IT'S PAU OR NOTHING

Resolute Villa again expose City's overreliance on in-form Haaland

- BY ANDY DUNN

AS IS the way in modern football, it does not have to be a goal to provoke scenes of raucous celebration.

A standard tackle by a touchline can get you a fist-bump nowadays.

But Pau Torres deserved all the emotional congratulations that came his way when he somehow diverted Savinho’s goal-bound strike over his own crossbar midway through the second half.

And that one piece of defending symbolised a Villa performance that put talk of Manchester City’s rejuvenation into context.

This still does not look like a City team that will be going toe-to-toe with Premier League title contenders this season.

And, of course, this defeat highlighted what has become blindingly obvious.

If Erling Haaland does not find the net - this blank brought his scoring streak to an end at 12 matches - then City appear to have precious few alternative threats.