Albion 2 Manchester City 1
It took Carlos Baleba just a few minutes to change the shape of this game.
But he had changed the mood around the stadium before the second half had even kicked off.
A rousing, intense, passion-filled and fully deserved 2-1 win over the champions will be remembered and cherished as an Amex classic.
It was a proper match, under the lights and in the cold amid a vibrant atmosphere.
Once it really got going.
The first half was underwhelming, quiet and just what Manchester City wanted after three successive defeats.
They went ahead through Erling Haaland via the crossbar and might have added to their lead.
But the evening changed – the whole feel changed – as Baleba ran towards the centre of the pitch.
Albion fans have seen and loved a few midfield powerhouses or dynamos down the years.
You could go back to Beram Kayal a decade ago.
Certainly Yves Bissouma, Baleba’s predecessor from Africa via Lille, fitted that bill along, of course, with Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.
But Baleba, at his best, is almost a combination of those last three’s best bits.
Strong enough to win the ball back, mobile, able to take his time as opponents look to hurry him and willing to thread a pass or have a shot.
The keys are consistency and fitness. He was taken off against Wolves when he started being less careful in possession.
But Huerzeler would still have started him at Anfield and here had he not had a knee niggle.
As it was, 45 minutes was enough.
Baleba knocked City out of their armchair and lifted both his team and the occasion.
But there were numerous impressive performances around him, both individually and as a tactical masterplan to turn potentially a mundane home defeat into a game for the ages.
Huerzeler played down the fact he won his battle with Pep Guardiola and said: “In possession we were more patient (in the second half).
“In the first half we played too many vertical balls, we had too many easy giveaways when we were in ball possession.
“When you are more patient the gaps were opening more.
“Then we had the right timing to create exactly these passes where we get in these spaces. I think that was the big change.
“In possession and out of possession we played with more intensity.
“We had a better pressing pattern. We were more ruthless in personal duels.
“And, of course, a player like Carlos, who has exactly these profiles – a player who is very athletic, very fast, very dominant. Winning personal duels helps you to change a game.”
Albion should have been ahead sooner than they actually were.
Chances came and went, the best seeing Joao Pedro hook well wide and Jack Hinshelwood head not wide enough as he permitted Ederson the chance to parry.
Hinshelwood then took a knock and his replacement Matt O’Riley, on earlier than planned, proved to be the matchwinner.
Joao Pedro, who had equalised after a melee provoked by Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck, this time played the perfect through ball and O’Riley prodded past Ederson.
It was easy to forget the former Celtic man had not previously played in the Premier League as he settled in quickly after his rapid recovery from ankle surgery.
The only time he looked perplexed was when it came to leading the cheers from the North Stand after the game.
But Georginio Rutter, always willing to give an assist, helped him out.
Bart Verbruggen’s saves and some solid defending against high-class opponents should not be downplayed in this second Prem win over City for the Seagulls – but the first before a full house.
About 8,000 saw their 3-2 success, from 2-0 down, as Covid restrictions were eased back in 2021.
They showed that on the big screens before this game, as well as Julio Enciso’s wonder goal against City.
This one will be replayed, too, for years to come.
It did not look that way until the big man from Cameroon strode out.
Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Hinshelwood (O’Riley 57), Ayari (Baleba 46); Mitoma (Moder 90), Rutter (Gruda 66), Adingra (Joao Pedro 66); Welbeck. Subs not used: Enciso, Ferguson, Steele, Wieffer Goals: Joao Pedro 78, O’Riley 83.
Yellow card: Ayari, Igor, van Hecke.
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic; Savinho (De Bruyne 74), Foden, Gundogan (Bernardo Silva 72), Matheus Nunes; Haaland. Subs not used: Akanji, Ake, Wilson-Esbrand, McAtee, O’Reilly, Ortega, Wright Goal: Haaland 23.
Yellow card: Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Haaland.
Referee: Sam Barrott.
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