Riyad Mahrez return helps Manchester City brush past Fulham

Riyad Mahrez, back in the Manchester City fold after more than a month on international duty, scored twice as the Premier League leaders made light work of their Championship counterparts to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.

The Algerian winger was the stand-out player in a routine victory that carried his side through to the fifth round of a competition which Pep Guardiola, having won it only once in his five and a half seasons in England, would love to lift again.

Fulham had the audacity to draw first blood in the fourth round tie and were almost immediately punished for so doing - City quickly responding with two goals of their own inside the next six minutes.

Certainly, the manner of the visitors’ opening goal was encouraging, as they exposed huge gaps in the City defence after four minutes.

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s sweeping pass found Harry Wilson on the right wing and his perfect cross was turned in from close range by Fabio Carvalho, the young attacking midfielder who almost joined Liverpool in the recent transfer window.

But City had started strongly - Jack Grealish missing a good opening inside 30 seconds - and, now, responded impressively.

Within two minutes, Joao Cancelo kept a City attack alive, crossing from the by-line for Mahrez whose accurate pass picked out Ilkay Gundogan to steer the equaliser past Paulo Gazzaniga from 12 yards.

And six minutes after that, City were ahead, in simple fashion, as Kevin De Bruyne’s left-wing corner was met by defender John Stones who glanced an expert finish past the Fulham keeper.

Sadly, for the neutrals at least, the tie failed to continue in such dramatic fashion with City dominating possession without testing Gazzaniga over the remainder of the first half.

Marco Silva’s