Manchester City secured a crucial victory over Brentford at Etihad Stadium, breaking their stubborn resistance to close within a point of the Premier League summit. Erling Haaland scored a vital winner 19 minutes from time, securing a victory that took City above Arsenal into the second spot and kept a record fourth consecutive title in their own hands.
The result was not exactly harsh on Brentford, as Thomas Frank’s side were much more organized than they were in the heavy defeat against Liverpool at the weekend. However, with six points from their past 11 games, they are only five points off the relegation zone and still searching for sustained improvement.
Haaland seemed like a man on a mission from the first whistle, dropping deep to collect possession, overhitting a pass to Alvarez, chased after it himself, and bullied Sergio Reguilon off the ball by the touchline before charging towards the edge of the box and driving in a shot that Flekken saved. Not long afterwards, the league’s top scorer sent an acrobatic effort over the bar.
Phil Foden, hat-trick hero when these sides met in west London a fortnight ago, had a chance but ballooned his shot over the bar after being set up by Bernardo Silva. So it was down to Haaland. Ajer and Brentford were unlucky in how the Norwegian got through, but once it was striker versus goalkeeper, the outcome was inevitable.
Haaland thought he had put City 2-0 up late on, but his close-range header was ruled out for offside against full-back Kyle Walker. He is now two clear of Mo Salah in the Golden Boot standings. Whoever wins that personal battle will go a long way to deciding where the title ends up.
Brentford frustrated Guardiola with exaggerated ‘calm down’ hand signals waved in the general direction of the supporters directly above him. By half-time, he was the one needing to cool off as he spun on his heels and marched down the tunnel.
Brentford’s attempt to follow Manchester United as the only side to beat City in successive away games during Guardiola’s time as manager was not fanciful. For a brief moment at the start of the second half, Onyeka led a break downfield, but he held on too long and ballooned his cross out for a throw on the other side of the pitch. Brentford didn’t properly threaten again until the fifth minute of injury time when they won a corner, which Haaland cleared.
(BBC)
