Phil Foden strike earns Manchester City narrow win over Brighton

It has been a while since Manchester City have been asked to make up significant ground on their neighbours from across town. It would be a huge surprise if they have forgotten how to do it.

Here Pep Guardiola’s team moved within four points of Premier League leaders Manchester United and they have a game in hand. If United were under any illusion that champions Liverpool remain their most significant obstacle between the most surprising title win for years, they should not be.

City’s season has been a strange one so far. They have lacked fluency and potency, for sure. For example, a centre forward has not scored a goal for them in the league since November.

Manchester City climbed back into the top four of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory against struggling Brighton

Phil Foden (right) scored the decisive goal just before the break with a superb finish from 20 yards as he impressed again

Foden’s goal came as a relief to City after a first half that had seen them dominate play but find themselves thwarted

But all that matters now is that they are improving and they are in touch. If United have come from nowhere to poke their noses ahead at the top, then City have emerged on the back of better form also. 

This was their seventh consecutive win in all competitions and they were good for it. Phil Foden was the only player who managed to beat Brighton’s outstanding Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez – Raheem Sterling missing a penalty in added time – and Graham Potter’s team were the one asking the questions for much of the closing moments.

But this was a victory that City deserved and with Gabriel Jesus coming on as a substitute here and Sergio Aguero also fit again, they are only likely to grow more dangerous from this point of the season on.

Sadly in these strange times, some questions may be asked of City’s goal celebrations. As many as eight City players rushed to surround Foden despite urgings to the contrary this week from the Premier League. It will take a while for that message to sink it in seems.

Kevin de Bruyne caused Brighton problems in the match but couldn’t beat Robert Sanchez after bright early exchanges

The hosts dominated possession at the Etihad but Brighton remained tough to break down and were in the game until the end

Afterwards Guardiola said: ‘The situation is critical. It’s the third wave.

‘We respect the protocols. The Premier League know best.

‘In our locker room and restaurant we respect the social distance.

‘But with celebrations it’s difficult. I don’t know if we will be able to do it.’

Foden’s goal was a good one and the young player’s influence at City continues to grow. England manager Gareth Southgate was here to watch him and will have been impressed.

Not that he was the game’s best player. No, that was the inimitable Kevin de Bruyne. On the team sheet the Belgian had been listed as City’s nominal centre forward for the night but that didn’t transpire to be the case. De Bruyne was all over the place, in a good way.

With just a minute or left before half-time, the 30-year-old appeared on the left side and fed Foden just inside him. Foden’s first touch with his left foot was lovely and immediately took him inside Adam Webster and in to space on the edge of the penalty area.

There was still much to do. Defenders were closing in and Brighton goalkeeper Sanchez was well placed. Foden’s right foot shot was well placed, however, and just powerful enough to beat Sanchez low to his right.

Only recently turned 22, Sanchez looks a prospect. In the first half he saved well from De Bruyne in two one-on-one situations and in the second half he was even busier. He seems to benefit from a good understanding of positioning and has hands strong enough to deflect the ball away to safe distances. 

On occasion he had to be a little fortunate but who doesn’t when they come to the Etihad? Bernardo Silva struck the angle of post and bar around the hour mark and in added time Sanchez brought down De Bruyne – his only misake of the night – only for Sterling to hoof a most miserable penalty over the top. 

This was City’s seventh consecutive win in all competitions and they were good for it as Pep Guardiola’s side maintain form

That apart, there were second half saves to deny Ilkay Gundogan, De Bruyne – twice – and also the impressive City right-back Joao Cancelo.

If all this makes it sound like as siege, it wasn’t. Brighton are a brave side under Potter and they were not afraid to advance forward here. In players such as Leandro Trossard, new South African signing Percy Tau and the advancing wing-back Bernardo, they had impressive performers of their own.

But their problem under the likeable Potter – both this season and last – is that they simply don’t score enough goals. Tau has been bought to help with that but nevertheless Brighton have drawn more Premier League games than anyone – eight – and it is hurting them. Here, despite some good periods of impression, they didn’t really cause City goalkeeper Ederson to make a difficult save.

Potter said: ‘I thought the players were fantastic. They showed great personality.

‘We will try to adhere to the protocols with celebrating. It’s hard as it’s instinctive but it should be doable.’

Brighton were the team asking the questions for much of the closing moments but failed to find the equaliser they needed

Relive Sportsmail’s Ieuan Ivett’s coverage of the EPL match between Man City and Brighton including score, lineups and build-up.