We have to be like hoover salesmen. Farke’s novel response to City’s Brighton defeat

City have now won only one of their last nine top flight tussles and failed to add to Teemu Pukki's consolation strike at Liverpool on the opening night, away from Carrow Road.

Next up is a visit from fellow strugglers Watford, who hosted Chelsea in Saturday's evening kick-off, but Farke is already playing down the scale of the Hornets' visit.

"It is not a bigger game for us. I have had this 10 times since the final whistle," he said. "Each game is unbelievably big on this level. Of course we will be greedy for a good preparation. I have told my lads we need the mentality this season of hoover salesmen. You have to ring many, many doors before you sell one. This is exactly the mentality we need.

"If the last results drag us down too much or we are too disappointed and we are coming to the next door and look already beaten or disappointed then there is no chance to sell a hoover.

"You have to make sure in each game you are fully convinced, you are brave and sharp and you try to be at your best to sell one.

"Then there will the door that opens when you sell not just one but maybe a few. This mentality for a newly promoted side is so important. It will be crucial for the next months,

"We have to accept this loss. In general a deserved win for Brighton if you judge it by the amount of chances. They had the better chances as well. We were not too far away from a good result. Our approach for 65 minutes was pretty solid and compact. We had the best chance as well with Marco Stiepermann when he hit the bar.

But from minute 50 they put a lot of pressure on us and as a newly promoted side you have to accept these periods. The first goal is disappointing.

"It was an easy throw in after a break. We have to be sharper and more switched on to block the cross and defend the movement on the near post.

"If we keep it tight they get more nervous and we have space on the counter."