Luton Town 1, Manchester City 2
Manchester City had to come from behind at Luton after goals by Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish overhauled a first half goal by Elijah Adebayo.
Luton had caused issues to Arsenal and Liverpool when they came to Kenilworth Road in recent weeks and it looked like the Hatters were about to cause another shock and the end of half time when Adebayo headed them into the lead.
It was against the run of play but City managed to take control of the game, get their nose ahead though two second half strikes just three minutes apart, and then keep Luton at bay until the points were in the bag.
The result means they are now 4 points off new league leaders Liverpool but remain in fourth place – six points ahead of Spurs in 5th before their game against Newcastle United.
City made four changes from the side that lost at Aston Villa in midweek.
Erling Haaland missed his first Premier League game of the season after picking up a foot injury, joining Jeremy Doku on the sidelines.
On the bench went John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Rico Lewis while replacing the quartet were Rodri, Jack Grealish (both returned from suspension), Nathan Ake, and Mateo Kovacic.
City’s midfield instantly looked more tuned for a control-led game as Julian Alvarez started as a striker for the first time in the Premier League this season.
Phil Foden and Rodri were denied by Thomas Kaminski and City got into their passing rhythm slowly and dominated the early play.
Josko Gvardiol proved a threat down the left side and forced a corner from a deflected shot while Foden’s powerful shot was saved by Kaminski who dived down to stop the shot.
Kaminski also dived on the ball to prevent Foden from getting a cross in soon afterwards.
Andros Townsend had Luton’s first shot on goal after 33 minutes when Ruben Dias lost the ball but the veteran’s long range effort was relatively simple for Ederson to collect.
The shots kept raining in for City but Luton defended stoutly and their endurance paid off when Andros Townsend’s looping cross from the right was nodded home by 6’4” striker Elijah Adebayo who got between Dias and Kyle Walker to head the Hatters into a shock lead on the stroke of half time.
City still couldn’t create much in the second half, Marvellous Nakamba caught Foden with a clumsy challenge on the edge of the area but Alvarez’ free kick was blocked.
Dias’ rising shot was touched onto the crossbar by Kaminski as City got closer by the hour mark.
Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish turn over Luton in space of 3 second half minutes
And eventually they got their breakthrough after 62 minutes when Bernard Silva curled the ball home for his fourth goal of the season after Tom Lockyer tackled Rodri as he shaped to shoot but the loose ball fell nicely for the City midfielder.
And barely 2 minutes later Jack Grealish stroked home a cross from Alvarez after he won the ball with his face, getting the ball back off Foden before setting up Grealish to put City into the lead with only his second goal of the season.
Ross Barkley evaded Foden and cracked a shot just wide as Luton tried to get back on terms.
Josko Gvardiol was replaced by John Stones with 21 minutes to go.
Jacob Brown was VAR checked for serious foul play when he jumped in two footed on Phil Foden but the referee was not invited to check the monitor.
Carlton Morris replaced Townsend while Albert Sambi Lokonga replaced Nakamba in Luton’s first change of the game after 72 minutes.
Alvarez narrowly shot over the bar as City looked to extend their lead over Luton.
Tahith Chong replaced Ryan Giles with 6 minutes to go after Matheus Nunes replaced Kovacic.
And during 6 minutes of torturous injury time Chong had a shout for handball against Grealish but VAR again did not intervene.
Manuel Akanji replaced Foden as City looked to survive the inevitable aerial bombardment from Luton and even Kaminsky joined in for a final corner but the Hatters couldn’t find the equaliser.