We're finally seeing what Valdes is on about - City win a corner but play is held up so he can get treatment. 

He got a very nasty stud right into the meaty part of his thigh in that challenge with Jesus Navas. I'm no expert, but am pretty sure there shouldn't be a hole there.

Brad Guzan is warming up, but Valdes carries on.

Victor Valdes rushes out to clear a long ball just ahead of Jesus Navas and looks to have taken a knock. 

He's holding his thigh, beckoning to the bench, but we play on...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

I don't want to worry Manchester City fans but in every Premier League game they have won so far this season, they have scored before half-time.

If anyone is going to score before the break, it will almost certainly be them given Claudio Bravo is watching proceedings like the fans behind his goal.

Image source, Reuters

Boro are only set up to defend. They've not had a chance to breathe. Nothing going on in the City half. Claudio Bravo may as well be catching up on his English homework. 

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

David Silva hits it early and it's a great reaction save from Victor Valdes.

Since the start of the game, City have been dominant. Just in the last five minutes, they've had three decent chances.

Image source, Reuters

Jesus Navas has the pace to change things. He nips down the right, picks out David Silva in the six-yard box. Saved again by Valdes!

Then City come back for more, Sergio Aguero is picked out in the box and his volley is deflected wide! 

Surely, surely, one of these has to go in sooner or later?

John Stones flicks on a header to the back post but the ball just squirms clear of Sergio Aguero!

Not quite Gazza in 1996 but close. More frustration for City! Boro really are riding their luck.

Sergio Aguero's in again! The scrambling Boro legs can't slide in to block this time - instead it's Victor Valdes to the rescue. The ex-Barcelona keeper keeps out Aguero's low shot and as the rebound falls to David Silva the flag goes up - the Spaniard was offside. But Valdes saves his shot too.

The away side hanging on...

Image source, Reuters

Danger. Clear it! 

A sliced Boro clearance pings around in the box and for a moment Sergio Aguero looks to have a simple finish to score - but the ball just runs away from him and out for a corner. 

On the whole the away side are defending well - but they must cut out those silly errors. And how about getting more than about five passes strung together, too?

Every time Boro get the ball clear it's coming straight back at them.

Image source, .

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

Give Middlesbrough credit, they've defended very well. Manchester City are looking at how to get behind this team and they can't. Aitor Karanka will be delighted with his team.

Sergio Aguero - in search of his 150th goal for Manchester City - should do better. 

Stewart Downing inadvertently lays it on a plate for him by sliding in to intercept Fernandinho's pass out wide, but Aguero can only stab tamely towards goal, struggling to dig the ball out of his feet. 

Not the finish of a striker with 13 goals from 14 this season.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

David Silva's improvement this season has not generally grabbed the attention at Manchester City given the rapid rise of others in Pep Guardiola's team.

Silva was a major disappointment last term but has been one of their most effective players under Guardiola.

Today, he has been given a much wider role on the left, almost so wide he hopes the full-back forgets he is there.

Now this is direct though! 

Kevin de Bruyne is slipped into space by Sergio Aguero, he veers towards goal and looks to beat Victor Valdes low and on the angle, but the Belgian's shot zips just past the far post. 

Closest we've come. Boro were undone.

Image source, Reuters

Fernandinho gives the ball away. Sloppy. Adama Traore gets a glimpse of the yards towards the City goal - but so quickly does the pressure come that the Boro man is swamped within seconds, and the home side win it back. 

The pattern returns. City look to slowly, slowly erode the Boro back-line.

Less good from Adam Forshaw. He steams into a challenge with Pablo Zabaleta and takes the City right-back clean out. 

Not malicious - no studs for example - but certainly a yellow card.

Boro simply can't get a hold of it. That pressure of constantly having to defend - looking over your shoulder for 90 minutes - surely must start to tell. 

Calum Chambers blasts the ball out for a throw-in as another City wave is repelled.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

It's what we thought - Manchester City are dominating the ball and they might leave gaps at the back.

Middlesbrough are playing two banks of red shirts and they don't mind if the ball goes out wide. It's all City.

Brilliant defending from Adam Forshaw. 

There's space for City in the Boro box again and Ilkay Gundogan is lining up a shot but the midfielder steals in to block. That was probably the home side's best sight of goal so far. 

Jesus Navas gets space to cross for Ilkay Gundogan but the Germany midfielder is leaning back to reach it and can only stab the ball into the ground, boucning wide. 

A slow drip-drip of minor chances.