London, Aug 31: It was a day of late drama in the Premier League as Manchester City slumped to their second defeat in three games at the hands of Brighton, while Jarrod Bowen inspired West Ham United to a much-needed victory over Nottingham Forest.
At the Amex Stadium, City appeared to be in control when Erling Haaland struck his 88th goal in his 100th league appearance to give Pep Guardiola’s men the lead. The Norwegian’s first-half strike looked set to steady the champions after last week’s defeat to Tottenham. Yet the game turned dramatically following a quadruple substitution by Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler just past the hour mark.
City’s returning midfielder Rodri, playing his first league game since an ACL layoff, tired visibly as Brighton grew into the contest. Veteran James Milner, brought on at 39 years of age, stepped up to equalise against his former club with a coolly dispatched penalty after Matheus Nunes was penalised for handball.
James Trafford, retained in goal despite his costly error against Spurs, produced a string of saves to deny Yankuba Minteh and Jan Paul van Hecke. But the goalkeeper was finally beaten in the 89th minute. Kaoru Mitoma sliced through the City backline with a precise pass to substitute Brajan Gruda, who wrong-footed Rayan Aït-Nouri before rounding Trafford to slot home the winner. The result leaves Guardiola’s side nursing back-to-back league defeats, raising fresh questions about their early-season rhythm.
If City endured heartbreak on the south coast, West Ham delivered relief in the Midlands. Five days after confronting disgruntled fans following a third straight defeat, Graham Potter’s men snatched a late 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest thanks largely to Jarrod Bowen’s intervention.
With just six minutes remaining, Bowen latched onto an El Hadji Malick Diouf throw-in, swivelling sharply to beat goalkeeper Matz Sels at his near post. His badge-kissing celebration lit the spark that ignited a West Ham onslaught. Moments later, Lucas Paquetá – in the headlines amid Aston Villa interest – coolly converted from the penalty spot after Crysencio Summerville was tripped inside the area. Substitute Callum Wilson capped the flurry, escaping Murillo’s marking to glance in Diouf’s cross and seal West Ham’s first league win of the season.For Forest, it was a miserable evening in front of owner Evangelos Marinakis. The side barely tested West Ham keeper Mads Hermansen, with Chris Wood’s tame header their only notable attempt. Morgan Gibbs-White cut a frustrated figure, while Elliot Anderson struggled to impose himself in midfield. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo now faces renewed scrutiny, with discussions over his future expected during the international break. (Agencies)
