Pep’s space invaders still looking for a way through the blockade

PEP GUARDIOLA knows Manchester City have work to do when it comes to breaking down stubborn Premier League defences. Marten de Roon’s 91st-minute header left City counting the cost of endless missed chances and six points dropped from their last three home games. It also saw them knocked off the top and Guardiola is growing weary of teams playing for a draw. ‘The second balls, free-kicks, throwins...they are playing for that. They are looking for those situations,’ Guardiola said. ‘People say, “Use the counter attack,” but how are we supposed to use the counter attack when the opponent don’t attack? ‘It’s impossible to use it when the opponent doesn’t come out. You have to attack 10 players. It is not easy. Maybe another team is going to come here and press, push up, and the game will be completely different. We used a lot of counter attacks against Barcelona because they wanted to attack. The space is there. ‘But teams who don’t want to attack and just stay there...what we have to improve is to be more clinical, precise, lucky in the box. We will improve and achieve our targets.’ Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi were rested for the draw and City go into the international break licking their wounds. It is now just one win in the last five league games. Next up Guardiola faces away trips to Crystal Palace and Burnley, aware only maximum points will do. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, however, believes City are more dangerous when playing away from the Etihad. ‘It’s very difficult when teams are closed at the back,’ he said. ‘It’s difficult to create space. It’s completely opposite to our game and we need to learn how to get games off the ground, especially at home, where games are going to be similar like Middlesbrough. ‘It’s been like that in the Premier League for us. We need to learn from that so it does not happen again.’

SUPER STAT: Sergio Aguero is just four goals short of surpassing Colin Bell’s post-war record of 153 goals for City.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1): Bravo 6; Zabaleta 6, Stones 7, Kolarov 6, Clichy 6; Fernandinho 6; Navas 7 (Garcia 86min), Gundogan 7 (Nolito 75, 6), De Bruyne 7, Silva 7; Aguero 6.5. (Iheanacho 90). Subs not used: Caballero, Maffeo, Kompany, Sane. Scorer: Aguero 43. Booked: Aguero.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Valdes 8; Barragan 6, Chambers 7, Gibson 7, Friend 7.5; De Roon 7, Clayton 6.5; Traore 7 (Stuani 90), Forshaw 6.5, Downing 6 (Fischer 78, 6.5); Negredo 6.5.

Subs not used: Fabio, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Guzan, Nugent. Scorer: De Roon 90. Booked: Forshaw, Clayton, De Roon.

Man of the match: Victor Valdes.