Manchester City media review

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What the newspapers and websites had to say about our 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-01-08T11:15+00:00

Skipper Lewis Dunk clears his lines at the Etihad on Wednesday night. 📷James Boardman

Albion’s hard-earned and deserved point at the Etihad Stadium was, perhaps inevitably, seen by many of the writers based in the north-west in terms of Manchester City’s stuttering pursuit of Arsenal. Most intros spoke of two more dropped points for Pep Guardiola’s side. But the reporters could not ignore the number of openings created by Fabian Hurzeler’s players throughout the match.

Martin Blackburn, the Sun’s excellent local man, listed them in his report: “Diego Gomez crossed onto the head of Pascal Gross whose effort was pushed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who also kept out the rebound,” he wrote. “Georgino Rutter put Ferdi Kadioglu clear down the right but he fired his low shot straight at City’s Italian keeper.

“At the other end, Bernardo Silva shot straight at Bart Verbruggen while Haaland failed to get the connection he wanted on a cross from Ake.

“But the best chances were still coming at the other end as Georginio raced clear but was denied by a last-ditch tackle by Khusanov.

“Those missed opportunities looked particularly costly as City took the lead shortly before the break. Jeremy Doku – who had endured a frustrating night – chopped back in the box and went over the outstretched leg of Diego Gomez in the box.

Brighton's first away trip of 2026 takes Fabian Hurzeler's men to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Highlights in partnership with @mpbcom. Buy, sell and trade used camera gear. https://bit.ly/MPB457

“Ref Thomas Bramall waved away the protests at first but replays clearly showed there was contact and after a VAR check, the penalty was given.

“Guardiola and sub Rodri seemed particularly agitated at Fabian Hurzeler during the review – with the City boss getting a yellow card.

“But Erling Haaland kept his cool, sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way to end his ‘drought’ of three games without scoring.

“The Norwegian has had some tasty battles with Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke in recent times – and this was no exception.

“Right after the break, Yasin Ayari and Verbruggen got in a mess and Silva really should have punished them – but hit the side-netting.

“He should have hit the target and it proved to be a costly moment as the visitors levelled on the hour when Ayari slid a pass to Kaoru Mitoma.

“He cut in from the corner of the box before stroking a low shot through the legs of Nico Gonzalez and past the arm of Donnarumma.

“It was a first goal since September for the Japanese international, but he fancied more against a City team who looked to be running on empty.”

In The Guardian, Will Unwin wrote that “Brighton could sense weaknesses in the City back four and repeatedly tried to get in behind. Ferdi Kadioglu went through one-on-one, only to be repelled by Donnarumma, while Georginio was stopped at the last second thanks to the speed of Abdukodir Khusanov.

“Without a goal in his three previous Premier League outings, Haaland gave the impression of a frustrated man, irritated by a lack of service but Brighton’s disciplined defending and City’s slow build-up played equal parts.

“Doku’s footwork paid off and ended Brighton’s resistance, going down in the box after being tripped by Diego Gomez. Haaland eventually stepped up and sent Verbruggen the wrong way for his 150th City goal.

“It always felt like a second was needed for City because they are brittle at the back. In the end it was too simple for Mitoma, who was allowed space on the edge of the box and a simple route to cut inside, before finding the corner from 18 yards.

Fabian Hurzeler gives his reaction to a well-earned point at the Etihad, plus Jan Paul van Heck on his titanic battle with Erling Haaland.

“Once the equaliser went in, Brighton were dominant. They should have been ahead when Matheus Nunes missed a simple header; Mitoma capitalised and sent his cross for Gomez to tap home from a few yards out. The unmarked Paraguayan, however, conspired to send the ball behind him.”

Several writers focused on some feisty exchanges in the technical areas, which are just in front of the Etihad press box. In the Daily Telegraph, Mike McGrath wrote that “[Pep] Guardiola often antagonises and creates tension to get the best from his City players and he tried his best here. When Erling Haaland scored the opener from the penalty spot, Guardiola was not even looking at the action as he was rucking with Fabian Hurzeler over the VAR decision.”

Ditto Jack Gaughan in the Daily Mail: “The penalty warmed the encounter up, gave Pep Guardiola a spark: some needle to work with as it appeared increasingly unclear whether the jostling and aggravated Haaland and Jan Paul van Hecke were sworn enemies or frustrated lovers.

“It’s becoming one of the modern-day grudges matches, this. Guardiola requires something, or someone, to rail against and his opponents provided just that. There is sweet irony in Guardiola taking umbrage with a young prickly manager who likes to say his piece and do so with a fair amount of energy. The German has not lost against Guardiola in four meetings.

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Battling Albion earn a deserved point at Etihad Stadium after Kaoru Mitoma's 60th minute strike. Club photographer James Boardman was there to capture the action against Manchester City.

“Once cautioned by Bramall, City’s manager spent the next minute – before and after Haaland sent Bart Verbruggen the wrong way – chuntering in Hurzeler’s direction. Whatever he said when ball hit net was with a touch of malice.

“Morose took over later, on the hour, as Kaoru Mitoma was afforded all the room he fancied to equalise across Gianluigi Donnarumma from the edge of the box.”

The verdict of Shamoon Hafez of the BBC Sport website was that “Brighton and their hearty following all the way from the south coast will be left disappointed with a draw as City were there for the taking but they were unable to get the job done.

“How they did not score in the first half will be a mystery. They were provided with gilt-edged opportunities which other teams visiting Etihad Stadium can only dream of.

“Kadioglu and Rutter were both guilty, but Mitoma did manage to draw them level with a delightful strike, rolled into the bottom corner out of the reach of Donnarumma.

“Boss Hurzeler and counterpart Guardiola had plenty of words to say to each other on the touchline during the game, and the pair shared words too at full-time as Brighton extended their unbeaten run against City to four meetings.”