Man City lose fourth game in a row with Brighton defeat

A late goal from Matt O’Riley stunned Manchester City – condemning them to a fourth-straight defeat in all competitions – and earned Brighton & Hove Albion a 2-1 win in the Premier League.

City started the game the better of the two sides, dominating possession and creating numerous chances.

Erling Haaland made it 1-0 after 23 minutes, latching onto a Mateo Kovacic pass before lashing home past Bart Verbruggen. It was Haaland’s 75th goal in the Premier League in what was his 77th appearance in the competition, making him the fastest player to reach that number.

Just two minutes later Haaland was involved again, this time striking the post with a low effort.

After failing to register a single shot on target in the first half, Brighton came out for the second half a different team, looking to get forward and play with more attacking intent and after 52 minutes they had their first big chance, with Jack Hinshelwood heading an effort from point-blank range straight down the middle at Ederson.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side equalised through substitute Joao Pedro after 78 minutes, with the Brazilian pouncing after a goalmouth scramble.

O’Riley, another substitute, then scored the winner for Brighton after 83 minutes, latching onto Joao Pedro’s pass before lifting the ball over Ederson to earn Brighton all three points at the Amex.

History was made at the Amex and for Pep Guardiola, it was not the good kind of history. This defeat marks the first time the Spaniard had lost four consecutive matches in his career as a manager. It has been a couple of weeks to forget for Pep, the 2-1 defeat to Spurs in the Carabao Cup kicked off this run, before City lost 2-1 to Bournemouth in the Premier League just a few days later. Next came the 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Ruben Amorim’s Sporting and this defeat to Brighton makes it four losses on the trot. An obvious worry for Guardiola and City will be how open they look at the back, particularly without the influence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in the side. Across the last four matches, they have now conceded 10 goals, shipping an average of 2.5 goals per match.

He was only introduced on the 66th minute but Joao Pedro made sure to leave his mark on this match in the time he was on the pitch. The Brighton man scored the equaliser, pouncing instinctively in a goalmouth scramble to fire home past Ederson before providing a brilliant assist for O’Riley to score the winner just five minutes later. The 23-year-old Brazilian will have been disappointed to have started on the bench, but he has staked his claim for a starting XI place after the international break.

Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Veltman 7, Van Hecke 7, Igor 7, Estupinan 7, Adingra 6, Hishelwood 6, Ayari 6, Mitoma 6, Rutter 6, Welbeck 6 Subs: Baleba 7, O’Riley 8, Gruda 6, Pedro 9, Moder 6

Man City: Ederson 7, Walker 7, Simpson-Pusey 6, Gvardiol 6, Lewis 6, Kovacic 7, Nunes 6, Gundogan 6, Foden 7, Savinho 7, Haaland 7 Subs: Silva 6, de Bruyne 6

24’ GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (HAALAND) – Erling Haaland has fired City ahead! Kovacic plays a superb through ball into Haaland who bundles his effort past Vebruggen. Van Hecke tried to apply pressure as the ball was heading in but Haaland was not to be denied.

26’ ALMOST A SECOND FOR CITY! -Erling Haaland receives the ball on the right-hand side before taking it past Van Hecke and firing a low effort which crashes off the post.

52’ EDERSON MAKES THE SAVE! – Brighton go close to equalising through Hinshelwood. The Brighton man heads straight at Ederson from point-blank range. He will be very disappointed not to have scored there.

78’ GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (JOAO PEDRO) – Brighton have equalised after a goalmouth scramble! The ball gets away from Welbeck in the box, City bodies dive in to try and clear the ball but Joao Pedro pounces to fire home past Ederson!

83’ GOAL! BRIGHTON 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY (O’RILEY) – Matt O’Riley has scored what could be the winner for Brighton! Joao Pedro slips in Matt O’Riley who takes a great first touch before firing past Ederson! Incredible stuff at the Amex.

Erling Haaland is the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 75 goals in the competition, needing just 77 matches to do so.