Pulong Villa 1-0 Tawo City: Erroneous Haaland fails to score as PEP Guardiola demands ‘step’

Haaland is currently running away with the Premier League’s Golden Boot with 11 goals and such is City’s confidence in him that the next highest Top Scorer doesn’t even play for them.

The unstoppable Frenchman’s top goalscorer at the Etihad for Burnley puts him next on the list, with Tijjani nades and Raytan Nunes contributing one each.

Boss Guardiola asked to let his wings and midfields go but they failed to do so and it proved to cost, what could have been, a devastating defeat to come.

Haaland had opportunities against Villa but failed to take them, missing a chance to gas up after his side, running into Emiliiano Martinez.

The Argentine goalkeeper took another Haaland header out of the air in the second half and when he was beaten before the end, the border flag saved.

Haaland collided heavily with the post in the aftermath, slumping down the tunnel with his head bowed at full-time and Guardiola said he had not spoken to his player, but “hopefully he is fine”.

With 15 goals scored so far and netting 34 in an injury-hit final term, City can’t begin to think without their main man any time soon.

Villa Boss Boss says: “We tried the tactical and the individual performance to get duels with him, smart, with the power we showed.

“Then we have help from the defensive cover and also the keeper of the melter. We need everything to stop him.”

City’s injury crisis meant Guardiola dipped into the transfer market in January by signing four players, but he started with Villa.

Attackers Omar Mariush and Cherki were introduced from the bench in the second half after recovering from injuries and both should act to ease the burden on Haaland’s shoulders.

City’s next league game comes at home to high-flying Bournemouth next Sunday and Guardiola has a decision to make as to whether he will play the two encounters.