Manchester City are back to winning ways in the Premier League, coming from behind to beat Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Pep Guardiola’s side won 2-1, to move to within four points of leaders Liverpool.
It was a great show of character from City today. To concede after dominating the first-half was very frustrating, but the players came out for the second-half and continued to plug away against a stubborn Luton defence.
It was Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish who got the goals for City, in the absence of Erling Haaland who is nursing a foot injury.
There was a real physicality to today’s game as expected – and there was one controversial incident midway through the second-half that drew a reaction on X from Gary Neville…
Gary Neville says Luton should have seen a red card against Manchester City
Shortly after City scored their second goal through Grealish, a heavy challenge went in on City’s Phil Foden by Jacob Brown.
There didn’t appear to be too much in it at first, but replays indicated the Luton player jumped into the tackle with Foden.
Had Foden’s leg been planted, he could have sustained some really bad damage and in the eyes of Neville, a red card should have been brandished.
After initially just reacting with the word ‘Red!’, Neville went on to say: “I said this a few weeks ago. When a player jumps in like that the fact the opposing player’s leg isn’t broken doesn’t alter the fact every professional hates that challenge more than any other. The intent can only be there to significantly harm your opponent.”
Thankfully, Foden was able to pick himself up and continue – and arguably he was the standout player for City today.
Brown was lucky
The challenge from Brown was not a good one at all, and he could have done some serious damage to Foden if his leg had been planted.
It was crazy to see him jump in like that when there just wasn’t any need.
It arguably sets a dangerous precedent that a challenge like this can result in a player remaining on the field.
As Neville suggests, just because a player is not inflicted with serious damage does not make it any less of a red card.
