Raheem Sterling's Man City stunner at Norwich expose lie behind 'boring' Pep Guardiola claims

For the second time this week, Premier League leaders Manchester City were 2-0 up against over-matched opponents, stretching their advantage at the summit and into suffocation mode.

Phil Foden had doubled the advantage for Pep Guardiola’s men early in the second half, meaning Norwich City’s task was as futile as Brentford’s three days earlier and would end in a heavier 4-0 reverse.

That win at the Etihad Stadium brought the now customary moans that City’s dominance is boring or sterile, but a pulsating first half-hour at Carrow Road in the tea-time kick-off was anything but.

When Canaries boss Dean Smith mentioned trying to control the game without controlling the ball before kick-off, it was easy to fear another of the bus-parking exercises that increasingly clog up City’s schedule.

During the first half, the hosts were restricted to 27 per cent of possession - the sort of meagre diet many of City’s opponents are forced to subsist upon, but it still matters what you do with it.

Norwich made nearly all of their time with the ball count. Nathan Ake - one of five changes from the Brentford game - sliced a first-minute clearance into the stands and it set the tone for Norwich trying to unsettle their illustrious foes at every possible opportunity.

Ruben Dias was targeted by some direct balls and deservedly entered the book after Milot Rashica nimbly negotiated the space where a defensive midfield block should have been.

Guardiola’s side were ragged at times early on, lacking the steadying influence of Rodri, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones - all rested in - in their build-up.

Fernandinho had to hack clear after Grant Hanley headed against the base of the post and Teemu Pukki fleetingly threatened to be the