Manchester City Fall To Brighton, Guardiola Rues Missed Chances
Pep Guardiola blasted his Manchester City side for forgetting “how to play” after they blew the lead in a shock 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday.
Guardiola’s side were in control in the first half, and Erling Haaland put them ahead with his 88th goal in 100 Premier League appearances.
But Haaland was guilty of missing several chances to bolster City’s advantage, and the visitors lost control in the second half.
James Milner converted a 67th-minute spot-kick to become the second-oldest scorer in the competition’s history before Brajan Gruda’s 89th-minute strike condemned City to a second successive league loss.
Having opened the season with a victory at Wolves, City have now lost two in a row following last weekend’s deflating 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham.
It is a worrying start for Guardiola, who saw City surrender their four-year reign as champions in tame fashion last season.
Brighton barely threatened until boss Fabian Hurzeler made a quadruple substitution just after the hour mark, including the game-changing introductions of Milner and Gruda.
City midfielder Rodri, who made his first league start in almost a year after a serious knee injury, was unable to provide the assured play that was so influential during his team’s title-winning seasons.
