Dok's on a trot while Jack's in a box...

GRIND FOR GREALISH AS JEREMY STEALS SHOW

- Andy Dunn

IN a cameo that lasted a little over half an hour, Jeremy Doku was everything Jack Grealish, the player he replaced, had not been.

Exciting, direct, happy to take a risk, looking like someone who could make something happen every time he touched the ball. And a goal threat.

In the grand scheme of things, a strike of venomous beauty which, eventually, became the winner - could well carry a good degree of significance. With over 10 minutes left, Fulham were hammering at City's door and an equaliser looked likely.

But Doku then cut inside and his strike swerved at high velocity to give City breathing space.

Thanks to a goal from Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz soon after, they needed that space.

Remember the moaning about Arsenal's dark arts?

Well, Ederson was booked for time-wasting here. That tells you what you need to know.

Apart from Mateo Kovacic, whose two goals cancelled out the opener from Andreas Pereira, City - as a unit - were generally uninspired.

But that explosive intervention from Doku was, in the end, decisive. The Belgian, 22, is such a threatening option for Pep Guardiola to have at his disposal. Against tired legs, he was always a danger.