Manchester City extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches in all competitions with a hard-fought win over struggling Brighton.
Phil Foden grabbed the only goal just before half-time when he collected Kevin de Bruyne’s pass, created space and fired into the bottom corner.
The hosts had chances to extend the lead, Riyad Mahrez shooting just wide, Ilkay Gundogan seeing an effort saved by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and Bernardo Silva hitting the crossbar. Most culpably, Raheem Sterling sent an injury-time penalty over the bar after Sanchez had fouled De Bruyne.
Alexis Mac Allister had perhaps the Seagulls’ best chance to equalise but shot over the top.
City’s fourth straight win in the league moves them up to third, although they will drop back to fourth if Tottenham win at home against Fulham in the late game on Wednesday.
Brighton, meanwhile, have now not won in nine league matches and could find themselves in the bottom three if 18th-placed Fulham come out on top at Spurs.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Manchester City
-
Squad number7Player nameSterling -
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Brighton & Hove Albion
-
Squad number26Player nameSánchez
-
Squad number4Player nameWebster
-
Squad number5Player nameDunk
-
Squad number33Player nameBurn
-
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
-
Squad number24Player namePröpper
-
Squad number3Player nameWhite
-
Squad number30Player nameBernardo
-
Squad number22Player nameTau
-
Squad number11Player nameTrossard
-
Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
-
Squad number9Player nameMaupay
-
Squad number20Player nameMarch
-
Squad number67Player nameKhadra
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27Cancelo
- 5Stones
- 3Rúben Dias
- 11Zinchenko
- 17De Bruyne
- 16Rodri
- 8Gündogan
- 26MahrezSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 67′minutes
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 47FodenSubstituted forSterlingat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 7Sterling
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 13Steffen
- 21Torres
- 22Mendy
- 25Fernandinho
- 78Harwood-Bellis
- 79Mbete
Brighton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 26Sánchez
- 4WebsterBooked at 77mins
- 5Dunk
- 33Burn
- 34VeltmanBooked at 62mins
- 24PröpperSubstituted forMarchat 68′minutes
- 3White
- 30Bernardo
- 22TauSubstituted forMaupayat 68′minutes
- 11TrossardSubstituted forKhadraat 86′minutes
- 10Mac Allister
Substitutes
- 9Maupay
- 13Groß
- 20March
- 29Zeqiri
- 31Walton
- 41Sanders
- 47Jenks
- 54Weir
- 67Khadra
Live Text
-
Match ends, Manchester City 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
-
Second Half ends, Manchester City 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
-
Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
-
Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot is just a bit too high. Raheem Sterling should be disappointed.
-
Penalty Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne draws a foul in the penalty area.
-
Penalty conceded by Robert Sánchez (Brighton and Hove Albion) after a foul in the penalty area.
-
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by John Stones.
-
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Bernardo Silva.
-
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Reda Khadra replaces Leandro Trossard.
-
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion).
-
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
-
Substitution, Manchester City. Raheem Sterling replaces Phil Foden.
-
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).
-
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Joël Veltman tries a through ball, but Dan Burn is caught offside.
-
Attempt blocked. Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.
-
Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
