Pep: City had respect for 'special' Ipswich

WE ARE only 180 minutes into the new season, but Pep Guardiola, inset, has already spotted a title-winning trait - and it came from a defensive mix-up.

- JOE BRAY

Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodics timed his run perfectly to dissect the City defence and squeeze a shot under Ederson. Ipswich boss Keiran McKenna admitted they had targeted that specific move as their best chance of scoring, and the jubilant away end erupted when it worked just seven minutes in.

City developed a frustrating habit of conceding opening goals last season, often thanks to a direct ball through the middle, and this was a sense of deja vu. Yet by 15 minutes City were 3-1 up and in control. Those eight minutes could turn out to be mightily important in the overall arc of the campaign.