Manchester City scrambled a 1-0 Premier League victory over promoted Coventry City on Saturday that maintained their 100% record but showed Enzo Maresca’s side are a work in progress after completing their £450-million ($608.45-million) rebuild.
A third successive win was sealed in familiar fashion by Erling Haaland, with a little help from British-record-equalling signing Enzo Fernandez on his debut but City were made to sweat by a Coventry side still seeking a first point.
Crystal Palace earned their first league victory of the
campaign as they twice came from a goal down to prevail 3-2 at
Fulham, while four other games ended all square.
Newcastle United recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw
2-2 at home to Bournemouth who scored first for the third game
in a row but are still without a victory.
Tottenham Hotspur picked up their first point of the season
but failed to have a shot on target in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham
Forest who had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball.
Brighton Hove Albion drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United,
Brentford versus Sunderland also finished 1-1, while promoted
Hull City held visitors Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw.
After Manchester City’s eye-watering splurge continued until
Tuesday with the arrival of Argentina midfielder Fernandez from
Chelsea and Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, Coventry may have
feared the worst at The Etihad Stadium.
Maresca handed debuts to Fernandez and fellow deadline-day
signing Ndiaye, while midfielder Elliott Anderson, whose
club-record £115 million arrival was surpassed by Fernandez, was
also in the starting lineup.
Fernandez played a key role in Haaland’s 26th-minute opener,
sliding a pass through for Antoine Semenyo, whose cross the
Norway striker headed in. Haaland’s strike was his 300th goal in
all competitions in his top-flight club career.
Haaland also had a goal ruled out but it was Coventry who
finished strongly and an equaliser would not have flattered
Frank Lampard’s side, who forced City goalkeeper Gianluigi
Donnarumma into a string of saves.
City completed 803 passes to Coventry’s 217 but there was
some relief at the final whistle, although Maresca was happy
enough with the nature of the performance.
“I really liked today for different reasons. First half we
could have scored one or two more but we worked together to win
so I am happy,” the Italian said.
“Anxiety from the fans is normal. Nine out of 10 of these
games you end with a bad feeling but it’s important to win 1-0.
Not all the performances are going to be nice, you also need
ugly moments.”
City lead the table with nine points. Champions Arsenal and
Chelsea, the other teams with a 100% record, meet on Sunday at
The Emirates Stadium.
Hull dropped their first points in an impressive start to
life back in the top flight but have yet to concede a goal,
while Villa’s struggles persisted as Unai Emery’s side still
search for a first goal and have one point from three matches.
Coventry and Fulham remain without a point after three
games, while Villa will hope to get their tally up and running
when they travel to surprise package Hull.
The day’s real entertainment happened at Craven Cottage
where Fulham’s new manager Alvaro Arbeloa suffered his third
successive defeat as Ben Chilwell scored the winner for Palace.
Josh King put Fulham ahead after 11 minutes but Tyrick
Mitchell levelled for the visitors before Cesar Palacios tucked
in a rebound to restore the home side’s lead.
Mitchell equalised again for Pierre Sage’s side before
Chilwell, who joined on a free transfer, latched onto a loose
ball to drive home the winner in the 77th minute.
“It’s a good result but we have to be honest, our start has
not been of the level expected. We did better with mentality in
the second half,” Sage said.
Bournemouth made Premier League history by becoming the
first club to score first in their opening three games of a
season without winning any of them.
Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth an early lead before a
Malick Thiaw own goal made it 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Harvey Barnes pulled a goal back before halftime and Jacob
Ramsey earned Newcastle a point with a late strike to maintain
their unbeaten start to the season.
“Two times already in the last two games, but it is what it
is,” Bournemouth manager Marco Rose said. “It’s good that we are
in situations to be able to win games … We have to talk about
the negatives, get better and try to finish the games.”
Vitaly Janelt put Brentford ahead against the run of play
just before the hour mark against Sunderland but Enzo le Fee’s
late penalty earned the visitors a point. Brighton’s record
signing Luka Vuskovic scored his side’s equaliser against Leeds.
Tottenham are yet to score in the league this season but at
least emerged with a point from the City Ground, although Forest
were left frustrated after Neco Williams’ second-half effort was
ruled out for handball after some chaotic Spurs defending.
Source: Khaleej Times