Manchester City dropped vital points in the Premier League title race on Saturday. The visitors drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened West Ham United at the London Stadium.
City manager Pep Guardiola served a touchline ban and watched from the stands while his assistant Pep Lijnders relayed instructions by phone.
City took the lead in the 31st minute. Bernardo Silva swung in a cross that looped fortuitously over West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and into the net. The goal marked Silva’s second league strike of the season.
West Ham responded quickly. Four minutes later Jarrod Bowen delivered a corner. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged the flight of the ball. Konstantinos Mavropanos rose unmarked and headed home via the underside of the crossbar to make it 1-1.
City controlled 71 percent of possession after the break. However they created few clear chances. Erling Haaland remained goalless in his last 12 league appearances.
Substitutes Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku entered the fray but failed to unlock the home defence. Cherki struck a free-kick against the bar late on.
West Ham defended stoutly throughout the second period. The result lifted them one point clear of Nottingham Forest and out of the relegation zone for the first time in 100 days.
The draw represented City’s second successive league stalemate against bottom-half sides. Arsenal had earlier beaten Everton 2-0 to move nine points clear at the top. City still hold a game in hand.
Guardiola had declared before kick-off that any dropped points at West Ham would end the title race. After the final whistle he voiced frustration over recent criticism. “I have been massacred on decisions many times,” Guardiola told reporters.
