Sam Allardyce Punished HEAVILY by Guardiola as Man City Widens Gulf over Arsenal

Haaland Answerable as Star passes up Penalty

Manchester City stretched their advantage at the top of the Premier League table to four points with a 2-1 victory over Leeds in Sam Allardyce’s first game as manager.

Ilkay Gundogan scored twice in the first 27 minutes to give City a dominating lead before Erling Haaland missed a series of gilt-edged chances to extend City’s lead. A new-look Leeds defense kept Pep Guardiola and co at bay – with a little help from the post when Gundogan missed an 84th-minute penalty, allowing substitute Rodrigo to pull one back and produce an anxious finish inside the Etihad.

The result puts City well in charge of the title race, with Arsenal requiring a win away at Newcastle on Sunday. Leeds, who are facing relegation, remain just outside the bottom three thanks to their superior goal difference.

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Big Sam’s first big call

All eyes were on Sam Allardyce in the three days running up to Leeds’ trip to Manchester after his appointment was confirmed on Wednesday. One of the most important decisions he had to make was whether to maintain struggling goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the starting lineup.

Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Frenchman, Big Sam elected to replace him with Joel Robles, with whom he had worked at Everton, for his first Premier League outing of the season. Allardyce also chose right-back Rasmus Kristensen in the center of a back four alongside Max Wober in the expectation that their physicality would be enough to deal with Ering Haaland.

Evergreen Gundogan

To lead probably the best team on the planet and keep a £42 million acquisition – Kalvin Phillips – out of the starting lineup while someone like Rodri is rested, you have to be a very excellent player. However, Ilkay Gundogan, Pep Guardiola’s first signing back in the hazy days of June 2016, could leave Manchester City this summer at the end of his contract.

Barcelona is circling the German midfielder, and Gundogan, wearing the armband, reminded everyone that his class is permanent with a pair of clean finishes inside 27 minutes. On both instances, the 32-year-old maestro tucked home past the hapless Robles from the edge of the penalty area, thanks to some deft play by Riyad Mahrez on the right wing.

The instant his second strike settled in the back of the net, with possession at 83-17, it felt like game over. Gundogan might yet sign a new contract, but a free transfer elsewhere beckons, leaving City fans with only pleasant memories of their dependable, trustworthy, and underrated No.8 – if not so much from the penalty spot, where he rocked the crossbar post with the chance for his first ever hat-trick with six minutes to go. 

Haaland’s howlers

Okay, we’ll admit it: it’s refreshing to see Erling Haaland act human for a change. After becoming the first player in Premier League history to score 35 goals in 38 games against West Ham on Wednesday, the City striker was expected to add to his tally when his father’s former club, Leeds, came to town.

Unfortunately, Haaland Junior wasted two golden opportunities in the first half, leaving Etihad astonished for the wrong reasons. Robles stayed strong with a great save right before Gundogan’s opening, only to be left thanking his lucky stars when Haaland smashed an effort wide with the goal gaping just before half-time.

In addition to those two uncharacteristic misses, the Norwegian powerhouse fell over himself in the box and rattled the crossbar with a bullet header from point-blank range after the interval before hitting the post with a dragging shot. Real Madrid supporters, there is yet hope…

Ake concern resurfaces

Perhaps as surprising as City’s good run of form has been the fact that they haven’t had to deal with many injuries this season. The club’s medical team and coaching staff have done an outstanding job of keeping Guardiola’s men fresh throughout the season, but Nathan Ake is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Bayern Munich last month.

As a result, the Dutch left-back was ruled out for three games, returning only in midweek and scoring the critical opening goal. Going down pretty innocuously in the 53rd minute, Ake pulled his socks down and knew his game was over, but it’s unclear where the injury occurred.

Guardiola is still unsure about who to deploy at left-back in place of the 28-year-old.

Leeds’ late Lifeline as City suffer scare

Gundogan hit the post with the ensuing penalty as City was strolling to victory and given a helping hand when Pascal Struijk gave away a penalty two minutes after coming on as a late substitute. Just as Guardiola finished ranting at Haaland for not taking the penalty, another Leeds replacement, Rodrigo, scored on the counter-attack to make it 2-1.

But it was a fleeting dream, as City immediately regained their composure in the closing few minutes, demonstrating how careful they were by keeping the ball in the corner throughout injury time. Guardiola was furious on the touchline, a far cry from the comfort they’d enjoyed throughout much of the second half.