Guardiola's City crisis deepens as Brighton fight back to inflict fourth defeat in a row
MATT FINISH: Brighton and Hove Albion's Matt O'Riley scores their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at American Express Stadium, Brighton. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
A DIFFICULT week for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players hit a new low as the Spaniard was forced to confront a fourth successive defeat for the first time in his managerial career.
Having exited the Carabao Cup at Tottenham Hotspur, lost at Bournemouth, then suffered a Champions League defeat at Sporting Lisbon, Guardiola’s side arrived at the Amex Stadium aiming to stop the rot. Initially it looked as though they would do just that when Erling Haaland fired them ahead in the 23rd minute but Brighton fought back in the second half, equalising through Joao Pedro in the 78th minute than clinching victory five minutes later when Matt O’Riley slotted home the winning goal.
The win was reward for the way Albion worked their way back into the game while City once again lost their way, adding to the growing list of problems currently confronting Guardiola.
There had been few signs this would would be another difficult day for the manager. City started promisingly and had already threatened the Brighton goal on two occasions before Haaland put them ahead. Mateo Kovacic was involved in much of City’s play, starting a succession of moves from his deep-lying midfield role and progressing further up the pitch when the opportunity arose.
And it was the Croatian who was the architect of Haaland’s 23rd-minute opening goal, collecting the ball off his defence after a Brighton attack had broken down near halfway and pressing forward before his threaded pass allowed the striker to race between the Albion centre-backs and bear down on goal. Verbruggen managed to deflect Haaland’s shot but the forward followed the looping ball and bundle home after it struck the bar.
The finish may not have been clinical but the move was certainly incisive and Haaland might have doubled his tally three minutes later when his shot was saved by Verbruggen at the near post.
City were comfortable but it was to Brighton’s credit that they grew into the game as the half wore on and came close to levelling when Danny Welbeck’s shot was blocked by Josko Gvardiol’s arm before Pervis Estupinan’s follow up was deflected wide.
The spell before the break appeared to lift Brighton who should have levelled six minutes after the restart when Jack Hinshelwood rose meet Mitoma’s cross but directed his header at Ederson from just six yards out.
Brighton’s efforts in front of goal continued to lack conviction with Joao Pedro guilty of missing a good chance before the forward brought his side level in the 78th minute. Not for the first time a long ball out of defence caught out the City backline and Mitoma took advantage, delivering a low cross that led to a goalmouth scramble before Joao Pedro hooked home the loose ball.
Guardiola’s side looked increasingly vulnerable while Brighton had been boosted by Fabian Hurzeler’s second half changes and the turnaround was complete five minutes later. Pedro was again involved providing the pass for O’Riley to break through the City defence and stab home the second.
Verbruggen 7; Veltman 6, Van Hecke 7, Igor 6, Estupinan 7; Adingra 5 (Gruda 66, 6), Hinshelwood 7 (O’Riley 57, 7), Ayari 6 (Baleba 46, 7); Rutter 6 (Joao Pedro 66, 8), Welbeck 6, Mitoma 7 (Moder 90, 6).
Steele, Enciso, Wieffer, Ferguson.
Ederson 7; Walker 6, Simpson-Pusey 7, Gvardiol 6, Lewis 7; Kovacic 8, Gundogan 7 (Silva 72, 6), Nunes 6; Savinho 7 (De Bruyne 73, 6), Haaland 8, Foden 7.
Ortega, Ake, Akanji, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand.
Sam Barrott 6
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