4 days ago
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Manchester City survived an almighty scare to win 5-4 at Fulham and move within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal
If this is the new normal for Manchester City then heart rate monitors should come as standard for Blues fans. For the second game in succession Pep Guardiola's side seemingly had a game won, before a second half collapse threatened to spectacularly derail any title conversations.
Against Leeds on Saturday, City were in cruise control at half time before letting a two-goal lead slip and needing a last gasp Phil Foden strike to earn the three points. Tuesday night at Fulham was that performance on steroids. City led 3-0 and, nine minutes into the second half, were 5-1 up and poised to cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.
Then bedlam. City stood off and allowed Fulham to dictate possession. Alex Iwobi drilled in a second for the Cottagers on 57 minutes to spark hope. The home fans believed and their team responded. Two goals in seven minutes from Samuel Chukwueze cut the lead to 5-4 with still 12 minutes remaining and City were very much on the ropes.
To their credit, they steadied themselves somewhat but still needed a Josko Gvardiol goal-line clearance in the final minute of eight added on to secure a breathless victory. The record books will show City bounced back from defeat at Newcastle with successive wins. But they cannot play with such chaos and expect to challenge the consistent and consummate Gunners.
But let's start at the beginning. And City's start was excellent. Erling Haaland had already hit the post before he thrashed home his record-breaking 100th Premier League goal to open the scoring. Tijjani Reijnders then scored with an impudent finish as he found the goal he'd been threatening since his sublime effort at Wolves on the opening day.
Phil Foden, resurgent and riveting, scored late in the first half and early in the second. Four goals in as many days for the England international. In Foden and Reijnders, City have two players who can play a much-needed supporting role to the goals of Haaland. It was only a week ago that Burnley defender Maxime Esteve was second in City's Premier League goalscoring chat courtesy of his two own goals at the Etihad in September. The Blues have since begun to find goals from other sources.
So far so good. But then, the bad. City, thinking the job was done, retreated into their shell and their half. Lessons from Leeds on Saturday were not learned and Fulham smelt blood from the moment Iwobi drilled in their second.
City miserably failed to manage the game, they couldn't control the contest and they had no answer to the home side's onslaught. Suddenly Fulham were within one and came close to claiming a point that looked far-fetched early in the second half.
Credit to Fulham for their enterprise and the Cottagers deserve credit for taking the game to City. But this was the latest match to expose the soft under-belly this City vintage seem to have. If you're 5-1 up away from home you should not be clinging on in the final stages.
Guardiola's side were ahead against Brighton and lost, led against Arsenal and Monaco in the final minute and drew. They've now survived two huge scares in as many games where more points threatened to disappear. That record makes for ugly reading and if City are to establish themselves as challengers to Arsenal, they have to solve their chaos theory.
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