Haaland helps Maresca achieve record start as Manchester City defeat Ipswich

There have been few winners in Manchester City’s guilty verdict, except highly paid lawyers and the inflatable fruit industry. The fans have suffered, being forced to question everything they have been told, while being labelled “cheats”, but they were able to forget the cacophony of noise around the club as Enzo Maresca became the first Premier League manager to win his first seven games.

Ipswich were the latest victims, but they put up a fight in City’s first home Premier League game since being found to have breached financial rules. Defiance has fortified most of the City fanbase, who were able to see local boy Phil Foden instigate the triumph with a kiss of the badge, before an emblem of their wealth, Erling Haaland, secured the points to move six clear, albeit with a few scares between, courtesy of Daizen Maeda and Zian Flemming.

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“I didn’t expect to win seven out of seven, but we are working well,” Maresca said. “This is the most important thing.”

Victory came at a cost as Haaland and Antoine Semenyo limped off at full-time, in addition to Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly suffering injuries, although Maresca was left unsure of the severity as City prepare to host AEK Athens on Tuesday.

If City have felt like it has been their backs against the wall for the past few weeks, it was Ipswich’s turn. Gary O’Neil put 11 men behind the ball whenever the hosts ventured over the halfway line as City enjoyed 90% possession in the opening quarter-hour, but without truly threatening as they struggled to find space in the lowest of blocks, expertly organised and fully disciplined.

Maresca had made six changes to refresh the side and it took time to understand one another’s rhythm, with Ayyoub Bouaddi creating it from defensive midfield in another mature performance from the teenager making his first Premier League start.

It was inevitable what was coming as there was irrefutable evidence that City were dominant. As at Anfield, Jérémy Doku was a key instigator, showing mesmeric skill on the left of the area before finding Foden to sweep home for his first goal since mid-December.

“I know him from years ago, for me he’s one of the best Premier League players,” Maresca said. “Since day one, it’s my duty to help him to be again one of the best players. I’m very happy for his goal and hopefully it can be just the beginning of many goals and many good performances.”

There was an element of pantomime around the ground from the booing of the Premier League anthem, the singalongs and inflatables. It was fitting Marc Guéhi did not know Maeda was behind him, allowing the Ipswich man to latch on to a sublime curved through ball from Abdoul Ouattara and equalise two minutes after the opener.

• With Manchester City maintaining their 100% record, Enzo Maresca is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a team.

• Manchester City are the third team to win their opening seven games of a Premier League season, after Liverpool in 2019-20 (first 8) and Chelsea in 2005-06 (first 9).

• Erling Haaland (pictured) has now scored 100 non-penalty goals in the Premier League, reaching this milestone in fewer appearances than any other player (139). The previous fewest was 150 appearances, by Alan Shearer in 1996. Opta

After a missed chance, Haaland showed it is possible to get a better result second time around, making the most of Kovacic becoming an auxiliary winger. The header lacked power, but Christian Walton could not keep it out, palming the ball from one hand to the other and into the net before Haaland was serenaded with the clap of bananas.

City found themselves stuck in a lull, unable to prise open Ipswich, instead having to bide their time. It was a test of patience and a sweeping move upfield concluded with a precision pass from Iliman Ndiaye and an aggressive finish from Haaland, who was later denied a hat-trick by the video assistant referee.

Farai Hallam reviewed footage of Guéhi taking out Abdul Fatawu in the area and Flemming did the rest in the 90th minute, as reward for an impressive team performance, leaving O’Neil upset Ipswich departed with nothing.

“They’re an incredible group,” he said. “Players giving everything. It’s a privilege to stand there and represent them because they’re an incredible group.”

City were left to complain about a Premier League official’s decision when 12 minutes was added on, with few knowing why, but this result will not be questioned.

Maresca called on his team to make their own noise while a cacophony swirls around them, but on-pitch success will not speak louder while what is happening off it is unresolved. The fans sang about relegation and trips to Stockport, embracing a dark situation with humour to match.