TNT Sports
Luton Town 1-2 Manchester City - Champions fight back to return to winning ways
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Published 10/12/2023 at 14:27 GMT
With no Erling Haaland in the side on account of what appears to be a foot injury, Premier League champions Manchester City looked set for another tough afternoon when falling behind to Luton Town. But Pep Guardiola's side found a way back into the match and goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish got City back to winning ways at Kenilworth Road.
Highlights: Elliott scores dramatic late goal as Liverpool snatch victory at Palace
Video credit: TNT Sports
Manchester City’s winless run in the Premier League came to an end after coming from behind to win 2-1 against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Two goals in three second-half minutes, from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish, turned around a match in which City toiled early on.
Erling Haaland was missing for the visitors after picking up an injury in midweek, and City struggled to find any cohesion up front despite having the majority of possession.
Phil Foden was denied three times by Thomas Kaminski in the first half, and the 'keeper also made a spectacular save from Ruben Dias after the break.
Luton defended smartly as a unit and made their rare forays into the City half count. In injury time at the end of the first half, Elijah Adebayo rose high at the far post to head an Andros Townsend cross past Ederson to give them a deserved lead.
Pep Guardiola's side fought back after the break through Bernardo and Grealish to return to winning ways.
City now move to within four points of the top of the Premier League table, while Luton stay in the relegation zone.
TALKING POINT
Can City get their title challenge back on the rails? At half-time today Guardiola’s team were staring down the barrel of a fifth game in a row without a victory, and seven behind leaders Liverpool in the table.
A quick double hit in the second half changed everything, but all is not well with the champions. As yet there is no confirmation how long Haaland may be absent for, and with Kevin de Bruyne out until the new year they are tasked with staying in the race until their two most effective players return.
The depth seems there to cover their absence, but Guardiola will be wary of drifting too far behind at the midway point. Reeling in Arsenal last year was one thing, the prospect of reeling in both Arsenal and Liverpool from behind is quite another.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Phil Foden (Manchester City)
With Haaland missing a lot of City’s attacks failed to find an end point, but the industrious Foden kept going until his team found a way through. He was City’s most inventive player in the final third and but for some good saves by Kaminski would have crowned his performance with a goal.
PLAYER RATINGS
Luton Town: Kaminski 7; Mengi 7, Lockyer 6 Bell 6; Doughty 7, Nakamba 6, Barkley 7, Giles 6; Townsend 7, Adebayo 7, Brown 6
SUBS: Morris 6, Chong 6, Clark 6, Lokonga 6, Johnson
Manchester City: Ederson 6; Walker 6, Dias 6, Ake 6, Gvardiol 7; Rodrigo 6, Kovacic 6, Bernardo 7; Foden 8, Alvarez 7, Grealish 7
SUBS: Stones 6, Akanji 6, Nunes 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
45' GOAL! LUTON TOWN 1 (ADEBAYO 45+2') MANCHESTER CITY 0 Hello, this has taken the roof off! Doughty leads a break in the final minute of injury time, and feeds Townsend down the right. Townsend cuts the ball back onto his left foot, whips a cross to the back post, and Adebayo rises to thump a header past Ederson from six yards out.
59' WHAT A SAVE! A City free kick goes all the way through to Ake at the back post. His first cross is blocked, so he lays it back to Dias, who booms at goal from 15 yards out. It's travelling, but Kaminski gets fingertips on the ball to turn it onto the bar and away. He's had a fine game.
62' GOAL! LUTON TOWN 1 MANCHESTER CITY 1 (SILVA 62) City are level, and it's a glorious finish. Rodri wins the ball on the right, and drives infield and into the area. Lockyer gets a toe in but only pokes it to Bernardo Silva, who whips a low shot into the bottom corner.
65' GOAL! LUTON TOWN 1 MANCHESTER CITY 2 (GREALISH 65) Just like that, City lead! A loose ball in midfield hits Alvarez in the face and falls to Foden. City break at speed, and Foden releases Alvarez into the right of the area. Alvarez fires a low ball across goal, which falls to Grealish who drills the ball in at the back post.
68' CLOSE! Ross Barley rolls back the years here, beating Foden and Kovacic with ease before slamming a drive a yard wide of the post from 25 yards out.
KEY STAT
Jack Grealish’s second half winner was his fiftieth career goal.
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