAAL! And that is the first goal of the game! Stoke's free-kick is dealt with and City launch a counter attack with a long ball towards Aguero. He runs directly at Bardsley and, with the former Manchester United man backing off, gets a shot on goal. It's low and hard, right into the bottom left corner. Great goal!
31'
A foul on Cameron from Kolarov - right on the touchline midway through City's half - gives Stoke the chance to break up play and start an attack of their own in a decent crossing position.
29'
Aguero picks the ball up outside the box and has the goal in his site. It's from some distance but he hits it - but with not enough accuracy as it drags harmlessly wide of the post.
27'
Nasri is trying to make things happen near the corner flag as he gets past his man and swings in a cross. But there is little space in the box for any City movement and it's cleared easily. Strong defending from Stoke.
25'
Another poor pass there from Bardsley, this time looking to spray the play to the opposite flank to Cameron. He gifts City possession of the ball from the throw-in. They've started well here so far but have followed that good play up with some basic errors.
23'
A sloppy backpass from Bardsley nearly puts his side in all sorts of trouble. A last-ditch tackle in the penalty area prevents City from capitalising further but they've squandered possession far too easily and given City a chance to take control of the ball once more.
21'
CHANCE! Stoke are really pushing City here! N'Zonzi picks up the ball on the edge of the box in a tempting position and crashes a powerful shot on goal. Hart can only parry but it falls back out to Moses on the rebound. He hits his shot first-time but drags it wide.
19'
GOOOOOAAAL! But no, it's called for offside! Crouch thought he had opened the scoring for Stoke by following up a shot spilled by Hart at close range but, as he races off to celebrate with the fans, the referee pulls play back for offside.
17'
If Kolarov's effort was wild, N'Zonzi's certainly is. Stoke break on the counter attack and Diouf holds up the ball on the edge of the penalty box. He spots the run of N'Zonzi but his effort is ballooned into the stands from distance.
15'
Half-chance for the visitors from distance as Milner brings the ball forward and darts into the box. He pulls it back to Nasri on the edge of the penalty area and it falls out to Kolarov who gears up for a first-time shot. But he cannot keep it down and it flies high and wide over the bar.
14'
Another free-kick for Stoke, just left of the Manchester City half, but the delivery from Moses is poor and fails to beat the first man. It's cleared and City start an attack of their own at the other end.
12'
A free-kick to the hosts after Crouch is fouled in an aerial challenge. Diouf takes it short for Whelan to hit from distance but it's straight into the wall. A bit of a speculative effort from that range.
10'
Stoke can't quite capitalise on that pressure and are pegged back by City to play the ball back into their own half. Still, they're enjoying a good spell of their own possession now.
9'
This game has really come into life now. Diouf chases a long ball forward and forces Kompany to put the ball out of play for a throw-in, right next to the corner flag. A chance to continue the pressure for Stoke.
7'
OFF THE LINE! So unlucky Stoke City! The ball is cleared off the line from the corner but there are appeals for a handball as well! Crouch rose highest to out-jump Mangala but Milner, standing just off the post, gets his body in the way. It hit his arm but it was down by his side.
6'
A corner now for Stoke at the other end after a shot from distance is tipped behind the post by Hart.
4'
CHANCE! First sight on goal in this game and it falls to the visitors and the one man they would want - Aguero. Silva sets him up with a pass right in front of the goal but it's saved by the keeper.
3'
Steady but slow start to this game as Mangala ends a spell of City possession with a misplaced pass to Silva, with the Spanish international standing just yards in front.
1'
KICK OFF! And we're off. Stoke get the game underway kicking from left to right.
Hello and welcome to live commentary of the Premier League as Stoke City host Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium. You’re with me, Tom Davis, for this midweek clash.
Stoke are without Stephen Ireland, who had impressed in the absence of long-term casualty Bojan Krkic, after suffering a groin injury against Newcastle. Marko Arnautovic could return from injury but Marc Wilson, who also picked up a knock last weekend, joins Ryan Shawcross, Erik Pieters and Peter Odemwingie on the their injury list.
Manchester City have their own absentees to contend with for this clash – but not through injury. Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony return from their Africa Cup of Nations triumph and will not be risked tonight. City otherwise have a full squad at their disposal. James Milner is likely to push for a starting berth after his match-saving free-kick in their draw against Hull last weekend.
But team news is in, so let's start with the hosts!
Its three changes then for Mark Hughes’ side who have brought in Geoff Cameron, Marko Arnautovic and Peter Crouch for the injured trio of Marc Wilson, Stephen Ireland and Jonathan Walters. Walters is a surprise absence through injury. His manager told their official Twitter: "Walters is out with a knee injury, we expect him back for Saturday. This one has come too soon for him."
Sergio Aguero leads the line on his own for Manchester City with a trio of Samir Nasri, David Silva and the re-instated James Milner just behind. Milner is one of three changes to the side that drew with Hull, along with the introduction of Eliaquim Mangala and Aleksandar Kolorov. Martin Demichelis, Gael Clichy and Edin Dzeko drop out.
A big game here then tonight, for Manchester City in particular, who will want to keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea - who face Everton tonight. Stoke can claim the double over City this season with a win. Only Chelsea have managed that feat so far.
A cracking first half to this game with both sides really going for it. Stoke have one, and so do Man City - but both have also seen goals at either end chalked off for offside and handball. Crouch was marginally ahead of the play while the ball bounced off Aguero's arm - unintentionally perhaps - and in, but both can't complain with the decisions.
It's a long overdue win then for Pellegrini's side who were hoping to avoid an unwanted record of going eight matches without a win for the first time since October-December 2011. Four goals and three points have secured their first victory since a 3-2 win against Sunderland on New Year's Day.
But it wasn't to be for Mark Hughes against his former club as he saw he side slip to a rather unfortunate 4-1 drubbing. In performance terms, it wasn't all that bad, but the goals conceded will add to worry at the Britannia after their recent struggle to keep clean sheets at home. Defending wasn't the best, but they had chances in the first half to change this game. From that, they should take heart.
That'll be all from me folks as Manchester City record a long-awaited win to keep Chelsea on their toes at the top. Thank you for joining me, Tom Davis, tonight, and see you soon.
Tonight's win - their 1000th point in Premier League history - would have closed the gap on Chelsea at the top of the tree had it not been for Willian's last-gasp winner against Everton in their game at Stamford Bridge tonight. But the win will keep the pressure on their rivals and boost confidence as they break their poor run of form.
Commentary
More…