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Mancini cautious despite 'special' achievement

Sergio Aguero steered Manchester City to another victory © Getty Images

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Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City side against complacency as they ensured they will be top at Christmas for the first time in 82 years with a 3-0 victory over Stoke City.

Goals from Sergio Aguero (twice) and Adam Johnson sealed a comfortable victory for City at Etihad Stadium, as they confirmed they will reach the festive period two points clear of their arch-rivals Manchester United.

While calling the achievement 'special', Mancini has noted that the narrow advantage means they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

"It is special," Mancini told Sky Sports about being top at Christmas. "But we have only two points over United - normally at 44 you should have five or six over the second team."

Stoke hardly threatened City all game as they remained entrenched in their own half, although Mancini maintained that the game was more difficult than it looked for much of the match.

"I think always when you play against Stoke it is difficult but they played for 90 minutes with men behind the ball, so when you play against a team like this it is difficult," he said.

"But we did well, we had to be patient and we didn't find a solution until the first goal.

"It is difficult, we played for most of the game with over 20 players in one half."

Mancini, who has now been at the club for just over two years, is pleased with the work he has done to date.

"I am happy after two years in Manchester, with City - we have done a good job until now and we are top and we will continue to work hard if we want to stay here, if we want to win the championship and other things," he noted.

"It is different now from when I arrived, but we are all working together - after two years it is good."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.