14 September 2024
Man City 2 Brentford 1
The moment every football fan in the league had been craving lurked on the horizon, unless you were a Man City fan. Their court case for breaching Premier League rules is something that could really reshape the future of this club. In the meantime, it was the visit of Brentford to the Etihad Stadium that posed a more short-term obstacle.
Things started badly for Pep Guardiola’s side. The Bees looked to force them onto the backfoot and as a hopeful ball was played into the box, Ederson and Stones got into a real mess going for the same ball. It looped up to the back post and Wissa headed home after only twenty-three seconds. The away end was going crazy.
It is a big ask of any side to get such an early lead against Man City and then defend it for eighty-nine minutes of the game. Especially given the amount of added time now being added to Premier League games. Brentford seemed like a poker player who had shown their hand far too early, with the first round of bets still going on.
However, those days of gambling scandals are behind Thomas Frank’s side since Ivan Toney had moved on to Saudi Arabia. The visitors knew that nothing had changed in this challenge, they had a huge mountain to climb to come away with any points from Manchester. Their early goal had simply just poked the beast.
Soon after the goal a long ball from Collins picked out Damsgaard. He managed to find Mbuemo in the box but the Brentford winger just could not get his shot away. Some brilliant defending from Lewis denied him from doubling the visitors’ lead. None of this was in the intended script for his game.
The Bees continued to pile on pressure and forced a corner. As the ball was delivered into the box, Collins swept it towards goal and Ederson had to make a reaction save to deny the visitors once again. This was impressive stuff from Thomas Franks’ side. After all, they had shocked everyone with victory here on their last visit.
Brentford knew that pressure was imminent from the hosts. As they looked to work the ball into De Bruyne in the box, the tackle from a defender saw it break into the path of Haaland. His first time turn and shot beat Flekken and nestled into the far corner. It was his glimpse of an opening and the Norwegian grabbed it with both hands.
Football fans up and down the country continue to wait for the moment that Haaland’s scoring spree dries up, it could be a long wait. In reality, we should all be enjoying seeing something really special because the Man City striker is taking the Premier League by storm. If his purchase is related to any of these charges, it may still be worth it.
The visitors almost managed to grab the lead once again. Their passing game was opening up the hosts’ defence. As The Bees swung in another corner, Pinnock’s header clipped the top of the crossbar and was close enough to cause some concern to Ederson. You felt they needed a goal to stop the Man City onslaught.
It is rare you see an assist accredited to a keeper but Ederson was to claim that accolade. His long ball forward set Haaland clean through on goal, the big striker held off his man and lifted the ball past the Brentford keeper to give Guardiola’s side the lead for the first time in the game. Manchester was bouncing like Oasis had just announced they were getting back together, oh wait.
Towards the end of the first half, Wissa looked to get away from Kovacic. The Croatian lunged into the challenge and scythed down the Brentford striker. While he was shown a yellow card for his troubles, Frank lost a forward as the Congolese attacker limped off. It was a huge blow to the visitors in a game they were well and truly holding their own in.
Since then, the Brentford manager has confirmed that Wissa will be out for a couple of months as a result of the ankle injury. This will severely test the depth of The Bees’ squad having recently sold Toney and summer signing Igor also ruled out for some time. Frank will need to dig deep in the club’s resources to fill the hole he will leave.
Into the second half, Man City continued to create chances. Once again, the ball was played into Haaland in the box but on this occasion, he was denied a hat-trick by a smart save from Flekken. He was searching for his third consecutive treble in as many games. You cannot move in Erling’s house for match balls.
The visitors ensured that nothing was easy for Guardiola’s side all afternoon. Man City struggled to break them down continuously. Grealish laid the ball off to Gvardiol who burst forward towards goal. With The Bees’ getting players back, the Croatian needed support and it arrived in the shape of Savinho.
With just the Brentford keeper to beat, he looked to bend the ball into the far corner. Flekken spread himself well, getting an outstretched leg to the shot. The visitors seemed to be tiring at this stage and were not creating anything of note in the attacking third, struggling to get out of their own half. Guardiola’s side knew another goal would seal victory.
Grealish laid the ball off to De Bruyne who spotted Haaland in space in the centre of the goal. He thundered a left-footed shot towards goal, only to see his effort come back off the post. Try as he might, it looked like another hat-trick was not going to come his way. Moments later he saw another shot blocked by Collins when it seemed to have the Brentford keeper beat.
Despite all their efforts, the visitors almost got an unlikely draw late on when Mbuemo laid it off to Yarmoliuk on the edge of the box. He seemed to scuff his shot but it narrowly missed the far post with Ederson scrambling. City held on for the win and maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season.
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