Juanma Lillo gives verdict on controversial Man City goal vs Fulham and offers Jack Grealish update

Manchester City's stand-in boss Juanma Lillo said Nathan Ake's controversial goal that gave the Blues a half-time lead against Fulham was right to stand and was more of a goal than the one Sheffield United scored against them last week.

Fulham were furious that Ake's header was allowed to stand, given Manuel Akanji was in an offside position and close to making contact with the ball as Bernd Leno started to make his dive.

Referee Michael Oliver consulted his linesman and gave the goal and a VAR check also concluded Akanji wasn't interfering with play. Fulham's players briefly refused to restart the game as they protested to Oliver and boss Marco Silva was furious on the touchline.

City had similar complaints last weekend when they felt Oli McBurnie was interfering with play when Jayden Bogle equalised for Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Lillo said the explanation given as to why that goal stood also made sense as to why Ake's header was allowed to stand against Fulham.

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"It’s good it happened because two similar things have happened," he said. "The explanation at Sheffield United we thought was offside, when they gave us the explanation they said it was about being in line with the ball. I believe today our player was less in line than against Sheffield United."

Lillo also gave up an update on Jack Grealish, who missed the game with a minor thigh injury, and Pep Guardiola's stand-in said it was now unlikely he would link up with the England squad.

"It’s going to be difficult for Jack to make it, but I’m not a doctor and it will be difficult for me to explain," he said.