City fall to defeat in Brighton late show

Erling Haaland’s opener on 23 minutes in a dominant first half ended as a consolation as efforts after the break from Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley ensured all three points for the Seagulls who remain unbeaten at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League this season.

The result came against the backdrop of six senior absences for the Blues through injury in Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Ruben Dias plus the long-term absentees of Ballon d’Or winner Rodrigo and Oscar Bobb.

Pep Guardiola’s Blues remain in second spot behind Liverpool in the Premier League table with Tottenham our next opponents as Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs head to the Etihad in two weeks’ time. 

WHAT HAPPENED

It was a sombre start to the evening as Pep Guardiola and Fabian Hurzeler lay wreaths on the pitch to mark Brighton’s Remembrance fixture before the Last Post was trumpeted to respectful silence at the Amex Stadium.

Both teams also donned the poppy on their shirts as we paid respect to those who gave their lives during conflicts ahead of Sunday’s official commemorations.

As the game kicked off, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was centre of attention at the back, with Kyle Walker on the right and Josko Gvardiol on the left as Rico Lewis pushed up into midfield alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic.

Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes, Savinho and Erling Haaland looked to provide attacking impetus against the Seagulls.

The Blues started positively and proactively, dominating possession and looking to breach the Brighton backline.

After plenty of probing, it was the lively Savinho who had the first chance of note, running through on goal on 15 minutes after a pinpoint pass to him by Mateo Kovacic but goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen did well to deny him.

Moments later, Erling Haaland failed to get proper purchase on an inviting Phil Foden free kick as he raced in at the far post.

Our star striker wasn’t to be denied, though, as he opened the scoring on 23 minutes.

What a goal it was. And, vitally, what a ball through.

Kovacic threaded it past Igor Julio and Jan Paul van Hecke and into the grateful path of our No.9 who made no mistake, showing determination and drive to finish at the second time of asking.

He nearly doubled his and our advantage with a couple of chances on 27 minutes – the first a shot that was well smothered and the second a header which flew over.

Kovacic then let fly from 20 yards just past the half hour mark but Verbruggen punched clear.

Brighton’s first opportunity came on 35 minutes but Josko Gvardiol did brilliantly to slide and stop a Danny Welbeck strike as the former Manchester United man broke dangerously into the box.

Welbeck whizzed a free-kick wide on 38 minutes after Rico Lewis had upended him 25 yards from goal.

There’s no question the Seagulls grew into the game before the half-time whistle blew but City impressed throughout the opening 45 minutes and really could - and should - have been more than one-up at the break.

The hosts were the better side as the second half clicked into gear and Ederson worked wonders to keep the scores level on 51 minutes, punching clear Jack Hinshelwood’s point-blank header from close-in.

City, looking to hit the heights they’d climbed in the first half, were cheered on by a boisterous sky blue following.

And it was almost two for the buoyed visitors when Haaland’s beautiful ball into the box from the left on 56 minutes was cleared away from danger by Igor, with Savinho looking to pounce at the back post.

Our wing wonder tried to curl home just past the hour mark but the ball flew wide much to the relief of Verbruggen in the Brighton goal.

Ederson was out quickly to deny an onrushing Kaoru Mitoma on 68 minutes and then in the next attack Joao Pedro lacked composure as he blasted wide when through on goal.

Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne entered the action midway through the second half as Guardiola rotated his players who have dug deep during a spell of injuries for the Blues.

Pedro pulled Brighton level on 78 minutes after a scramble in the box fell to the Brazilian forward.

He then slipped in his teammate, Matt O’Riley, five minutes later to have the hosts in front.

KDB attempted to restore parity with a blast on 89 minutes and it wasn’t too far away with Verbruggen beaten.

The fourth official indicated nine minutes of added time as the board went up, raising hopes of a City comeback.

But we couldn’t find the equaliser as time ticked down.

TEAMS

BRIGHTON XI: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor Julio, Estupinan, Hinshelwood (O’Riley 57’), Ayari (Baleba 46’), Mitoma (Moder 90’), Georginio (Gruda 66’), Adingra (Pedro 66’), Welbeck

Subs: Steele, Enciso, Wieffer, Ferguson

CITY XI: Ederson, Lewis, Walker (C), Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan (Bernardo 72’), Savinho (De Bruyne 74’), Foden, Nunes, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Ake, Akanji, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand

MANAGER REACTION

“I will reflect in these ten days. Clear our heads, players come back fit, this is the target, the boss said.

“When the players come back, I’d like to play the level of the first half.

“Today was a really good first half. 70 minutes was really good.

“I know how we are playing. I won’t convince you. The level we’re playing is really good in certain moments but we are not able to continue for a long time.

“I’m sure when the players come back, they can make some individual qualities on the team and we’ll be back.

WALKER REACTION

“This is the time where I want to see the players and real characters come through.

“It’s all good for the last eight years when we’ve been winning and dominating games.

“But now it’s tough, this is the time where us as the senior members have to pull the players through who haven’t been here for a while and show them the foundations of this Club.

“We’ve built those foundations over the last eight years and that will get us through this patch.

WHAT IT MEANS

City are in second spot in the Premier League heading into the November international break.

It just remains to be seen if the Blues will be two, three or five points behind Liverpool at the summit of the table.

Arne Slot’s Reds host Aston Villa in tonight’s 20:00 (UK) kick-off at Anfield.

WHAT NEXT

After a two-week break in domestic action, City will return in a home clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Spurs match takes place on Saturday 23 November with a 17:30 (UK) kick-off for live Sky Sports action.

That’s followed swiftly by another home game - a UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord on Tuesday 26 November, kick-off 20:00 (UK) and live on TNT Sports.