Manchester City have been masters of the late show in the Premier League this season.

Raheem Sterling's last-gasp winners against Bournemouth and Southampton will be remembered as key moments in the title-winning campaign, and it is not a surprise that the Blues have scored more goals in the last five minutes of games than anyone else.

A team that fights to the end has been rewarded for their endless attacking endeavour.

Then again, they have scored more than any team full stop and their tally of nine is almost matched by Tottenham, United and Watford (all eight).

More significant for City, their Pep Time if you will, has been the first five minutes after half-time.

Goals in their last two matches against Chelsea and Stoke were the sixth and seventh time this season that Pep Guardiola's side have scored almost immediately after the restart.

Bernardo Silva's strike was enough to give them all three points and David Silva's a week later tightened City's grip at the bet365 Stadium and delayed any home revival.

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The goals were decisive in the outcome of the games - and that has been true for every single one in that five-minute block.

More than any other side in the division, City have used that period to change the complexion of their matches.

As with Stoke, Kevin De Bruyne's strike at Leicester and Sergio Aguero's penalty against Arsenal cemented City's control in the game; goals against Leicester and Southampton at home took the Blues into the lead after half-time, while a penalty at Huddersfield saw them draw level.

There were different scenarios but all seven games ended in City wins.

If scoring just before the break can destroy a manager's team talk, netting just after it is worse because the team doesn't get 20 minutes to compose themselves.

Players can be rigorously organised from the first whistle but City have proven particularly effective at punishing any lapses in concentration when they line up again.

A word, too, for Guardiola's instructions.

Many a player have spoken about the manager's ability to make games easy through his tactics, but what happens when it doesn't go to plan?

On more than one occasion this season with the team in a sticky spot, the advice has not been football-specific but simply a request to go out and fight to show what they are capable of.

That has has the desired effect, and catching opponents cold in the second half has proven a key component of their red-hot league form this season.