City keep up pressure in title race after Brentford win

Despite those initial openings for the visitors, the hosts grew into the game.

Jeremy Doku was the name on everyone’s lips before the match and he continued his fine form by creating numerous opportunities in the first half.

The Belgian produced a delicious cross from the left that Erling Haaland, having evaded both centre-halves in the box, headed just over.

Our No.9 then got in front of Kristoffer Ajer to meet a cross from Antoine Semenyo but it was straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.

It was Doku driving at the Bees defence once again moments later and he cut it back for Haaland who fired goalwards but Kelleher gathered at the second time of asking after Nathan Ake tried to poke home the ball as it bobbled free of the Irish keeper’s grasp.

Brentford started the second half strongly just as they did the first, Gianluigi Donnarumma having to show all his acumen to stop an advancing Thiago from firing the Bees in front.

Guardiola shuffled his pack on the hour mark, Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden replacing Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders as the boss looked for a response.

He got it as mere moments later, City were ahead with man of the moment Doku producing a piece of individual brilliance to curl classily past the helpless Kelleher.

Sub Foden almost made it two for the Blues when he glided effortlessly into the box but his left foot effort was saved by the feet of Brentford’s No.1.

The Bees showed they still had plenty of sting when Thiago played in strike partner Schade, the German in prime position to test Donnarumma.

But Nunes did well to muscle the forward off the ball as he looked to shoot, VAR confirming it was a coming together rather than a potential penalty.

Haaland doubled our advantage shortly after, the fab forward producing a brilliant backheel finish to put daylight between the Blues and the Bees.

It could - and probably should - have been three when Foden blasted goalwards from close-range but Kelleher showed sharp reflexes to tip it away.

Then Ajer brilliantly blocked off the onrushing Marmoush who’d been played in expertly by goalscorer Haaland.

That double act did wrap up the points in stoppage time, Marmoush clinically firing home after an intricate throughball from the Norwegian.

TEAMS

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Guéhi, Ake, O’Reilly, Bernardo (C), Reijnders (Foden 60’), Semenyo, Cherki (Marmoush 60’), Doku (Savinho 90’), Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri

BRENTFORD XI: Kelleher, Hickey (Janelt 61’), Collins (C), Ajer, Kayode, Jensen, Yarmoluk (Henderson 79’), Damsgaard (Outtarra 68’), Lewis-Potter, Schade, Thiago

Subs: Valdirmarsson, van den Berg, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Furo

MANAGER VERDICT

Check back here shortly for the verdict of the boss Pep Guardiola.

PLAYER REACTION

You’ll be able to read the post-match thoughts of a first team player here soon.

WHAT IT MEANS

City move two points behind Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League.

There are now three games remaining for both title-aspiring sides.

City close out the league season against Crystal Palace (home), AFC Bournemouth (away) and Aston Villa (home) while Arsenal face West Ham (away), Burnley (home) and Crystal Palace (away).

WHAT’S NEXT

The games come thick and fast for the Blues.

Our quest for the title continues with a top-flight tie with Crystal Palace here at the Etihad this coming Wednesday, kick-off 20:00 (UK).

Then it’s a switch in competition as we contest the FA Cup Final against Chelsea on Saturday, kick-off 15:00 (UK) at Wembley Stadium.