PEP’S TOP OF THE CLASS

Bristol put up a brave show but result not really in doubt

IN the final reckoning, in the last push to Wembley, it was class that just about told.

The class of the imperious Kevin De Bruyne, the class of the majestic Leroy Sane, the class of that supreme finisher, Sergio Aguero.

Quite simply, you can hold back this tide of talent for only so long.

That Bristol City resisted it and countered it for long spells over two matches speaks volumes for their character and for their boss Lee Johnson.

But in the end, this was Manchester City asserting their Premier League-dominating superiority.

To be frank, for all the Robins’ resilience and their dramatic late surge, this was very rarely in doubt.

Certainly not after Sane, with a late first-half strike, and Aguero, with an early second-half hit, had put clear daylight between the two.

And probably not from the moment their manager Pep Guardiola (circle) made a statement of intent with his team-sheet.

But Bristol City always had hope – it was the one thing they never lost over the entire course of these two legs.

They always had hope because defenders such as Aden Flint can read a game as well as impose their physicality on it.

They always had hope because Bobby Reid was always harassing John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, because Joe Bryan was always a cultured threat.

It was also a remarkably athletic effort over the whole piece, a fantastic testament to their endurance.

Chasing the likes of Sane and De Bruyne for long stints takes some stamina, if nothing else.

And for all their accomplished football in this tie, chasing and defending was top of Bristol City’s to-do list.

That they did both with such discipline made the nature of Sane’s 43rd-minute breakthrough all the more surprising. Iceland international Hordur Magnusson, trying to shepherd his way to a goalkick, was horribly culpable in allowing Bernardo Silva to spirit away possession and he set up a Sane finish via Flint’s despairing boot.

He might have been getting some verbals, but the ‘shush’ celebration seemed a little uncalled for. Still, if you have dished it out and all that. Anyway, there is a touch of arrogance, a hint of swagger about the Germany winger, that can distinguish the super-talented. He has a bit of attitude about him, that is for sure.

In fact, there was a bit of attitude coursing through this particular Pep team.

At one point, Stones, Kyle Walker and Fernandinho had a frank exchange of views, the first-mentioned was maybe asked where he has left his A-game since returning from injury.

With De Bruyne, there has been nothing but A-game from the first moment of the season. Everything about his assist for Aguero’s 49thminute strike was as familiar as it was exquisite.

The instant control, the check inside to wrong-foot an opponent, a ball into Aguero’s path that was not so much a pass as a persuasion.

Aguero’s right-footed finish had the emphasis of a man collecting his 10th goal in his last nine games.

That should have been the end of meaningful proceedings, but no-one can have been surprised when Marlon Pack skilfully headed in Jamie Paterson’s cross in the 64th minute.

This is a Bristol City team with some backbone to it.

In the end, backbone was not quite enough even though Flint ensured a thrilling final minute or two when sliding home Reid’s header for an equaliser on the night.

But a remarkable fightback was headed off by, fittingly, De Bruyne, who finished off, again fittingly, a Sane breakaway.

In the end, class just about told and Wembley waits for this thrilling team.