City were on their way to making it back-to-back wins in the Champions League this season but Dier’s nerveless, last-minute penalty salvaged a draw for Monaco.
Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last six games, but a worrying trend is beginning to emerge of conceding late goals.
They have conceded eight times in all competitions so far, but half of those have come at crucial periods in each half.
23 August: 2-0 home loss against Tottenham after conceding in the third minute of injury-time in the first half
31 August: 2-1 loss at Brighton after conceding in the 89th minute
21 September: 1-1 draw at Arsenal after conceding in the 93rd minute
1 October: 2-2 draw at Monaco after conceding in the 90th minute
It means City have dropped three points in the Premier League after conceding in the 89th minute or later – which would have seen them on level points with second-placed Arsenal – and a further two in the Champions League.
This was also a missed opportunity to put right their recent poor away record in Europe, now failing to win their past five games on the road in the competition.
The result follows on from last season’s disappointment of not winning a major trophy, being knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off round and finishing third in the Premier League.
“You wouldn’t panic,” former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt said on Match of the Day. “Everyone wants to win their games and get the adulation of what a great team you are but it is not normal to keep doing it year on year.
“Man City have done it for so many years but they are having a bit of a struggle over the last couple of years. They have players who can turn games and win you big competitions and trophies.
“They will be there or thereabouts, they just have to get the squad together and be fit coming in to the new year.”
