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
45+2 mins: A first yellow card of the night as a heavy touch from Dias means John STones is forced to slide to try to get to the ball ahead of Wissa but fails to do so, brings down his man and it’s a clear booking for the England centre-back.
Ben Mee then joins him in the book shortly after for kicking the ball away after the whistle goes for offside. Needless for the Brentford defender.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to end this first half.
SAVE! Man City 0-0 Brentford
44 mins: Dias the latest man to test Flekken as he hits the ball first time from 15 yards out but the goalkeeper again equal to it as he dives to his right and pushes it away.
CHANCE! Man City 0-0 Brentford
43 mins: Perhaps Onyeka should do better here. He slips away from his marker and rises high to power a header at goal from 12 yards out but Ederson is able to spring to his right and make the save. Not enough power from Onyeka
Man City 0-0 Brentford
42 mins: Backs-to-the-wall stuff from Brentford for the last 10 minutes but they relieve the pressure as Wissa buys a foul off Foden about 30 yards from the City goal.
Reguilon curls the ball into the box but Stones rises high to head clear and danger is averted.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
39 mins: The City pressure continues and Akanji’s long-range effort is deflected wide for a corner. It has been inswingers all night to put Flekken under pressure but he’s dealt admirably with them so far. The latest from Alvarez is too long anyway and out for a goal-kick.
OFF THE LINE! Man City 0-0 Brentford
37 mins: City not so much knocking on the door but absolutely hammering it down now! Bobb jinks past a defender, gets into the box and fires powerfully at goal. It beats Flekken but it’s OFF THE LINE brilliantly by a covering Ben Mee. Unreal defending from the former City academy prospect!
Somehow this is still 0-0.
SAVE! Man City 0-0 Brentford
36 mins: Decent save from Flekken there as Akanji rips one from 30 yards out and the keeper tips it over the bar. Then another stop! A cross to the back post sees Dias slide in and hook the ball towards goal but Flekken stays big at his near post to save with his feet.
The Bees keeper has been rock solid so far.
CHANCE! Man City 0-0 Brentford
35 mins: City’s best chance of the night but Bernardo Silva heads wide from six yards out. Rodri dinks a ball to an onrushing Walker at the back post, he nods across goal and Silva powers his hear wide of the target with Flekken scrambling. That should be 1-0.
Man City 0-0 Brentford
32 mins: Bobb again with space down the left. Foden and Haaland haring into the box but the ball is behind Foden and Brentford scramble clear. Foden and Haaland then try some neat play around the edge of the area but the Bees intercept and survive again.
City getting closer to a breakthrough but failing to create that gilt-edged chance so far.
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