Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca reacts during his side's 1-0 Premier League loss to Brighton on Saturday.

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca was left with a familiar feeling of frustration following a 1-0 loss at home to Brighton on Saturday that condemned his side to a second straight Premier League defeat.

Yasin Ayari's 11th-minute goal, which followed a miscued clearance by City right-back Matheus Nunes, proved the difference at the Etihad.

City, which started the weekend top of the table, pressed hard for an equalizer, but could not find a way through against a determined Brighton.

This loss came just a week after a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa ended City's perfect start to the league campaign.

"It's a very similar feeling that we had after the Aston Villa game," said Maresca.

"Unfortunately, we created enough to get some points, but we didn't score. In this moment, it's like this.

"We are second in terms of goals scored in the Premier League, so that means we are scoring," he added.

"However, we are conceding silly goals. Hopefully, we can avoid that in the next game."

Brighton's victory, its first away win over City, came just days after it lost on penalties in the League Cup to Maresca's men at the Etihad on Wednesday.

Bart Verbruggen was inspired in the Brighton goal, as the Seagulls, who have now beaten both champion Arsenal and City in the league this season, moved to within two points of top spot.

Brighton has never won a major trophy, and its youthful manager Fabian Hurzeler tried to keep his side's feet on the ground by saying his sole concern was the next match.

"We are in (the middle of) a big process — a process where we go home now and analyze the game and take the right things out of it," said the 33-year-old German.

"Then, we try to prepare for Getafe.

"That's another big challenge for us in the Conference League, a different game. We only try to go from game to game."

While Hurzeler's side has been free-scoring, it showed another side on Saturday.

"There's an old phrase — defense wins you battles and wins you championships. Of course, we're not speaking about the championship, but, especially today, we needed to have this defensive mindset. It's always a togetherness when you defend like we did," Hurzeler said.

But 10-time English champion City knows its results on the field may count for little this season unless it can successfully overturn a guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules.

City has appealed, but if that ruling is upheld it is likely to face a severe points penalty and possible relegation from the English top-flight.

AFP