Haaland nets double as Man City go six points clear at the top

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City beat Ipswich Town to make it seven straight wins at the start of a Premier League season for the first time in the club's history.

Erling Haaland scored twice after Phil Foden's opener was cancelled out by Daizen Maeda to send Enzo Maresca's side six points clear at the top of the table.

This was City's first home game in the competition since being found guilty of breaking its financial rules.

After celebrating victory over Liverpool at a hostile Anfield in their first match since the verdict against the club was announced, the home fans showed their support for the club as they booed the Premier League anthem prior to kick-off and waved inflatable bananas in a recently revived tradition from the 1980s.

On the pitch, Maresca's players continued to block out the uncertainty surrounding the club's future admirably.

Haaland's double ensured City joined Chelsea (2005-06) and Liverpool (2019-20) as only the third club in Premier League history to win their first seven games of a season.

Maresca, meanwhile, is the first manager to win his first seven games in charge of a club in the competition.

Ipswich temporarily stunned a raucous Etihad Stadium with a quick response to Foden's opener, as Maeda slotted in 155 seconds later after getting the better of Marc Guehi.

But Haaland restored the hosts' advantage before half-time and later put City in control with a composed finish after being played through by Iliman Ndiaye.

The Norwegian then believed he had his hat-trick after firing in acrobatically but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.

Zian Flemming gave Ipswich late hope by slamming in a 90th-minute penalty following a foul by Guehi on Abdul Fatawu, but City were able to see out the 12 minutes of added time.

Phil Foden goes bananas!

Man City analysis: Best start since 1897 - but injuries a concern

Manchester City manager Maresca reacts to win against Ipswich Town

Maresca has insisted that he and his players can only focus on matters on the pitch while City appeal against a verdict that found them guilty of 114 charges related to Premier League financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.

They are continuing to show that focus commendably.

It is the first time in 129 years that City have won their first seven games at the start of a league campaign.

They were in the second tier when they last achieved that - in 1897-98.

It is a remarkable achievement in its context, in the midst of an unprecedented period that has left the club's fate unknown.

Beyond the victory, there were a number of positives for Maresca as his seamless succession of club-great Pep Guardiola continued, including Foden's first league goal since December and the composed midfield performance of teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi.

However, it may have come at significant cost. After Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes were both forced off with injury, Haaland and substitute Antoine Semenyo both looked to be hobbling towards the end of the match.

Forced to continue playing after City used all their changes, Haaland, who is up to eight league goals this season, headed straight down the tunnel after picking up his knock.

Ipswich analysis: Gritty side push City until the end

O'Neil 'unbelievably proud' of Ipswich Town despite loss to Manchester City

Ipswich arrived in Manchester having won half of their opening six games in an encouraging start to their top-flight return.

Crucially, in the context of their bid to survive, those victories have come against teams they would expect to be in the bottom half of the league this season.

Although Gary O'Neil's side left empty-handed, this determined, collective effort ensured their momentum was not significantly damaged following a win against Fulham and before key meetings with Nottingham Forest and Hull City.

Town refused to wilt under sustained periods of pressure and a gritty second-half display ensured they remained in the match.

While City peppered Christian Walton's goal with 19 attempts, big second-half chances for Emersonn and Flemming, and a series of marginal offside calls that enraged O'Neil, meant Ipswich kept City on edge until the final whistle on 103 minutes.