As it happened: Manchester City 2-0 Preston North End

Pep Guardiola’s men are the first test for PNE this week, before Wigan Athletic and Manchester United later on in the week,

Tests don’t come much tougher than the reigning Premier League champions and Champions League runners up, but they’ve never played Ryan Ledson...

PNE Starting XI: PNE: Ripley, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, van den Berg, Ledson, Whiteman, Potts, Earl, Barkhuizen, Evans.

PNE subs: Hudson, Bauer, Rafferty, Cunningham, Bayliss, Browne, Leigh, Harrop, Sinclair, Thomas, Walker, Maguire, Riis.

Man City do have a number of first team players in tonight’s starting XI, including star from last season Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, club captain Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and world champion Benjamin Mendy.

The players are in place ready for tonight’s game!

We’re underway at the Academy Stadium!

Pozo beats Ledson but the midfielder gets back.

City take the kick short.

It’s been an even contest as we approach 15 minutes in this game and neither side have created many clear cut chances.

Knight is played in behind but his shot is saved by Ripley as the PNE keeper comes out to close down the angle.

Brad Potts has a little room on the left side of the area but drags his shot wide of the near post.

Riyad Mahrez nestles a wonderful free kick over the wall and into the top corner from the right side.

The ball presents itself to Rogers around 25 yards out but his shot is deflected and Ripley saves low down.

Ledson latches onto a loose ball but his half volley doesn’t have the right connection and Steffen saves.

Potts lofts a ball over the top for Barkhuizen who takes it in his stride but City keeper Steffen is out 35 yards to make an important tackle.