THE rot continues for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
Second-half substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley scored the late goals as Brighton deservedly condemned Guardiola to an historic defeat.
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When tennis player Vitus Gerulaitis finally beat Jimmy Connors after 16 consecutive defeats, he famously quipped: “No one beats Vitus Gerulaitis 17 times in a row.”
Guardiola and Manchester City operate on a sporting level even higher than the gifted American racket-wielder.
But until now, the Catalan had never lost four games on the bounce as a manager.
The 4-1 Champions League thumping by Sporting Lisbon followed a Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham and a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth. And now this.
City paid the price for failing to add to Erling Haaland’s first-half opener and then to hold back Brighton’s second-half surge.
For all the talk about City’s injuries, Brighton have been suffering, too, and without the depth of squad that Guardiola can call upon.
Home boss Fabian Hurzeler called Carlos Baleba off the bench at half time, then Pedro and O’Riley, after their various injury problems.
Summer signing O’Riley had been out since hurting himself within 10 minutes of his debut.
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But the former Celtic midfielder accepted a Pedro pass at the end of a City-style slick move before jabbing the ball home.
Joy for Hurzeler and most in the stadium. More frustration for City and Guardiola.
The Etihad boss was dressed like an off-duty vicar, in a roomy zip-up cardigan and grey slacks with a looser fit than his usual trousers.
In fact, if you squinted, with his grey beard Guardiola bore more than a passing resemblance to Billy, the priest character from Coronation Street.
Poor Billy has been having an existential crisis following the death of his husband Paul.
And Guardiola looked to be suffering agony of his own for much of the match.
Like their manager’s clothes, City were a bit baggy. Not the tight, drilled-to-within-an-inch-of-their-lives faultless machine you usually expect.
Brighton under Fabian Hurzeler like flying by the seat of their pants at times but that really isn’t Guardiola’s thing.
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Inside three minutes the City boss was throwing his hands up in frustration as his team failed to move the ball quickly enough.
The same reaction greeted a weak finish by Savinho that allowed Verbruggen to make a decent save.
Another chance went begging when Haaland mishit a finish from a Phil Foden free kick, but moments later the City striker made amends.
Yasin Ayari gave the ball awat and Mateo Kovacic’s pass between the home centre halves was superb. Haaland made the most of it.
After Verbruggen blocked his initial shot, the Premier League’s top scorer followed up to jab the ball into the net.
Soon it was almost two. From Foden’s pass Haaland let off a quick shot that came off Verbruggen and the post.
The Brighton goalkeeper also kept out a Kovacic effort.
The home team finally had some joy when Kaoru Mitoma got the better of Kyle Walker – prompting another theatrical response from Guardiola.
Mitoma fed Danny Welbeck, whose shot was blocked by Josko Gvardiol. Pervis Estupinan’s follow-up was all wrong.
Welbeck tickled the side-netting with a free kick but despite that the home side went in happy still to be in the game.
With captain Lewis Dunk out, and Baleba and Pedro fit enough only for the bench, Brighton were missing their spine.
There was still plenty of energy but without much coordination.
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The hosts started the second half well and Guardiola was soon gesticulating and yelling like a dad whose kids just won’t listen.
Ederson had to make his first save in the 52nd minute when Jack Hinshelwood sent a header straight at him from an Estupinan cross.
A Pep talk to Haaland and Foden seemed to work as City improved, with Haaland’s cross forcing Igor into a last-ditch clearance.
Hurzeler sent on O’Riley and the game was in the balance.
City posed a threat from both wings, but Brighton created the better openings.
Georginio Rutter headed over the bar, Welbeck could not control a Mitoma cross and then Ederson saved at the feet of the Japan winger.
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Pedro then charged through only to send his shot well off target with only the City ‘keeper to beat.
On came Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne to help City try to gain some control.
It didn’t work and Guardiola was soon so agitated that he went prancing into Hurzeler’s technical area.
And Brighton made their momentum count in the City penalty area.
Gvardiol failed to clear and Pedro pounced to score from close range.
If that goal made the Amex rock, O’Riley’s lifted the roof off.
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Brighton pinged the ball around like prime City and the midfielder provided the finish the move deserved.
De Bruyne shot wide. In nine minutes of stoppage time, Foden and Gvardiol were also off target.
Haaland was booked for a late scuffle with Jan Paul van Hecke.
And the final whistle one more gave Guardiola the sinking feeling that has never been as familiar as this.
