City left in the red as Rod's dismissal means bank of midfielders is slim

A MOMENT of madness made all the madder by the person who did it. A Rodri red card? For violent conduct - are you sure?

- DANIEL MURPHY

Before Saturday afternoon, Rodri had never been sent off in over 400 games for club and country in his glittering career. But after Morgan Gibbs-White dangled the bait, the Spaniard couldn't help but bite. A fairly typical bit of handbags escalated as Rodri, for a split second, raised his hands to the Nottingham Forest player's throat - but that was enough.

Gibbs-White sold the attack. You could almost see his thought process. 'Oh he's just grabbed me, I should dive to the ground holding my face that'll get him sent off.

And so it did.

It's frustrating but the usually cool cucumber let the heat get to him.

Thankfully, it didn't prove to be costly on the day. City had already gained a 2-0 lead after Phil Foden and Erling Haaland had both finished off an excellent move each within 14 minutes.

It was nervy and difficult at times with just 10 men and Pep Guardiola even reverted to a rarely seen backfive, but City held on for a sixth win on the spin. It's instead the coming days where the dismissal could come to haunt City.