Blues can’t carry on missing their chances

CITY’S narrow 1-0 win over Brighton will go down as job done. But it nearly wasn’t.

After a tight first half was ended with Phil Foden breaking the deadlock, the Blues had a chance to push on in the second half, make the game safe and guarantee three valuable points.

However, wasted opportunities for Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Kevin De Bruyne meant the score stayed at 1-0 and Brighton saw a chance to salvage a draw that maybe their bravery at the Etihad deserved. On the one hand, City tested Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but he won’t feel he made any saves he shouldn’t have done with those five good chances relatively simple stops.

Even in the first half, Sanchez stood firm, but the Blues could have tested him more.

The result was City were clinging on at the end, and might have been made to pay but for some awful final balls from the visitors - a side who Pep Guardiola had made sure to warn his players had plenty of threat in their ranks.

Raheem Sterling’s late penalty miss summed up the Blues’ frustrating evening in front of goal, and Foden said it perfectly after the game by admitting his side should have done better to make the game safe.

In a season where City have slipped up already, they can’t afford to let so many good chances go begging if they have ambitions of challenging United and Liverpool for the title.

Guardiola’s false nine tactic has worked well over the New Year period to navigate past a number of absences, restore some confidence and win some big games in three competitions.

This was the first time in three games, though, that City were noticably lacking a natural striker.

In the first half especially, a number of Kevin de Bruyne crosses or cutbacks from City’s wingers were crying out for a final touch.

But however energetic Bernardo was as the designated false nine for the evening, his natural instinct - and Guardiola’s set up - was never going to see him be the finisher the Blues were lacking.

With Gabriel Jesus getting a useful runout and Sergio Aguero hopefully back after the weekend, the City boss might opt to return to a more traditional system sooner rather than later. The next five fixtures - against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Brom, Sheffield United and Burnley shouldn’t pose City too many problems. They will, however, want to avoid a repeat of the Brighton performance by taking their chances and avoiding any more nervy endings, especially if they want to win the title. Foden himself declared that City are looking to extend their unbeaten run past 14 games in the next few games, with a possible title challenge the objective if they get it right.

To hype up a side for winning games when they aren’t at their best is an overused cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason.

It’s a good habit to have, especially this season.

If Guardiola’s men learn their lessons from the Brighton performance, it could be a really useful experience.

If they are wasteful again in their next few games, though, they will be made to pay sooner rather than later, and any talk of the title might have to be dialled back.

City’s next five fixtures - Palace, Villa, West Brom, Sheffield United and Burnley - shouldn’t pose too many problems