Man City v Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Erling Haaland goal sends City a point off the top
Man City 1-0 Brentford: Erling Haaland’s second-half goal edged City to victory over the stubborn Bees
Erling Haaland erased any questions about his scoring touch, netting Manchester City’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Brentford that lifted them into second place in the Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s team, unbeaten in their last 10 league matches and finally even in games played with title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, have 56 points, one ahead of Arsenal. Brentford are five points above the relegation zone in 14th.
Haaland, who three days earlier pushed a camera in frustration after missing a top-flight career-worst nine shots in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, was back in form, increasing his league tally to 17 goals.
The Norwegian broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when he sprinted onto a beautiful through ball from Julian Alvarez then stroked it past a slipping Kristoffer Ajer before beating keeper Mark Flekken. Haaland has now scored against every Premier League club he has faced. He has yet to play Luton Town.
The match is not on TV but relive all the action in our live blog below:
Man City 0-0 Brentford
61 mins: Oscar Bobb’s first Premier League start is over as Jeremy Doku comes on to replace him. Some decent flashes from the Norwegian but like most of City’s attacking players, he’s been frustrated this evening.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
60 mins: Lovely build-up from City but the Brentford defence stiffens once they get close. Bobb tries to run at men in the box but Zanka nicks the ball away.
Then it’s a yellow card for Wissa as he’s beaten to the ball by Dias and fouls the City centre-back. The free-kick is completely wasted though as Silva slices the ball out of play.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
58 mins: City free-kick from the left touchline but Dias’s header is comfortably over the bar. Jeremy Doku stripping off and about to come on it seems
Man City 0-0 Brentford
56 mins: A bit of a scramble in the City box after a free-kick but the hosts manage to eventually punt the ball clear. The City subs are starting to intensify their warm-ups. Surely not long before we see De Bruyne, Doku et al.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
52 mins: Walker puts in an early cross but Foden can’t quite control it. The frustration starting to grow for City. Toney then hauled down on halfway by Dias as the Brentford striker relieves the pressure.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
49 mins: City go for a short corner but they lose the ball on the edge of the area. Brentford stream forward on the counter but the attack fizzles out as Onyeka twists and turns bit his cross is too long and runs harmlessly out of play.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
48 mins: Walker leaps with Reguilon and lands awkwardly but he’s back up and good to continue. City probing early in this second half but much like the first 45 minutes, Brentford’s defence holding firm.
KICK--OFF! Man City 0-0 Brentford
Back underway in Manchester. Can City find a breakthrough goal?
HALF-TIME! Man City 0-0 Brentford
HALF-TIME! Man City 0-0 Brentford
And that’s half-time! A frustrating opening 45 minutes for City who have peppered the Brentford goal but Mark Flekken between the sticks has been superb to deny them.
The Bees have had some breakaway opportunities themselves but it has mostly been backs to the wall for them
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