Manchester City on course to smash 100-goal barrier in Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge

The in form side have now scored 51 goals in 17 games

Under Pellegrini, Manchester City are on their way to surpass 100 goals scored this season (Tal Cohen/EPA)

Only once in the last 50 years have a team in the top division of English football scored 100 goals. If Manchester City continue at their present rate, they will surpass not only their own 93 in the title-winning season two years ago but also Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, who scored 103 in 2009-10.

The four goals past Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday took Manuel Pellegrini’s side to 51 from 17 games, an average of three per match that has not been achieved by anyone over a full season since 1931. The flip side is that City have few clean sheets.

A spirited Fulham came from 2-0 down at half-time to equalise, albeit with Vincent Kompany’s comical own goal. Pellegrini pointed to his side’s improved away form. “Maybe you give too much importance to when we don’t win away,” he said. “We won away the three games in the Champions League, two games in the Capital One Cup and the last three [League] games we won two and drew one.” Liverpool at home on Boxing Day will test that improvement.

Fulham, meanwhile, have lost eight of their last nine league games, and all 10 matches against teams in the top half of the table. They now have theoretically easier games over the festive period and will be boosted by the prospect of Clint Dempsey rejoining on loan.