EPL: Haaland fires Manchester City to narrow win over Coventry

Erling Haaland helped Manchester City maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The win extended City’s league run to three consecutive victories under new manager Enzo Maresca, although the champions were made to work hard for the result.

Maresca handed debuts to Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye after both players completed moves to the club during a record-breaking transfer window that saw City spend £460 million ($622 million) to rebuild the squad following Pep Guardiola’s 10-year spell in charge.

Despite controlling much of the game, City struggled to put the match beyond Coventry. The visitors came close to earning a valuable point, but goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced two important late saves to preserve City’s lead.

The result denied Coventry what would have been their first point in the English top flight in 25 years.

Haaland’s header midway through the first half proved decisive for his third goal in as many games this season.

Fernandez was supposed to start on the bench after completing his £125 million move from Chelsea to match the Premier League transfer record.

However, an injury to Nico O’Reilly in the warm-up meant the Argentine was thrust into the starting line-up.

Ndiaye was also handed his City debut by Maresca alongside Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki in a fearsome front four.

Coventry had failed to even score in three consecutive defeats to mark their return to the top flight after over two decades away.

Yet, Frank Lampard’s men could not have come closer to breaking their duck early on thanks to a gift from Donnarumma.

The giant Italian miscontrolled a backpass and recovered to clear off his own line with inches to spare.

Taiwo Awoniyi and Jack Rudoni also missed big chances to give the visitors the lead before City began to find their stride.

Cherki smashed off the post before Fernandez was involved in the opening goal.

His pass fed Semenyo sprinting down the right and his cross was hung up perfectly for Haaland to head home at the back post.

The Norwegian was denied a second by Carl Rushworth before half-time, but City failed to build on their advantage and were left clinging on for the three points.

Donnarumma was needed to produce two huge saves to deny Loum Tchaouna and Ellis Simms an equaliser and a historic moment for Coventry.

Yet, despite another defeat, there was plenty of encouragement for Lampard that Coventry can compete back in the big time.

Maresca will know City will need to be much improved when they travel to local rivals Manchester United next weekend.

But City do move to the top of the table ahead of champions Arsenal’s clash against Chelsea on Sunday.

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