by On 71 minutes, enjoy Manchester City and heartbreak for Brentford. Thomas Frank’s penchant for defending with 10 and hoping for a break strike plagued the champions who looked bereft of ideas. But then the real quality of the hosts came in a lightning sequence when Rúben Dias found Rodri close to their area. He passed to Julián Álvarez who landed his ball to the hitherto ineffective Erling Haaland. Not now, though, as as he raced, Kristoffer Ajer slipped and 23-year-old killer Mark Flekken beat the keeper from inside the D.
The game ended, despite Flekken’s appearance in the City area at a corner on 95 minutes. Haaland’s winner, which means he has scored against all 21 Premier League teams he has faced, moves City a point behind Liverpool and they make their trip to Anfield on March 10 a seismic assault that puts the winner in total control on their fate. Strap yourself in for that one.
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Haaland was criticized for missing chances against Chelsea on Saturday. Pep Guardiola said: “If I have to choose one [to score in then] I choose this one. The best strikers score a lot of goals – don’t criticize, he’ll shut your mouth. Sooner or later it is there. He was out for two months, he lost his grandmother [last Saturday week]it is not easy for the person.
“It is very difficult for us [against Brentford]. Last season we lost six points against them. In these kinds of games, you need Erling.”
After heavy rain for the second game in a row the surface was quite greasy for City to hit the ball.
The Premier League’s hype machine made much of their two points drop against Chelsea but that draw made it nine unbeaten in the league, with Guardiola’s side the best on the ground for the past three seasons judging by their run to the tape at the end of May. Now make it 10 unbeaten.
Guardiola opted for an understated 4-2-3-1 with Bernardo Silva alongside Rodri and the two schemers went into attack relentlessly to crowd the area around their visitors’ area and tease them. As Haaland did as he went up to Sergio Reguilón, outmaneuvered the defender, pivoted, and aimed for a spotter that was easily collected by Flekken. Next the Brentford keeper headed in a corner to beat Phil Foden’s rocket but it was blocked and Frank’s side escaped.
Chelsea managed, as many do against City, through the slick counter to see Frank Onyeka race clean down the inside-left channel was no surprise. Although the midfielder, waiting for Yoane Wissa’s pass, had to be more decisive than the weak effort that Ederson had no problem clearing.
When Guardiola drops his jaw it’s a sign of stress and he took the job after Onyeka claimed a free-kick after Dias protested. Reguilón took the ball to Ivan Toney but the main representative’s effort was successful. The latter is the proverbial nightmare package of strength, control, speed and agility for defenders; as John Stones found out when he was back in, barged aside, and had to watch helplessly and lay the ball out.
City hit almost 70% of the ball so Brentford were in siege mode. The dam was almost broken when Stones fell on a lob for Kyle Walker’s run who found his header for Silva but he missed the chance from close range.
Dias, too, missed his goal closer even when Rodri picked him out at the far post, this after Manuel Akanji’s 20-yard header was beaten by Flekken. Oscar Bobb then showed the coolness needed in traffic to drop a shoulder and fire low and hard, Ben Mee’s goal clearance drawing a hug from Flekken.
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All this left City frustrated, and their mood would have been darker had Onyeka Ederson’s header hit. On the bench Kevin De Bruyne was waiting to be called. Guardiola explained why he stayed there. “Today we couldn’t use Kevin because he had niggles in his cage and I didn’t want to risk it. It’s ok – it was just a ban but it didn’t feel comfortable so after five months off [with a hamstring injury] we didn’t take any risks,” said the manager.
For the second half Guardiola took off his coat as if it was now for serious business the pursuit of victory that would move City onto Liverpool’s shoulders. But whatever he said to his players at half-time went unheeded as Brentford were able to close the contest. More than once, he noticed his charges. A fortnight ago Foden’s hat-trick was too much for Brentford in the second leg. This time Cahir became as close to chaotic as possible. A nadir came when Silva hit a free kick on the sideline and straight out. Guardiola took Bobb off for Jérémy Doku in the hope that the X-factor would be his blistering pace. It went to Haaland but the Norwegian’s hand hit Mee, England’s Darren blew, and City were blocked again.
But Haaland’s 17th league goal of the season turned City’s night into one of joy. In the red half at Merseyside, the feeling is quite the opposite and Frank found a silver lining in the win, saying: “Our performance gives me hope for the future.”
