Brentford 1 Man City 3
Thomas Frank’s side welcomed Man City to the Gtech Community Stadium. Things are getting concerning for The Bees, currently sitting three points outside the relegation zone. For the visitors, they were looking to capitalise on Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal.
Gvardiol did well down the left wing, picking out Alvarez in the middle of the park. He shifted the ball onto his right foot before letting rip from outside the box. Flekken did well to tip the shot around the post. The defending champions were firing some early warning shots.
Kyle Walker was the next City player to try his luck from some thirty-five yards out. He caught the ball perfectly, calling the Brentford keeper into action again at full-stretch. The Man City full back was showing that he is not just potent in the bedroom.
The Bees then took a tactic from the old Wimbledon playbook. The keeper knocked it long towards Toney, who shielded the ball with his body, while letting it run straight past him. Maupay ran clean through on goal and slotted the ball past Ederson to give the hosts the lead against the run of play.
Credit: @BrentfordFC
City were claiming the striker was offside but as nobody touched the ball, they should have known that you cannot be offside from a goal kick. Thomas Frank’s side had been clinical with their first real chance of the game.
Defensive frailties have cost Brentford dearly this season. They gave the ball away in their own half and Haaland ran through on goal. As the Norwegian looked to bury his shot in the bottom corner, Flekken made a great block with his feet.
Deep into added time, Pinnock failed to clear his lines as he headed the ball straight to Foden in the box. The playmaker controlled the ball and struck it on the half volley to equalise for the visitors on the stroke of half time.
It is starting to look like the return of Kevin De Bruyne from injury has come at the perfect time for Pep Guardiola’s side. He clipped a ball into the box, picking out Foden perfectly, as he glanced a header into the bottom corner to give City the lead.
Brentford had a big opportunity to draw level when a deep cross found Toney on the byline. He hit the ball on the volley and it deflected into the path of Norgaard on the penalty spot. He looked to drill his shot into the bottom corner but Dias did brilliantly to slide in and block the effort.
The ball was then played up to Haaland who cushioned it brilliantly into the path of Foden. He glided into the box to slot the ball home and claim his hat trick and with it the match ball. It was a man of the match performance from the Man City youngster.
Credit: @ManCity
Many have pointed to the fact that Foden does not score enough goals but he certainly answered his critics in the capital. Man City move to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, importantly, with a game in hand still.
For Brentford, they are still too close to the bottom three for comfort. They have a tough run of games at the moment, which will not be easy to get points from. But these are not the games they expect to be winning, they need to make sure they beat the teams around them.
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