Manchester City 2 Bolton Wanderers 0: Clichy looks for leaders to improve their cutting edge in title run-in

The Premier League leaders maintained their title push with a straightforward win over Bolton on Saturday, but spurned a hatful of chances to make victory even more more comfortable.

Striker Mario Balotelli, the centre of attention after more headlines relating to his off-field antics, was guilty of a number of those misses although he did eventually get on the scoresheet.

City had 23 shots, 10 on target, and Clichy thinks they must improve the scoring ratio, even though they have struck 69 times in 27 league games.

Clichy said: “After 10 minutes we could have been 4-0 up, it is then a different game.

“At the end of the day we kept a clean sheet and scored two goals, but we have to be more efficient in front of goal and be more professional.

“Those kind of chances are good chances and we can’t afford, against a bigger team, not to score those chances.”

Balotelli might have had a hat-trick inside the opening 13 minutes at the Etihad Stadium as he hit a post, shot narrowly wide and then fired over after finding himself in the clear.

City’s opener finally came in the 23rd minute from an unlikely source as Clichy, who has not scored for the club, saw a long-range effort deflected in by Gretar Steinsson.

Relegation-threatened Bolton did offer a brief flurry as David Ngog and Ryo Miyaichi tested Joe Hart, but City always looked the stronger.

Bolton’s Darren Pratley hit his own crossbar as City pressed before Balotelli settled the contest after 69 minutes following a brilliant run by Adam Johnson.

Clichy’s strike was officially recorded as an own goal, but that was not something that concerned him.

Balotelli is facing disciplinary action after reports on the morning of the game suggested he had been on a night out in Liverpool which stretched into the early hours of Friday.

That would be in breach of a club curfew and manager Roberto Mancini has said he will fine the player if it is proved to be true.

“Maybe next time if he goes to sleep earlier he can score two or three goals,” said Mancini.

The downside for City was a hamstring injury to defender Pablo Zabaleta, who now faces two or three weeks on the sidelines. Micah Richards missed the game after suffering a knock on England duty.