Manchester City 1, Brentford 0
Erling Haaland scored the only goal in a tight game as Manchester City beat Brentford after Kristoffer Ajer’s slip.
The Bees defended stoutly against a Manchester City side who again looked short in attack.
Mark Flekken was again the Brentford hero and saved from Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones to add to City’s frustrations.
Ben Mee stopped a goal bound shot from Oscar Bobb on the goal line as City stepped up a gear shortly before half time.
Brentford remained a threat from counter attacks, almost catching City out but for hesitation by Frank Onyeka, who had two efforts saved by Ederson earlier, as they broke following a poor City corner.
Jeremy Doku came on for Oscar Bobb after 61 minutes but soon after the crowd were singing for Kevin De Bruyne who had not even come on to warm up.
Eventually the pressure told and a through ball by Julian Alvarez found Erling Haaland in space and, courtesy of a slip by Kristoffer Ajer, the big Norwegian was one on one with Flekken and beat him to complete the set of a Premier League goal against every team he has faced.
And Haaland almost had his second after an air kick by Flekken with Haaland bearing down on him – the Brentford keeper spared his blushes by picking up the ball.
Haaland claimed a second with 10 minutes to go but it was ruled out for offside against Kyle Walker.
And Foden forced a pair of saves off Flekken as City looked to make the game safe before the goalkeeper came up in the last minute of added time to try and make more headlines but only succeeded in getting a booking after clattering Rodri as Brentford wasted a chance to put a further spike in City’s title charge.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 1, Brentford 0
Ederson: 7. Saved twice from Frank Onyeka.
Kyle Walker: 6. Couldn’t recover a Frank Onyaka counter attack but did provide a header to set up Bernardo Silva for a chance that went wide. Thought he had set up a second Haaland goal but was offside.
John Stones: 7. Strong at the back, good going forward too.
Ruben Dias: 7. Battled hard throughout. Strong header kept out by Mark Flekken and another effort from range too.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Played out of position on the left of defence. Curled an effort goalwards from 30 yards out, tipped away by Mark Flekken.
Rodri: 7. Improved throughout the game as space opened up.
Bernardo Silva: 6. Lacked his usual zip but headed wide midway through the first half.
Oscar Bobb: 6. Isolated on a left a bit as much of the traffic went down the right, and saw an excellent chance cleared off the line by Ben Mee.
Julian Alvarez: 6. Several hopeful shots mainly from distance but laid on the goal that broke the deadlock.
Phil Foden: 7. Stationed on the right again. Couple of early efforts to test Mark Flekken and kept going – forced another pair of fine saves off Flekken late on and set up Haaland for a late shot as he finished strongly.
Erling Haaland: 7. Few touches of the ball, still looked rusty until he came alive for the goal and kept his cool to score after Kristoffer Ajer slipped.
Jeremy Doku (on for Oscar Bobb, 61): 6. Not much action down the left flank so he came inside.
Mateo Kovacic (on for Julian Alvarez, 88): No time to mark
GOAL – Manchester City 1, Brentford 0
Man City 1, Brentford 0: 71. Erling Haaland capitalised on a slip by Kristoffer Ajer, he went past the Brentford defender after running onto a through ball by Julian Alvarez to slot past Mark Flekken
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 1, Brentford 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker (C), Stones, Dias, Akanji, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Bobb (Doku 61), Alvarez (Kovacic 88), Foden, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Ake, De Bruyne, Gomez, Nunes, Lewis
Bookings: Stones 45+2 (foul on Yoane Wissa); Walker 82 (foul on Neal Maupay)
Goal: Haaland 71
Brentford: Flekken, Zanka, Ajer, Mee, Roerslev (Ghoddos 89), Onyeka (Damsgaard 89), Norgaard (C), Janelt (Jensen 78), Reguilon (Lewis-Potter 78), Toney, Wissa (Maupay 68)
Brentford Subs not used: Strakosha, Collins, Baptiste, Yarmoliuk
Booked: Mee 45+2 (time wasting); Wissa 60 (foul on Ruben Dias); Toney 68 (foul on Ruben Dias); Flekken 90+6 (foul on Rodri)
Referee: Darren England