BY KIERAN CANNING
MANCHESTER City failed to ease fears of missing out on next season’s Champions League after twice blowing the lead to draw 2-2 against Brighton, while third-placed Nottingham Forest thrashed Ipswich 4-2 on Saturday.
Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush put City in front, but high-flying Brighton extended their unbeaten run to seven games thanks to Pervis Estupinan's free-kick and an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal.
Marmoush was restored to the starting line-up and proved to be City’s brightest spark going forward.
The Egyptian won the penalty from which Haaland opened the scoring with his 29th goal of the season.
City’s lead lasted only 10 minutes as Estupinan curled a free-kick in off the post past the leaden-footed Stefan Ortega in the City goal.
Marmoush blasted City back in front from long range before halftime.
Seventh-placed Brighton, though, took just three minutes into the second half to level again when Jack Hinshelwood's shot was turned into his own net by Khusanov.
Nico Gonzalez hit the post as City pushed in vain for a winner.
A top-five Premier League finish will almost certainly secure a Champions League place this season thanks to English clubs’ strong performances in European competition.
A point leaves City still in fifth, just one point ahead of Brighton in seventh.
City boss Pep Guardiola says: “I’m always confident, in that I am a master. I do have moments when I can doubt but I find the right way, the positiveness in everything.
“I know it will be difficult for many reasons but we have nine games, nine finals.”
Forest’s charge towards Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 1980 continued with a dominant display at Portman Road.
Ninth-placed Bournemouth’s bid to qualify for Europe for the first time is fading after a 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.
Down the log in 14, Everton, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten league run to nine games thanks to Jake O’Brien’s 90th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw against West Ham.