Online Reporter
MANCHESTER CITY yesterday highlighted their early season credentials by maintaining their 100 percent winning record after three Premier League games, but had to cling on to leave newly promoted Coventry still searching for their first point of the campaign. The result was ultimately a satisfying one for City manager Enzo Maresca after giving debuts to Iliman Ndiaye and £125 million signing Enzo Fernandez, with the Argentine drafted in minutes before kick-off after Nico O’Reilly sustained an injury in the warm-up. City’s star striker Erling Haaland was the match-winner, powerfully heading home the only goal of the afternoon after Antoine Semenyo dug out a cross to the far post. Fernandez played a key part in the goal with a slide-rule pass to the Ghanaian.
On another day, Norway striker Haaland could have had a hat-trick.
He had a thumping effort pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and another close-range strike in the second half ruled out for offside. Rayan Cherki turned inside and struck against the foot of a post after being set up by Fernandez, but City were thankful to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a string of saves. The Italy captain kept out Jack Rudoni’s diving header at the far post and Loum Tchaouna’s low strike with a full-length save, and stood tall to deny substitute Ellis Simms late on. Frank Lampard’s men should have gone ahead when Taiwo Awoniyi picked up a loose pass from Semenyo and ran through on goal, but the Nigerian struck wide to leave Coventry without a goal this season. — BBC
