SPAIN KILLER

Rodri's late strike major relief for back-op boss Pep

- JEREMY CROSS

RODRI rode to the rescue to stop Sheffield United giving Pep Guardiola a pain in his backside to go with the one in his lumbar region.

City boss Guardiola must have been expecting a routine win at Bramall Lane to cheer him up while he recovers from a back operation in Barcelona.

But for long spells he must have been reaching for the Valium after watching Manchester City blow a host of chances to cut the Blades down to size.

A combination of some woeful finishing and brilliant goalkeeping from Wes Foderingham saw Paul Heckingbottom's side frustrate the European champions for more than an hour.

Erling Haaland missed a first-half penalty, along with two other gilt-edged openings, as United threatened to hold out for a draw and their first point of the season.

Sub Jayden Bogle looked to have done just that with an 85thminute equaliser - after a backheel howler from Kyle Walker - to cancel out Haaland's opener.