Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer updates delivered straight to your inbox When Ilkay Gundogan limped off at the Amex Stadium, Manchester City held their breath.
At that point, having gone down to ten men early on and already without three players for fitness reasons, the already irrelevant result became the very last of Pep Guardiola's worries.
It was all about getting through to full-time with no more injury or suspension issues. Maybe that's why Kevin De Bruyne remained on the bench, with City involved in a physical battle against Brighton, with an officiating team unwilling to protect them.
After missing two games with injury, this was not the game to be bringing on De Bruyne for a cameo to build his stamina back
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