Manchester City's Convincing Win vs. Stoke Shows Title Race Isn't Quite Over

After a run of form which has been debilitating to their title challenge, Manchester City were in desperate need of a performance when they travelled to Stoke on Wednesday.

A 4-1 win and emphatic display suggests there may be life in the race for the Premier league title just yet.

After a first half in which City threatened to take control but looked vulnerable defensively, the second was reminiscent of their finest form of last season, full of attacking intent and a fearless desire to chase goals.

Chelsea’s late winner at home to Everton scuppered City’s chances of reducing the deficit at the top of the table to five points, but they will take heart from their best performance since Boxing Day by some considerable distance. If City maintain this level, Chelsea will have to be pitch perfect to remain out in front.

Sergio Aguero bagged two—his first goals in seven games since returning from a month out with injury—and but for a bizarre handball would have had a hat-trick. James Milner and Samir Nasri completed what ended up a rout, leaving the City fans contemplating a few twists and turns yet to come as the season comes to its conclusion.

Aguero’s trademark sharpness saw him open the scoring after a couple of gilt-edged chances had gone begging earlier in the game.

He won the ball in the middle of the pitch, drove forward into the 18-yard box and unleashed an unstoppable right-foot drive past Asmir Begovic. After looking short of match fitness in recent weeks, it was a welcome sight for his manager, Manuel Pellegrini.

Stoke equalised after Marko Arnautovic’s perfect delivery into the box found Peter Crouch, whose header left Joe Hart with no chance. City, who looked susceptible to balls into the box—not for the first time this season—had been undone too easily once again.

But this was a different City to the one we’ve seen in recent weeks. David Silva, at the centre of everything, was at his creative best, and Aguero, buoyed by his goal, looked close to the striker who terrorised defences during the opening months of the campaign, skipping past challenges and frightening defenders with his pace.

City’s second was the goal of the night, as Silva and Nasri combined beautifully on the right before the Frenchman delivered a wonderful ball that was met by the head of Milner who planted firmly past Begovic.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

"We want you to stay," sang the away fans in reference to Milner’s contract wrangle, with the England midfielder still not putting pen to paper despite his current deal expiring in June.

His display here was the latest reminder of his quality, with the goal topping off 90 minutes of running, harrying and tackling. The truth is City look a better side with him in it.

Perhaps more significantly, though, was the away fans cheering Pellegrini’s name. The Chilean has been under a little but of pressure after City’s poor six-week run, but the loud chant that consumed the Britannia was a clear show of support from the club’s travelling supporters.

"

1000 CLUB The all-time #BPL table now has NINE teams with a four-figure points tally... @MCFC pic.twitter.com/BRzbbvX1Ua

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 11, 2015"

Silva’s superb skill saw him turn Geoff Cameron inside the box before being upended, with Aguero making no mistake with the resulting penalty, before Nasri’s curler settled the game.

Aguero left the field late on holding hamstring, replaced by Edin Dzeko, but Pellegrini said afterwards he didn't think it was a problem. "He’s felt something on the back but my feeling is that it is not too serious," he said.

"In the way Sergio has more minutes he will score more goals. It is important for him and all the players to come from injuries."

Pellegrini added: "It’s very important for Kun to be fit. If he plays for three months in a row you will see how good he is."

The title is still very much in Chelsea’s hands, but City must now use this result as a catalyst for better form.

Before Wednesday’s win, they hadn’t won in five, their worst run of form since 2009 when Mark Hughes was in charge and one which has left their title defence hanging by a thread.

City needed a big performance and three points and that's exactly what they got. The reaction of their travelling fans at the full-time whistle suggests they feel there’s more to come in this season’s race for the title.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.