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Manchester City News : The Curious case of Ayemic Laporte

By Harsha Movva

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Rodrigo of Manchester City interacts with with team mates Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on February 13, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Rodrigo of Manchester City interacts with with team mates Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on February 13, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City were stunned by Crystal Palace in a scintillating 0-2 defeat at the Etihad on Match-day 10 of the English Premier League. Among the many adversities faced by Guardiola’s men, Ayemic Laporte’s marching orders seems to be the decisive one which saw the hosts lose all the three crucial points.

The Skyblues were shell-shocked in the initial stages of the match as a clumsy Laporte allowed Conor Gallagher to rob the ball and assist Wilfried Zaha, who sent the ball soaring past Ederson to the bottom left corner.

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Patrick Viera’s Eagles were adamant in their defence, capitalising on the head-start and proved formidable enough for the Defending Champions to penetrate.

Cityzens, though, suffered a body-blow in the stoppage time of the first half  as the referee indicated a red card to City’s Centre back for preventing a clear goal scoring opportunity by a high leg on Wilfried Zaha.

The Spanish defender initially argued with the officials, but couldn’t agree more after acknowledging what he had committed in the replays displayed on the giant screen. His walk under the tunnel was a frustrating one for the whole Etihad and the grimace on Guardiola’s face signified that.

"Repenting for his sorrowful day in the office, Laporte wrote:“ Really disappointed with the outcome today. Hard to get my first red wearing this shirt, credit to all the guys for fighting on the pitch until the end. Sorry for the loss, still we have a lot to take.Kose together, win together.Thanks for the unconditional support.”"

Source : Ayemic Laporte(via twitter)

Down to 10 men, Manchester City pressed hard and even scored in the first quarter of the second assay, only for it to be ruled offside by VAR. Crystal Palace though we’re determined  and seized the match in the 88th minute with Gallagher scoring the second.

This loss meant that the Skyblues are five points behind Table-Toppers Chelsea and a slender two point deficit with second placed Liverpool who secured a 2-2 stalemate with Brighton.

More than the loss, the absence of Ayemic Laporte for the much awaited Manchester Derby would be concerning Pep Guardiola, who even needs to take tough decisions regarding KDB and Raheem Sterling.

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