MANCHESTER GRITTY

Guardiola's struggling champs grind out a much-needed victory but their style & swagger is nowhere to be seen

- NEIL MOXLEY

ON any other given Sunday, this result would look like a normal day at the office for Pep Guardiola.

Erling Haaland overcoming a little barren spell with his first goal in four games and a first strike in sky blue for Savinho.

A regulation victory, right? Only when it's set against a backdrop of one victory in 13, with questions being asked of the four-time champions, their manager and players and regular choruses of 'City's staying up from the visiting support, then this was anything but routine.

It sounds straightforward enough. Savinho pounced after rookie Foxes keeper Jakub Stolarczyk could only parry a shot into his path almost midway through the first half.

And the goal machine that is Haaland rose to nod a second with 17 minutes left to allow everyone associated with the visitors to breathe a little more easily.