Despite an impressive opening 45, the Blues conceded in first-half added time to trail 1-0 at the break.

But the Treble winners continued to pin the home side back after the restart and were rewarded around the hour-mark with two goals in two minutes from Bernardo and Jack Grealish to take all three points.

WHAT HAPPENED…

City looked determined and focused straight from kick-off and could have been ahead inside two minutes as good work from Julian Alvarez and Bernardo created an angled opportunity for Phil Foden.

Foden’s shot was beaten out by the keeper and Bernardo volleyed the loose ball wide – had he found the target it would have almost certainly been the ideal start – in fact, with 90 second played we’d equalled our entire shot count at Aston Villa in midweek!

Pep Guardiola spoke after the Villa defeat about ‘changing the dynamic’ of his team and it was evident at Kenilworth Road that much more was being played through the lines and more centrally.

There was less use of the wider areas, instead trying to unpick the Luton defence with quick passing, movement, and clever lay-offs.

Rodrigo saw a powerful shot beaten away by Thomas Kaminski on 19 as City’s dominance was almost rewarded.

Foden was next to test Kaminski with a low drive on 27 minutes, but again the home keeper was up to the challenge.

It felt like a matter of time before the Blues went ahead, but the Hatters defended stoically and, with the last meaningful act of the first-half, it was the home side went ahead.

In added time, a cross from Andros Townsend who found the unmarked Elijah Adebayo who leapt to head the ball past Ederson.

It felt cruel given the quality of City’s performance, but it was proof that the Premier League is an unforgiving place at the best of times.

City continued to pin Luton in their own final third after the restart and on the hour-mark, Nathan Ake pulled the ball back for Ruben Dias who saw his shot from close range crash against the crossbar.

Two minutes later and the Blues were finally level.

The referee played advantage as Kyle Walker was fouled, Rodrigo  took on the ball and drove into the box where he collided with Tom Lockyer and the lurking Bernardo was on hand to fire a low angled shot past Kaminski to make it 1-1.

Two minutes after that, and City were ahead!

Alvarez raced into the Luton box, whipped in a low ball across the face of the box and Grealish came in at the far post to squeeze a low shot through Kaminski’s legs.

The relief was palpable, though there was still work to do.

The hosts were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men on 72 minutes when Jacob Brown’s clumsy challenge on Foden was scrutinised by VAR, ultimately deciding it wasn’t a red card offence.

Luton pressed in the latter stages without causing Ederson too many problems and the Blues saw out the additional time to claim all three points.

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TEAMS

LUTON TOWN XI: Kaminski; Mengi, Lockyer, Bell; Doughty, Nakamba, (Lokonga 72) , Barkley, Giles; Townsend (Morris, 72), Brown; Adebayo.

Subs: Krul, Andersen, Berry,  Chong, Mpanzu, Clark, Johnson.

CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (c), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol (Stones 69), Rodrigo, Kovacic (Akanji 90+3) (Nunes 83), Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Bobb, Lewis, Gomez

Industry: Bernardo in action

STAR MAN

A typically industrious performance for the tireless Bernardo.

His goal came at a crucial time and his work up and down the pitch was relentless.

Jack Grealish and Phil Foden were also outstanding in a team display that will have delighted Guardiola.

 CITY SHOW GUTS

Four games without victory and trailing to a goal on half-time, this would have been an easy time for any team to crumble under the pressure.

Not City.

From minute one you could sense a steely determination to prove any doubters wrong with a brave display of hard work and invention.

Luton are no pushovers, as many top sides have discovered this season already, and this victory was fully deserved – and most welcome!

GUARDIOLA REACTION

To follow…

 

On point: Julian Alvarez

WHAT IT MEANS

City remain in fourth in the Premier League table, but now trail leaders Liverpool by just four points and Arsenal by three.