Pep Guardiola did not see what he wanted from his Manchester City team in attack against Fulham until they were 3-0 up.
The defending FA Cup champions cruised to an easy victory against the Championship side, with an early red card and penalty they never looked like relinquishing.
However, despite scoring two goals in the first half City did not make their domination count on the scoresheet until two late goals from Gabriel Jesus added some gloss.
Guardiola described the game as flat in part because the early sending-off killed any tactical plan Scott Parker had to stop the hosts but also because the City attackers were not taking full advantage of the extra man they had - a message he conveyed to his players at half-time.
"We spoke about tactics, how we have to make pressure," said the manager. "Even with 10 they could sometimes make buildup. With 10 against 11 you have to do almost man to man because you have one more man, and with the ball to do more - go left, attack the opposite side quicker and make more runs in behind.
"We didn't do that until 3-0. After 3-0 Sterling and Phil and Gabriel started to make a little more movements, they were so high. In some moments you have to run a little bit more there and we didn't do that. That's why the game was a little bit flat in some moments.
"It's difficult to analyse. Respect for Scott, 10 vs 11. The game 11 vs 11 would have been a tough, tough game. I felt it immediately but 10 vs 11 and after one or two goals it was easy in terms of not conceding chances. They defended well."
