Not at their best but Sterling work earns City a lucky break
WHEN it was over, Pep Guardiola knew where he wanted to go: straight out on to the pitch to celebrate what felt like a significant achievement.
There are times when much of what the Manchester City manager does looks a little like it is for show. It can occasionally look choreographed. Not here.
As Guardiola ushered his players towards the visiting supporters, it seemed the coach simply wanted to be among his men, to congratulate them and make sure they understood how important this victory may prove to be.
This was an afternoon when City fell below their sublime best. They were the better team but not wholly themselves. Their intentions were recognisable but their execution was not.
When this happens it is important to find a way to win and that City did so may say as much about them as all the pretty goals we have seen previously.
Had City faltered here, their lead over Manchester United in the table would have been six points. That would have been healthy enough but with a derby at Old Trafford to come on December 10, there may have been optimism felt across town.
Now, thanks to the goal City found six minutes from full-time, the lead remains at eight points and in winning the game this way Guardiola’s team delivered a clear message that they are prepared for the hard yards ahead. We should not be surprised if this serves to invigorate them.
This was a compelling contest in Yorkshire. Huddersfield played their part and few would have begrudged David Wagner’s team adding a point to the three they took from United here a few weeks ago.
Wagner’s team spent most of the afternoon deep in their own half but they were never under siege. City’s football was not at its usual imperious level and maybe that was why there was such relief when the dam broke.
It was a funny goal, too, in keeping with the way City had played. Behind to a Nicolas Otamendi own goal in first-half stoppage time, a Sergio Aguero penalty had drawn City level right at the start of the second period and we presumed that would provide a platform for City to ease clear.
It didn’t happen, though, and City’s football had grown worse as the game became fractious during the final half hour.
In the end, Guardiola’s players simply got reward for continuing to play the only way they know and, it must be said, they got a little luck too.
Kevin De Bruyne’s pass from the edge of the penalty area in the 84th minute was straight from the Guardiola playbook. The Belgian was looking to play a runner in behind the defence, as he had sought to do all afternoon.
On this occasion, though, the ball needed to take a deflection in order to find its way to Gabriel Jesus and, when the substitute’s toe-poke ballooned up off Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, it struck Raheem Sterling on the thigh and dropped kindly into the empty goal.
Sterling had started the move and then followed the ball into the penalty area. So as well as the luck, there was an element of a player getting reward for his endeavour.
This was Sterling’s 12th goal of the season and City’s weight of possession throughout the game meant they probably deserved to edge things. They had pressed throughout the first half only to fall behind when a 45thminute corner struck Otamendi on the chest as he sought to get out of the way of a flick-on.
Why a central defender was trying to avoid the ball at a corner is something Guardiola may wish to talk to the Argentine about. Otamendi will be grateful that a tug by Scott Malone on Sterling right at the start of the second half enabled Aguero to pass a penalty past Lossl for the equaliser.
Immediately after that Lossl dived at Aguero’s feet to save and then saw a Leroy Sane free-kick hit the bar.
We didn’t think we would have to wait so long for a winner and it was probably frustration at being denied a point so late on that prompted Rajiv van la Parra to tangle with Sane after the full-time whistle.
The Huddersfield player received a red card and will miss his team’s game at Arsenal on Wednesday. As Guardiola said, winter is here now and with it will come a glut of important games.
‘This felt like the real Premier League,’ said the City manager, and it is hard not to think we know already who the champions will be.