What Pep Guardiola did on touchline after Erling Haaland goal shows truth about Everton

As Erling Haaland was mobbed by his teammates and Pep Guardiola celebrated on the touchline it was clear their joy came with a heavy dose of relief.

Manchester City got their win over Everton. But they were made to work for it and the Etihad was a ground bursting with frustration for 70 minutes until a debatable corner led to the ball bouncing around the Everton box and falling kindly for Haaland.

The extent of the home side’s reaction will offer little solace for Sean Dyche or the travelling away supporters as this defeat guaranteed another week in the bottom three - unless the appeal against the 10 point deduction leads to that punishment being reduced over the coming days.

The stubbornness and resilience displayed by a team still struggling with injuries against such illustrious opposition remains something to cling onto, however. Whatever happens on the pitch, that spirit will be central to the rest of the season for Everton.

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For more than an hour Everton held out against a City side that needed the second wind provided by the introduction of Kevin de Bruyne to find a breakthrough. The hosts had picked and pulled at the Blues’ defence with little success as the away side packed the middle of the pitch, defended the box bravely and won enough battles on the edge of their own area and on the halfway line to give the defence opportunities to reset.

Jarrad Branthwaite stuck out a crucial leg to halt Haaland when he thought he finally had a clear chance in the first half, the 21-year-old managing the striker well for much of this match. James Tarkowski made crucial