BLANKE MANC

Reijnders backs goal-shy City to help Erling out

- BY TYRONE MARSHALL

TIJJANI Reijnders scored with his first shot of the season for Manchester City.

But the Dutchman's luck in front of goal since then sums up the misfiring nature of Pep Guardiola’s men.

The 27-year-old took his goal at Wolves in mid-August superbly and, having scored a career-best 15 for AC Milan last season, he looked ready to deliver similar numbers for his new club after a £46.3m move to the Etihad.

But Reijnders has now had 26 shots without scoring and he fired a blank again at Villa Park on Sunday.

Although fielded in a deeper midfield role, he had two chances, sending one over the crossbar and the other wide of the post.

So with Villa’s defenders doing a superb job on Erling Haaland, and none of City’s other attacking outlets able to come to the party, it meant the end of a nine-game unbeaten run.