Brighton Stun Manchester City 1-0 for First Win at Etihad

Brighton and Hove Albion handed Manchester City a second straight Premier League defeat on Saturday (Oct 31), winning 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium through an early goal from Yasin Ayari, Sky Sports reported.

According to Opta’s The Analyst, it was the first time Brighton had ever beaten City at the Etihad, and their first away win over City in any competition at the 18th attempt.

Ayari strikes early at the Etihad

The only goal came 11 minutes in, The Analyst said. After a quickly taken Lewis Dunk free-kick, Matheus Nunes failed to clear a cross from Diego Gomez, and the ball fell to Ayari, who swept it into the bottom corner for his third league goal of the season.

City pushed hard for an equaliser but could not beat Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Sky Sports credited him with seven saves. He tipped a shot from Ndiaye onto the woodwork, denied Nunes after a through ball from Rayan Cherki, and kept out a late close-range effort from Jeremy Doku. Dunk also blocked a chance for Erling Haaland before half-time.

The Analyst’s figures showed City had 21 shots, six on target, worth 1.92 expected goals. Brighton had seven attempts, three on target, worth 1.0 xG.

Manchester City lose back-to-back league games

The defeat followed City’s 2-1 loss at Aston Villa the previous weekend. Sky Sports said these were the first back-to-back league defeats under manager Enzo Maresca. The Analyst said the result also ended City’s run of scoring in 24 straight Premier League games.

City stay top of the table on goal difference, The Analyst said, but Brighton are now third and within two points of both City and Arsenal. Arsenal play Liverpool on Sunday.

Brighton, managed by Fabian Hurzeler, kept their sixth clean sheet of the season, more than any other side. They have won five of their last six league matches, according to The Analyst.

Other Premier League results

In other Saturday afternoon games, Sky Sports listed Brentford 2-0 winners over Nottingham Forest, Coventry City beating Sunderland 3-1, and Hull City and Ipswich Town drawing 2-2.

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