Erling Haaland's 26th-minute header proved the difference as Manchester City edged out Coventry City 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, maintaining a perfect record under manager Enzo Maresca and moving temporarily to the top of the Premier League.

Haaland, whose clinical instinct in front of goal has made him a nightmare for promoted sides, has now netted in 20 of 21 appearances against Premier League newcomers — his only blank coming against Sunderland last season. The towering finish did what it always seems to do: win games.

Fernandez makes an immediate mark

Deadline day signing Enzo Fernandez, valued at £125 million, came into the side as a late replacement for the injured Nico O'Reilly — the 21-year-old having been hurt in the warm-up — and delivered an assured performance on debut. His incisive pass to Antoine Semenyo directly set up the winner, hinting at the quality City have added to an already formidable squad.

Manchester City spent a league-record £440 million in the transfer window, with two new arrivals making their bows against Coventry. Yet it was the familiar figure of Haaland who, once again, settled the contest.

Coventry push hard but finish below par

Frank Lampard's Coventry were far from passive opponents. Summer recruit Taiwo Awoniyi squandered a clear one-on-one opportunity, steering wide when a goal seemed certain, while City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was called upon to deny Jack Rudoni with a commanding save at the back post and to repel a late effort from Ellis Simms.

Despite the pressure Coventry applied, Lampard's side remain without a goal since returning to the top flight — three matches played, none scored. They came close at the Etihad, closer than the scoreline suggests, but could not find the breakthrough that their determination deserved.

City, meanwhile, march on — imperfect in performance, perfect in points — with Haaland once more their irresistible constant at the summit of the Premier League.