9 November 2024
Brighton 2 Man City 1
Brighton welcomed Man City to the Amex Stadium feeling this was a good time to play the defending champions, who had lost their last three games. Pep Guardiola had said how injuries had decimated his squad of late. Considering the depth and quality at his disposal, this felt like some ‘Hooray Henry’ whinging about how they cannot afford to heat their stately home to be fair.
The Spaniard had never lost four games in a row in his managerial career and was focussed on ensuring that The Seagulls did not change that stat. Despite their injury woes, the visitors were able to put a side out that resulted in having the likes of Ake, Akanji, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne on the bench. Things suddenly didn’t seem as bad as had been talked about.
Man City dominated the ball in the early stages. They were passing it around and Brighton were struggling to even get a touch on it. Kovacic threaded a neat pass through the middle and Foden played it into the path of Savinho. He dribbled his way past the defence and was suddenly one on one with Verbruggen. His finish was poor and the keeper managed to make a block to deny him.
Kovacic was bossing the midfield in the first-half and played another defence-splitting pass through The Seagulls’ defence. Haaland used his strength to hold off the centre-back before looking to slot it past Verbruggen. The keeper made a decent block but it ricocheted into the path of the Norwegian and he blasted the ball into the back of the net to give Man City the lead.
Suddenly it seemed that all of City’s woes were behind them and they were going to get back to winning ways. Their fans should be careful counting those chickens before they hatch as that was the same feeling when they took the lead against Sporting in the week no doubt. Either way, the away end celebrated wildly as the ball hit the back of the net.
Guardiola’s side grew in confidence following the goal. The quick one-touch passing was opening up the hosts at will. As it found its way into the path of Haaland once again, he looked to beat Verbruggen at his near post. The Brighton keeper did well to react and managed to get a touch on the effort to send it onto the outside of the post.
The big Norwegian should have added another from the resulting corner. Verbruggen came for the cross and got nowhere near it. As a result, it was a free header for Haaland on the edge of the six yard box. Sadly for the visitors, he could not keep his effort down as it sailed over the crossbar. The Seagulls were struggling to cope with Man City at this stage of the game.
In a rare attack, Mitoma did well out wide and picked out Welbeck outside the box. He exchanged a neat one-two before finding himself with a glimpse of goal. As he looked to slot it past Ederson, Gvardiol slid across his path to block. The Brighton striker was demanding a penalty, claiming that the Man City defender had handled it in the process.
The referee waved away their claims and a VAR check also cleared the incident. Looking at the replay, you can clearly see it hit the defender’s arm. Apparently, the rules now allow that if you are using that arm to steady your body when sliding. Depending on your allegiance will dictate what side of this fence you are on, but once again, none of us know what handball is any more. Well done PGMOL.
Into the second-half and The Seagulls came on front foot more. Adingra did well out wide and put an inch-perfect cross into the middle. Hinshelwood had a free header but, despite having all of the goal to aim for, directed it straight at Ederson who beat the ball away. It was a big chance missed for Fabian Hurzeler’s side as they tried to find a way back into this game.
An injury to Hinshelwood saw O’Riley make his Premier League debut for the hosts since his move from Celtic. A bad injury in the EFL Cup had robbed him of game time after making the switch down south. Estupinan worked a cross into the box and Rutter met it with his head but just could not keep his effort down as it sailed over. Brighton were knocking on the door now.
Hurzeler’s side were pressing the visitors high up the pitch and getting some joy. Firstly Mitoma had the chance to score but a poor first touch allowed Ederson to close him down and smother the effort. Then Joao Pedro was through but he dragged his shot well wide of the far post. It just did not seem like the hosts, despite creating plenty of chances, were going to score.
Man City were defending more like a ten Hag side than a Guardiola one. Walker was out of position as van Hecke picked out Mitoma. He crossed to find Welbeck but the crowd of City players prevented him from being able to get a shot away. Suddenly the ball dropped to the feet of Joao Pedro, who swivelled and hooked the ball past Ederson to equalise. The Amex Stadium erupted.
The scorer then turned provider as he slotted a ball into the path of O’Riley. The former Celtic midfielder tucked his effort past Ederson to give The Seagulls the lead. The noise was deafening as it went in, Hurzeler’s side had turned this game on its head in the space of five minutes. Guardiola’s face summed it up on the Man City bench.
In ten added minutes at the end of the game, Man City carved out several chances. Firstly Foden dragged a shot wide on his favoured left foot. Then a cross from Walker picked out an unmarked Gvardiol in the box. Unbelievably, the Croatian headed it wide when a goal looked certain. Brighton held on for a huge result, for the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola had lost four games on the bounce.
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