Manchester City's Yaya Toure (C) shoots to score against Stoke City during their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England February 22, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
Yaya Toure scored the only goal as Manchester City finally saw off Stoke 1-0 to claim three crucial Premier League points on Saturday.
After two league games without a win and a loss to Barcelona midweek, City was facing more frustration at the hands of former manager Mark Hughes until Toure struck in the 70th minute.
Stoke had the better of the first half at the Etihad Stadium but City finished strongly and would have won by more had Edin Dzeko not produced a remarkable miss. Dzeko failed to make a clean connection when picked out unmarked, with an open goal, two yards out.
But third-placed City, without another league game until March 15, ensured it remains three points behind leader Chelsea with a game in hand.
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