Soccer

Premier League round-up: Manchester City keep up perfect start despite Rodri red card

Bruno Fernandes’s stunning volley secures much-needed win for Manchester United; Everton secure first Premier League win of the season

Erling Haaland heads home Manchester City's second goal during the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Erling Haaland heads home Manchester City's second goal during the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Sat Sept 23 2023 - 19:49
Manchester City 2 Nottingham Forest 0

Manchester City overcame the dismissal of Rodri to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 and maintain their perfect start to the new Premier League season.

Phil Foden gave City the lead in the seventh minute when he fired home from Rodri’s lay-off, before Erling Haaland headed in a second in the 15th minute from Matheus Nunes’s cross.

Midfielder Rodri was shown a straight red card soon after the restart for squaring up to Morgan Gibbs-White and putting his hands on the throat of the Forest midfielder.

The Spaniard’s three-match suspension is set to add to Pep Guardiola’s selection problems, with the City boss only able to name eight substitutes – two of them goalkeepers.

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City saw out the closing stages to make it six straight Premier League wins and move five points clear with their rivals all not in action until Sunday.

Burnley 0 Manchester United 1

Bruno Fernandes’s stunning volley secured absentee-hit Manchester United a much-needed victory as Burnley’s wait for a Premier League win continued.

Injuries and off-field issues have been compounded by poor performances in some tough fixtures, with the Red Devils losing four of their opening six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986.

United ended a run of three successive defeats at Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, where Erik ten Hag’s team were not entirely convincing but ran out 1-0 victors thanks to Fernandes’s moment of magic on Saturday night.

The Portugal midfielder showed exceptional composure and technique when providing a fitting finish to a brilliant pass from Jonny Evans, who was making his first start for the club since 2015.

The 35-year-old recently rejoined the club and thought he had scored shortly before Fernandes’s goal, only for the VAR to intervene in a first half that Burnley had held their own in.

Zeki Amdouni struck a post during the opening period and Kompany’s side threatened towards the end of the second half, but the Manchester City great was unable to celebrate a late equaliser.

Brentford 1 Everton 3

Everton eased the pressure on manager Sean Dyche after securing a first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Brentford.

Abdoulaye Doucoure gave the Toffees an early lead when he swept the ball into the top corner after a knockdown from James Tarkowski in the sixth minute and then saw a shot come back off the crossbar.

Brentford were then level in the 28th minute when Mathias Jensen converted Vitaly Janelt’s slide-rule pass, with the goal eventually ruled onside following a lengthy VAR check.

Tarkowski’s header put Everton back in front midway through the second half before substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin wrapped things up with 20 minutes left.

Luton Town 1 Wolves 1

Luton fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against 10-man Wolves and pick up a first point in the Premier League.

Wolves had midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde sent off in the 38th minute for kicking out at Luton captain Tom Lockyer after sliding in for a tackle.

Pedro Neto gave the visitors the lead five minutes into the second half after latching on to a long ball.

The Hatters, though, were back on level terms in the 65th minute when Carlton Morris converted a penalty following handball from Joao Gomes.

Luton thought they have scored a late winner through Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene, but he was flagged offside.

Crystal Palace 0 Fulham 0

Crystal Palace and Fulham walked away with a point apiece after their Selhurst Park encounter ended in a goalless draw.

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson was back in the dugout after missing last weekend’s loss to Aston with Villa due to illness.

The evenly-matched contest saw Eberechi Eze fire just wide late in the first half, while the visitors were unable to capitalise on their best chance after the restart.

The result ensures the London rivals will share almost identical Premier League records for another week, with Palace only ahead on goal difference.