Manchester City’s misery continued with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to late goals from substitutes João Pedro and Matt O’Riley handing the champions their fourth successive defeat in all competitions .

The defeat marks the first time City manager Pep Guardiola has lost four times in a row during his coaching career and keeps his team second in the league table with 23 points from 11 matches. Brighton moved up to fourth with 19 points.

City looked set to end their ugly run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovačić played a long pass between Brighton’s two centre-backs, and the Norwegian striker fired in his own rebound to extend his lead in the league at 12 goals.

Brighton improved after the break and Pedro leveled the hosts in the 78th minute when City were unable to clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to beat it past Ederson.

“Last season we lost too many points and the manager told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams,” Pedro told Sky Sports.

O’Riley made his Premier League debut in memorable fashion when he earned a well-deserved victory five minutes later, latching onto Pedro’s ball and heading home from close range past the outstretched arm of Ederson.

Guardiola will rue City’s wasted chances in the first half, including a couple of chances from Haaland in the space of a few minutes which, on another night, could have seen the Norwegian celebrate a hat-trick.

The first chance saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to stop a searing Haaland shot with his right ankle at the near post. Haaland then headed straight over the bar.

With Brighton only having 39.5% possession, it looked like a goal was coming in the second half.

The hosts had a fantastic chance shortly after the break when Jack Hinshelwood leapt high to head home a looping cross from Pervis Estupiñán which an alert Ederson pushed away.

City were hit by injuries with Nathan Aké, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Rúben Dias missing on Saturday, alongside long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

Their previous three defeats were a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur which knocked them out of the League Cup, a shock 2-1 league defeat at Bournemouth and a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Sporting in which the Midfielder Bernardo Silva said City were present. a “dark place”.

Reuters