Monday 5 December 2016 08:41, UK
Sergio Aguero let his Manchester City team-mates down with his late red card against Chelsea, according to the Sunday Supplement.
The Argentinian striker was sent off for a knee-high tackle on David Luiz in stoppage-time of City's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday.
The challenge sparked a brawl that cleared both benches, with City midfielder Fernandinho also dismissed following a confrontation with Cesc Fabregas.
Aguero has already missed three games this season through suspension following a clash with West Ham's Winston Reid in August and is now set to receive a four-match ban.
The Sun's northern football correspondent Neil Custis believes his absence will cost City points in the title race, and says Aguero's actions represent a "dereliction of duty".
"Aguero was told by his manager after elbowing Winston Reid in the face and getting a ban to be smarter and more intelligent on the pitch," Custis told the Sunday Supplement.
"Given that the message was probably delivered in Spanish, there can't be much wiggle-room on this one [for Aguero]. He clearly hasn't listened.
"Aguero will be the difference between City winning the league and not this season. He is now not playing for four games and it is absolutely a dereliction of duty.
"The club should fine him because he knows he's going to be sent off when he does that challenge. He knows what he is going to do."
Aguero, who has scored 10 Premier League goals so far this season, is set to miss their key fixture against title rivals Arsenal on December 18, live on Sky Sports.
And Custis believes City manager Pep Guardiola, who may call on Kelechi Iheanacho, will struggle to replace him.
"He [Aguero] is the best striker in the Premier League, in the top three players for me in the world, City's greatest ever player, and you cannot go around doing these things," Custis added.
"It is costing his club points, over these next four games without Aguero there is not enough firepower in that team.
"Iheanacho is a good young player but he is nowhere near Sergio Aguero. Nobody - apart from possibly Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez - is."
