PHYSICAL

City relentless in pursuit of the perfect season

Bruyne fought for a ball he had lost and won it back. Danilo played a first-time pass that helped Bernardo produce a first-time cross, and there was Sterling to head his 19th goal of the season.

If the City manager really needed a reason to be upset, it was that Cardiff still had 11 players on the pitch after the break.

Sane was surging forward with a third goal in his sights when full-back Joe Bennett launched into him with a cynical challenge that was downright dangerous and should have earned an instant red, not yellow.

Sane was badly hurt and the German FA even pleaded through Twitter for Cardiff to stop hurting their players.

He did not begin the second half with Sergio Aguero coming off the bench.

Bringing on the top scorer might have been a sign that Guardiola was going for the jugular, but City were happy to play keep-ball.

Cardiff came closest to scoring in the next phase of play.

Giant striker Kenneth Zohore fired one shot just over and then might have done better with a bobbling shot that Bravo still needed two attempts to get hold of.

Hoilett, too, found space to fire a shot that fizzed a couple of inches wide with Bravo beaten.

But that was it and City played keep-ball to see out the result.

Bennett did get the red card he should have had in the first half as he collected a second yellow for a clumsy foul on substitute Brahim Diaz.

It was what he deserved, just as the win was what City deserved.