City’s record wrecked by Eagles
PEP’S 10 MEN TOPPLED
FRUSTRATED Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola refused to blame referee Andre Marriner for his side’s shock defeat. Marriner controversially sent off centre-back Aymeric Laporte in first-half injury-time for hauling downwilfried Zaha.
And to rub salt into a painful wound, Gabriel Jesus’ 60thminute effort was also chalked off after also being referred to VAR, with provider Phil Foden ruled offside.
“We didn’t lose because of that (sending-off),” stressed Guardiola. “Unfortunately many, many things went wrong and we lost the game.
“Even with ten against 11 we created more chances but they defended really well.”
Zaha’s 50th Premier League goal and Chelsea loan star Conor Gallagher’s sweet 88th-minute strike earned the Eagles only their second league victory this term.
City had not conceded in the league at the Etihad this season but Guardiola’s 200th game in charge of the club ended in bitter disappointment.
They also had not conceded in the league in 360 minutes of football this season but it took the visitors just six minutes to spoil that impressive record.
Laporte sold his fellow centre-back Ruben Dias short with a weak pass. Zaha read it brilliantly, combining well with Gallagher, and picking out the bottom right corner despite scuffing his left-foot shot. Ederson thwarted Gallagher from point-blank range to keep the home side in the contest.
But the midfielder deservedly sealed the deal with his sweet late strike.
Delighted Eagles boss Patrick Vieira purred: “We knew coming to City that we were not going to have much possession, so we would have to work hard – and I’m really pleased with how we did that.
“We felt we were really close to winning football matches.”