City must stop conceding first, but reaction is always that of champions

BEFORE the international break, Pep Guardiola said he would have to look at some videos to work out why City were conceding so many goals on the counter-attack.

- JOE BRAY

It came after Fulham opened the scoring at the Etihad a fortnight ago to continue City's wait for a clean sheet since their opening day shut out. It took Wolves just seven minutes to extend that on Sunday, and Guardiola's research hadn't found an answer.

"Maybe it's structural," Guardiola said after Fulham. After Wolves, he said: "I don't like it [conceding early again] but I would be more concerned if we started sloppy or without the right tone to compete in these type of games. And I didn't have that feeling. It's football but it will help us to be better."

Jorgen Strand Larsen's goal for Wolves was the fourth time City have conceded the opening goal in eight league games. Last season, it took them 18 games to reach that figure. Seven of their nine goals conceded this season have come in the first half. Seven have come from quick breaks on the transitions. It's undoubtedly a concern that the same mistakes keep happening.