MAN CITY 1, MIDDLESBROUGH 1
It was feared it would be a case of after the lord mayor’s show for Manchester City following their marvellous Champions League victory against Barcelona in midweek….and so it proved against Middlesbrough.
City were held at home by Middlesborough – their third straight draw in the league at the Etihad after Everton and Southampton picked up points from their visits.
An injury time goal from Marten de Roon cancelled out a first-half strike from Sergio Aguero, his 150th for City, as the fans left the stadium in stunned silence.
City were disappointed as they ought to have had the game sewn up by half time as they had 19 goal attempts in the opening period to Boro’s none.
Boro, who drew at Arsenal on their last away day, were forced to be bolder after the break and they were far more of a threat as City tired after their midweek exertions.
But they still enjoyed 71-per-cent possession and had 25 goals attempts to Boro’s five, an indication as to their dominance in every aspect other than putting the ball into the net.
City manager Pep Guardiola was frustrated at the loss of two further points.
He explained: “After we lost at White Hart Lane, I said we lost to the better team and congratulations to them.
“Today I cannot say that because I didn’t think we deserved that. We made more than enough chances to win the game.
“It was difficult when they had 10 players in the box, but we still created enough chances to score more goals.
“If we had scored a second goal, it would have been game over. But when it remains 1-0, anything can happen.”
Guardiola praised Aguero for reaching the landmark of 150 goals for City.
“Congratulations for reaching that mark. I scored 11 goals in my career,” he said.
Boro manager Aitor Karanka described it as a much more difficult point to the one picked up against Arsenal.
He said: “Against Arsenal we didn’t concede and created chances, but today we paid City too much respect in the first half.
“I said at half time to try and play in the normal style and intensity and we would have chances.
“In both games we competed against two of the best teams in the league and also in the world.
“They have amazing squads so it is good for us as we know how difficult the Premier League is, and I have said we need time.
“We have experienced players, but not with experience in the Premier League so it was important today to pick up a point.”
City made three changes from the side that started against Barcelona in midweek.
Claudio Bravo returned after suspension in goal for Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy replaced the rested Nicolas Otamendi with Aleksander Kolarov switching to the centre of defence while Jesus Navas took over on the wing from Raheem Sterling who was also given a break.
There was a return to City for ex-player Alvaro Negredo and former junior Adam Clayton.
City created a couple of openings, but never looked like scoring, in what was a low-key opening after the pulsating Champions League game on Tuesday.
It look 23 minutes before either keeper was called into action and then Boro keeper Victor Valdes easily caught a rasping drive from Kolarov.
Moments later Sergio Aguero released Kevin De Bruyne whose shot flashed just wide of the upright.
City began to ramp up the tempo and Valdes pulled off a fine double save to deny Aguero and David Siva, though the latter had strayed offside.
Valdes made another important save to deny Siva as it was proving one-way traffic.
The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute with City’s 18th goal attempt of the game. De Bruyne crossed from the right and Aguero ghosted between two defenders to fire home from six yards, his 150th goal for City as he is sixth of the list of leading scorers for the club.
And City almost added a second goal in stoppage time when Navas’ angled shot struck the outside of the post.
Boro had their first goal attempt of the game two minutes after the restart when Negredo spotted Bravo off his line and shot from the half-way line.
The keeper, frantically back pedalling, spectacularly tipped the ball over the crossbar.
Bravo was called into action again moments later with a fine block to deny Adam Forshaw who was released by Adama Traore as they were far more adventurous than in the opening period.
Stewart Downing also had a great chance for Boro, but pulled his shot narrowly wide.
City made their first change after 74 minutes when Nolito replaced Ilkay Gundogan.
Aguero ought to have sealed victory with five minutes left after being set up by Navas, but fired over when you would have expected him to have found the net.
It was a miss that would come back to haunt Aguero and City as Boro levelled in the first of four minutes of added time.
George Friend cross from the left and Dutch defender de Room tose over Clichy to head home from six yards, a massive blow for City.
However, despite the two carelessly discarded points, they remain top of the Premier League, if only for 24 hours as all the other leading teams play tomorrow.