Man City player ratings v Luton: Three score 7/10 but one earns 4/10 in 2-1 win - gallery

Manchester City returned to winning ways on Sunday as they beat Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.

It was the Blues’ first win in five Premier League matches and, while controlling the vast majority of proceedings in Bedfordshire, it was far from a straightforward task against a disciplined Luton side. The Hatters even led at half-time, but second-half goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish ensured the visitors came away with all three points.

City dominated for long spells and managed 10 first-half shots, but couldn’t find a way past Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski. The 31-year-old twice kept out two Phil Foden efforts in the opening 45 minutes, palmed a powerful Rodri effort away from goal and was relieved to see Julian Alvarez’s front-post flick slide off target.

But for all City’s impressive play on the ball, Luton stood resolute and gave the champions little time on the ball. They also created an opening via Andros Townsend in the 33rd minute when his whirring shot was kept out by Ederson, but the Brazilian could do nothing to prevent Elijah Adebayo nodding the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time. It was Towsend - the scourge of City in the past - who curled in a magnificent cross to the back post and Adebayo squeezed in between Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, hung in the air and powered his header into the back of the net.

The second period started as the first ended, with City playing well but struggling to find a way past Luton's deep block. Alvarez saw a free-kick deflect wide and Kaminski pushed Dias’ shot onto the bar, as Pep Guardiola’s side searched for an equaliser.

But after an hour of superb defending, sloppiness from Luton turned the game on its head as City grabbed two goals in the space of four minutes. Silva netted the first as he reacted quickest after Rodri was tackled by Tom Lockyer in the box and, as the ball rolled to the Portugal international inside the box, he curled it into Kaminski’s far corner.

Almost immediately, Grealish made it 2-1 when Alvarez won possession from Amari'i Bell midway inside the Luton half and seconds later fired it across to the winger at the back post, with the former Aston Villa man's side-foot effort squirmed through the legs of Kaminski.

There were few chances in the latter stages of the game, with City controlling possession but not offering much incision. Their best chance after the Grealish goal came when Alvarez fired a shot over from distance in the 79th minute. Luton did push to try and find an equaliser and, while they did put City under pressure, couldn't come any closer than a few long balls into the box.

City managed to hold on though, and the win sees them cut the gap to leaders Liverpool to four points...