Manchester City 2
Otamendi 67’, Toure 89’ (pen)
Norwich City 1
Jerome 83’
MANCHESTER // It was an appropriate choice of words. “We chucked a point away,” Norwich manager Alex Neil said.
Goals were thrown away, not by one goalkeeper but two. Neither handled the situation well.
Both spilled the ball.
At the end of a remarkable afternoon that was largely dreary but ended in error-strewn excitement, Manchester City had the win most predicted.
Just not in the fashion many imagined.
It was as though the goalkeepers’ gloves had been coated in grease. Each proved unable to cling on to crosses.
First Joe Hart, whose side were leading through Nicolas Otamendi’s forceful header, dropped Robbie Brady’s centre at such an angle that Cameron Jerome barely needed to touch it. It was already crossing the line.
Then, on a damning day for English goalkeeping, John Ruddy failed to hold a harmless cross from Jesus Navas.
Rather than retaining his cool, he charged off his line and upended Fernandinho. It could have been a penalty. Instead, referee Bobby Madley played an advantage, Raheem Sterling shot and Russell Martin produced an impromptu piece of goalkeeping.
This was a spot-kick, while the sent-off Martin made a premature departure. Yaya Toure scored from 12 yards. The league leaders had their victory.
Understandably, Neil was fuming. “John knows he has made an error,” he said. “It is hard to take considering how hard we worked in the game.”
Manuel Pellegrini could afford to be more forgiving.
“Joe is human, like everyone,” he said. “He can make a mistake but he made two very good saves.”
Hart departed to choruses of “England’s No 1” from the home fans. Nor were they ironic. A stoppage-time block from Martin Olsson gave him a glimpse of redemption. Toure’s decider brought relief.
It was a day to illustrate that goalkeepers are put in an invidious position. The nature of the job is that blunders are both highlighted and costly. Most tend to result in goals.
They were far from the only culprits in a day when several, whether in the colours of title contenders or relegation-threatened newcomers, were found wanting at pivotal moments.
Neil was irritated that his side, who had defended doggedly in their quest for a first clean sheet of the season, trailed when Ryan Bennett lost Otamendi and the Argentine converted Kevin de Bruyne’s corner.
“To lose a goal from a set-piece is extremely frustrating,” said the Scot, whose side have now suffered four successive defeats.
The latest could have been heavier. Robbie Brady tripped the catalytic substitute Sterling deep into added time. Aleksandar Kolarov steered the resulting spot-kick wide.
The failings of others were advertised earlier. Wilfried Bony’s finishing continues to be erratic. Sergio Aguero’s hamstring injury has afforded him a seven-game opportunity to stake his case for a greater role. He has not taken it.
The battering ram lacks sufficient finesse, the marksman has missed the target too often. His profligacy almost cost City against both Norwich and Sevilla, while he was uncharacteristically ineffective against Manchester United.
Kelechi Iheanacho had fashioned Bony’s best chance but the Nigerian’s maiden league start only lasted 54 minutes.
It was typical the teenager was removed. It is the easy option to substitute the youngster. Pellegrini ignored an annoyed shout from the crowd of “take Bony off” when introducing Sterling.
In any case, as Iheanacho is ineligible in Europe, City are reliant on the Ivorian in the Champions League.
Over five seasons in the competition, Hart has arguably been their finest performer in a competition where few others have enhanced their reputations.
Rather safer handling is required in Sevilla on Tuesday. They need more of a Hart-stopper than a Hart-dropper.
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