Under-21s edged out by City after quick-fire double

Our Under-21s conceded twice in quick succession to be edged out at Manchester City in the Premier League 2 on Monday night.

An impressive first-half display saw us go toe-to-toe with the current league leaders in every aspect as Rio Kyerematen, Oli Irow and Leo Black all went close as we created the better chances in a goalless opening 45 minutes.

However, without anything to show for our endeavours at the interval, all the early hard work was undone in six second-half minutes when City captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart before Divin Mubama doubled the lead from the penalty spot as we left Manchester empty handed for the second game on the spin.

Faced with another stern away test in the north west up against a Cityzens side unbeaten at home and occupying top spot in the Premier League 2, Wayne Burnett made one change from our previous encounter against our opponent's city rivals Manchester United 10 days prior as Tyrell Ashcroft returned to the starting side at the Joie Stadium.

In the ascendency from the outset, Yusuf Akhamrich tested goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff with barely one minute on the clock before in-form forward Irow crossed deep for Kyerematen who sent his header narrowly wide on eight minutes as we asked real questions of the home side in the opening stages.

Looking to capitalise on our early dominance, Black had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Paul Cooper when his curling attempt struck midfielder Charlie Gray's arm from close range in the 20th minute while Irow, who offered a constant threat in the first half, saw his close range shot well blocked by the recovering Max Alleyne six minutes later following superb build-up play from captain Tyrese Hall and Kyerematen.

With the league's top scorers nullified to no attempts on target up until the 42nd minute, City did go close as Alleyne struck the upright on the angle on 33 minutes and Mubama - who was perhaps fortunate to still be on the pitch after receiving only a yellow card for an off-ball incident with Ashcroft three minutes later - headed narrowly over.

It was a frenetic end to the half as both sides pushed for the opener, Ruan McAidoo registering his side's first effort on goal only for Maeson King to deny a certain goal whilst, at the other end, Whatmuff spilled Kyerematen's swirling shot which allowed Max Robson and Ashcroft to pounce but both had their follow-up attempts saved in a goal-mouth scramble before Black was denied from close range on the stroke of half-time after excellent work from Hall.

Unable to convert our chances following an enterprising first period, we were punished just two minutes after the restart when City produced a well-worked free-kick routine that created space for Simpson-Pusey to steal in unmarked and finish first-time past a helpless Aaron Maguire to break the deadlock. Then, only six minutes later, the home side caught us cold again when Mubama won and converted a penalty to double the advantage. The striker was adjudged to have been tripped by King as he tried to steer in Emilio Lawrence's dangerous low cross from the left and he made no mistake from the resulting spot kick.

In truth, we never fully recovered from that double blow and, despite making attacking substitutions just past the hour mark as Damola Ajayi and Jaden Williams entered the fray, it was Ben Wilkinson's side who looked the more threatening, especially through Justin Oboavwoduo who flashed one just wide and hit the woodwork with two near identical strikes from the edge of the area midway through the second half.

Going in search of a late lifeline in the closing stages, we went close on a few occasions as Irow fired into the side netting from the angle on 81 minutes before, with one minute remaining, some excellent link-up play down the right between Ajayi, Black and Ashcroft fashioned our best chance of the half which almost resulted in the latter finding the bottom corner only for Simpson-Pusey to somehow steer the attempt agonisingly wide to preserve his side's clean sheet.

Match data

Goals: Man City - Simpson-Pusey 47, Mubama 54.

Yellow cards: Man City - Mubama 36; Spurs - King 53.

Referee: Paul Cooper.

Venue: Joie Stadium, City Football Academy, Manchester.

Weather: Cloudy, two degrees.