In a match played out over four lots of 30 minutes, City netted twice in the space of ten third quarter minutes. Dennis Srbeny opened the scoring, lashing home from a Hernandez cutback and Marco Stiepermann netted the second following another Hernandez assist.

City started with a back four, as opposed to the back three they deployed in their two other pre-season friendlies at King’s Lynn and Lincoln, with Felix Passlack and Max Aarons operating the full-back positions. Ben Godfrey played just in front of a back four including Timm Klose and Sean Raggett.

The midfield was fluid with Yanic Wildschut the only player staying wide and it included Teemu Pukki, Moritz Leitner, and Kenny McLean with Jordan Rhodes up top.

Crawley defended very well in the opening hour and restricted City to little in the way of opportunities.

McLean struck the crossbar early on with a curling left-footed strike but City had to wait until the 37th minute for their next chance. McLean again provided it after nice build-up between Pukki and Leitner but the Scotsman's effort from inside the box was saved low by the Crawley stopper.

McLean hit the woodwork again on 46 minutes following a nice pick-out from Leitner before Passlack tried his luck from distance but his low strike whistled just wide.

Daniel Farke made nine changes at the break and his substitutes looked much more of a threat. They took the lead within ten minutes of the restart as Onel Hernandez's cutback was lashed home by Srbeny.

It was two moments later with Hernandez once again the provider. His cross from a similar position was dummied by Srbeny, allowing Stiepermann to curl the ball into the far corner.

City then controlled the remainder of proceedings and could have easily added to their advantage. Todd Cantwell twice went close and Hernandez probably should have crossed when he took aim from a tight angle.

But the win was City's third so far in pre-season as they head off to Germany on Friday for an intense week of training, plus three matches.

City make it three out of three against Crawley

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