Erling Haaland’s first-half header was enough for Manchester City to beat Coventry City 1-0 at the Etihad and keep a perfect early league start intact.

The Norway striker met Antoine Semenyo’s cross at the back post in the 26th minute. It was his third goal of the season and the 300th of his club career.

City needed the moment. Nico O’Reilly pulled up in the warm-up and Enzo Fernandez, signed from Chelsea in midweek and slated for the bench, was pushed straight into the XI. Gianluigi Donnarumma almost turned a back-pass into an own goal. Taiwo Awoniyi then ran through one-on-one and missed.

After that scare City held most of the ball. Coventry, newly promoted, still created enough to make the afternoon tight. Haaland had further sights at goal. The score stayed 1-0.

Enzo Maresca’s side have three wins from three. Coventry leave with a reminder that they can live in these games without the points. For City, the afternoon was less a statement than a survival of their own sloppiness rescued, again, by the man who finishes when the rest of the pitch looks messy.

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