Manchester City suffered their fourth successive defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Brighton in the Premier League.
Late goals from replacements Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley handed Pep Guardiola’s side their fourth successive loss in all competitions.
The setback is the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial tenure, and his team remains second in the league standings with 23 points from 11 games. Brighton rose to fourth with 19 points.
City were prepared to snap their winless run as Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovacic threaded a long pass between Brighton’s two centre backs, and the Norwegian international kicked in his own rebound to extend his league scoring.
Brighton improved after the break, and Pedro brought the hosts equal in the 78th minute after City failed to clear the ball, allowing the Brazilian to lash it past Éderson.
“Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams,” Pedro told Sky Sports following the encounter.
O’Riley made a memorable Premier League debut five minutes later, latching into Pedro’s through ball and shooting beyond Ederson’s outstretched arm.
Guardiola will remember City’s wasted first-half chances, particularly a couple from Haaland in the span of a few minutes that, on another night, could have seen
Norwegian celebrates a hat trick.
The first chance came when goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen used his right ankle to block a blazing Haaland shot at the near post. Haaland then moved barely over the bar.
Despite having only 39.5% possession, Brighton appeared to be on the verge of scoring in the second half. After the break, the hosts had a great chance when Jack Hinshelwood headed down a looping cross from Pervis Estupiñán, but Ederson saved the shot.
City’s injury list includes Nathan Aké, John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Rúben Dias, as well as Rodri and Oscar Bobb who have been absent for some time.
Their previous three defeats included a 2-1 setback against Tottenham Hotspur that eliminated them from the League Cup. After a shock 2-1 league loss to Bournemouth and a 4-1 Champions League hammering by Sporting, midfielder Bernardo Silva said City were in a “dark place”.
