City sunk by late goals in Manchester derby

City appeared to be heading for victory over Manchester United when Josko Gvardiol powered us ahead in the 30th minute with a well-placed header.

Phil Foden went close to doubling our advantage before the visitors pinched the three points late in the game.

Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot before Amad Diallo scored a 90th minute winner.

WHAT HAPPENED

A high-tempo start saw City swarming all over the visitors in the early stages although a couple of dangerous crosses failed to find the target.

With injury issues for Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis suspended, Matheus Nunes was drafted back into the starting line-up at left-back.

And in the early stages, he was dovetailing well with Jeremy Doku down the left flank, with the Belgian winger nutmegging Noussair Mazraoui with an audacious piece of skill to earn a free-kick.

During a stoppage of play that saw Mason Mount replaced for United, Pep Guardiola gathered around his players and appeared to tell them to stay relaxed.

City had the first shot on goal in the 20th minute when Doku again jinked past Mazraoui and his cross fell to Foden, who volleyed just off-target.

Returning to the starting line-up after illness, last season’s Player of the Year was taking up dangerous positions in front of United’s back-five and worked opening well with Erling Haaland before  his effort was deflected wide.

For United, Diallo twice got into threatening positions although he was given offside on each occasion after a delayed flag from the referee’s assistant.

While United’s heavily-manned defence was proving difficult to break down, Ruben Amorim’s side were apprehensive from corners with the unusual sight of a side practising dealing with them in the pre-match warm-up.

More than 40% of goals United have conceded this season, more than any team in the Premier League, have come from corners, with that figure rising again 10 minutes before the break.

A short corner routine saw a slightly under-hit pass to Kevin De Bruyne, but the Belgian’s cross deflected perfectly to Gvardiol who arrowed his header in the corner of the net.

From the restart, United won a free-kick with Rasmus Hojlund reacting angrily and planting his forehead on Kyle Walker with both players going into the book.

But it was City who continued to look the most menacing with Foden almost squeezing in a low shot that was deflected and tipped wide after cleverly creating the space himself.

Ederson made his first save after the hour-mark from a Diallo flick-header that could have potentially nestled inside the post with the Brazilian making sure by tipping it wide.

At the other end, De Bruyne, playing his 21st Manchester Derby rifled a shot over the bar with his final touch before he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic for his first appearance since the beginning of November.

As the clock ticked down, United began to me more adventurous and they created their best opportunity when Fernandes beat the offside trap but lifted his shot over Ederson and two yards’ wide of the goal.

But with four minutes remaining, Diallo pounced on Nunes’ short backpass and as the Portuguese tries to make amends, he caught the United winger with a clumsy challenge, Fernandes converting the spot-kick.

And there was to be a further twist in the dying moments when Diallo squeezed in a winner from a tight angle to take all three points. 

TEAMS

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan (Savinho 89), De Bruyne (Kovacic 67), Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku (Grealish 77), Haaland

Subs not used: Ortega, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O’Reilly, McAtee

United: Onana, Mazraoui (Antony 79), De Ligt (Yoro 79), Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Mount (Mainoo 14), Fernandes, Amad (Lindelof 90+1), Hojlund (Zirkzee 79)

Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen

BERNARDO REACTION

“We totally deserved what happened. At this level, if it’s a game or two, we can say it’s unlucky. If it’s 10 games, it’s not that.

“Minute 87 of the game in the derby, you’re winning the game, corner for your team and the team ends up at your keeper with a penalty for them.

“My friend if you’re making these kind of stupid decisions, with three minutes to go, you deserve to pay for that.

“If you look at the game, my feeling was only one team could win the game. And we lost. It’s not just one game, it’s a lot of games lately. It’s the decisions that you make. Today, the last minute we played like the other 15 and we paid the price.”

 

GUARDIOLA REACTION

“It’s not about this or that player; we gave away goals, our fault. We don’t play with composure. The results are not good, the game was not exceptional. I know the situation, I understand but the reality is this.

“They have to know that these situations happen. In the box you have to be careful. It’s not about Matheus, he played really good in not his position at full-back. But it’s not about that, we have to play better. The result will help us to take our best but right now we don’t have it. The way I learn is to keep going.

“I’m not good enough. I am the boss, the manager, I have to find solutions and so far I haven’t. That’s the reality.

“We want to play better, create chances. But at the moment it’s not possible.”

WHAT IT MEANS

City are fifth in the Premier League, a point off the Champions League qualification spots.

WHAT’S NEXT

It’s a rare midweek off for the first team with our next game in six days’ time.

We travel to Villa Park on Saturday 21 December for the 12:30 (UK) kick-off against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

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