Unfair.The same thing can be said for both life and Coventry City's Premier League life, as Frank Lampard's side are rock bottom after three opening EPL games. Following the losses to reigning champions Arsenal (3-0) and the home defeat to Hull City (0-2), the newly promoted team lost its third match in a row without scoring a single goal on Saturday afternoon at the Etihad despite playing bravely, creating several clear-cut chances and making life quite miserable for Manchester City.How did Coventry not score here pic.twitter.com/sW6IBnqHCr https://t.co/R65x08umzJ— Conn (@ConnCFC) September 5, 2026 Alas, Enzo Maresca's lot recorded their third win in a row (1-0), although the Sky Blues were as far from perfect as it gets. Erling Haaland's first-half header decided the game, as Enzo Fernandez made his first City appearance.The Argentine clocked 75 minutes and didn't impress, but was involved in the build-up of Haaland's winner, which is probably the perfect start for the former Chelsea captain with his new team.🚨 ERLING HAALAND SCORES FOR MANCHESTER CITY THIS GUY IS INSANE WOW 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/WSuL0SgnLI— KinG £ (@xKGx__) September 5, 2026 It could have ended much differently, especially if Manchester City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had let the ball go a few centimetres more before challenging it on the goal line in the very early stage. Two thirds of the ball were over the line, but that was not enough, despite Taiwo Awoniyi signalling that Coventry had gone ahead.The same player, the robust Nigerian striker, found himself in a sublime chance, going one-on-one with Donnarumma shortly after, following Antoine Semenyo's dreadful pass, but Awoniyi's effort went wide.##NAJAVA_MECA_9936871##That second wake-up call for the hosts did affect the match, as the Cityzens tried to regroup and make a statement in the attack. Enzo found Cherki near the edge of the box, as the latter danced his way to get a shot before smashing it off the post.After another Coventry's goalscoring opportunity, City took the lead out of the blue. Enzo fed Semenyo with an accurate ball on the right-hand side, as the Ghanaian crossed it to the back post for Haaland, who headed it home in his trademark style to put the opponents to sword.Enzo Fernandez vs Coventry [H] Full Performance pic.twitter.com/mUTFQa36Sm— Ous (@mcfcous) September 5, 2026 Instead of using it as fuel for further dominance, the hosts struggled to secure a more comfortable win. Moreover, they showed signs of panic in the later stages, shivering in the last ten minutes of the match, as Lampard's boys proved they're built differently.However, that was just not enough to grab at least a point against the last season's runners-up in front of a sell-out crowd for the second time since Pep Guardiola's Manchester City departure. Even without their talisman, their legendary coach and inspirational leader for an entire decade, it seems that the Cityzens are eager to get their vengeance and return the Premier League trophy to the Etihad.To do so, they would have to do it much better next week, at Old Trafford against Manchester United.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 3FridayIpswich – Liverpool 0-2 (0-2)/Isak 6, 9/SaturdayNewcastle – Bournemouth 2-2 (1-2)/Barnes 37, Ramsey 88 – Tavernier 9, Thiaw 35 og/Brentford – Sunderland 1-1 (0-0)/Janelt 57 – Le Fee 82 pen/Brighton – Leeds 1-1 (0-1)/Vuskovic 71 – Bogle 15/Fulham – Crystal Palace 2-3 (2-1)/King 11, Palacios 42 – Mitchell 35, 54, Chilwell 77/Manchester City – Coventry (1-0)/Haaland 26/Nottingham Forest – Tottenham 0-019.30: (3.90) Hull (3.50) Aston Villa (1.95) Sunday16.00: (3.35) Everton (3.45) Man.Utd. (2.15) 18.30: (1.75) Arsenal (3.60) Chelsea (4.90) ***odds are subject to change***
168