WHAT HAPPENED
We rose to second in the Premier League 2 table following a 1-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday, courtesy of Jordi Osei-Tutu’s second-half strike.
We very nearly raced into an early lead through the returning Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who picked up a loose ball from City’s Arijanet Muric on the edge of the area, but saw his effort tipped over the bar.
Soon after, Joe Willock had the chance to open the scoring from close range, only to ping the ball off the crossbar, after we had done well to work our way behind the hosts’ backline.
We kept up the pressure and once again carved open City’s defence, with Willock this time glancing the ball just wide after meeting Eddie Nketiah’s cross.
Having been unable to break the deadlock before the break, we started the second half keen to make amends and did so in quick fashion.
Fresh from signing his new contract with the club, Osei-Tutu was played through excellently by Reine-Adelaide and fired the ball in at the near post.
Shortly after, City had their first big chance of the match when Lukas Nmecha broke through on goal, but saw his shot saved by Deyan Iliev.
With full-time nearing, Willock and Reiss Nelson had a pair of quick-fire opportunities, as the former struck the woodwork once again, while the latter blasted the rebound straight at Muric.
WHAT IT MEANS
The win sees us rise to second in the table, trailing leaders Liverpool by eight points and ahead of third-place Leicester City, who have a game in hand, by one.
WHAT’S NEXT
Steve Gatting’s side host Derby County in their next fixture at Meadow Park. When we faced the Rams earlier in the season, we were 3-2 winners, having come back from a two-goal deficit to snatch the win late on.
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