MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 BRENTFORD – ERLING HAALAND GOAL ENOUGH AS CITY BEAT BRENTFORD AND CLOSE GAP TO LIVERPOOL

Manchester City beat Brentford 1-0 at the Etihad on Tuesday evening thanks to a second half strike from Erling Haaland to move just one point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Brentford had the first real chance of the evening with 16 minutes on the clock. Yoane Wissa slipped in a great ball to Frank Onyeka who had just Ederson to beat but the Nigerian international could only fire a tame effort straight at the Manchester City goalkeeper to let City off the hook.

Manchester City really started to purr on the half hour mark, moving the ball with more intensity and attacking intent. Pep Guardiola’s side created a succession of chances to take the lead which they ultimately failed to take.

City had a huge chance to open the scoring after 34 minutes when Kyle Walker smartly headed the ball back across the face of goal looking for a City teammate, Bernardo Silva got on the end of it and looked certain to score but could only divert his header wide of the target.

Oscar Bobb came closest to opening the scoring in the first half when he brilliantly took the ball past a Brentford defender but lashing an effort on target which looked destined to hit the back of the net but he had to watch his strike cleared off the line brilliantly by Brentford defender Ben Mee.

Manchester City’s pressure finally paid off in the second half after 71 minutes when Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game. Julian Alvarez found the feet of Haaland who capitalised on a slip from Kristoffer Ajer to go 1v1 with Flekken before sliding the ball expertly past the Bees keeper. Phil Foden had a chance to seal the victory in added time but he could only fire his effort wide of the target.

The game ended at 1-0 and now having both played 25 games City are just a point behind Liverpool. The Reds will play against Luton Town on Wednesday as they will be in action in the EFL Cup final at the weekend.

After putting in a disappointing performance and dropping two precious points against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola’s side had to return to winning ways tonight. The Premier League title race this season is one that is heating up by the minute and for City, Liverpool and Arsenal, each and every game is starting to feel like a must win. Tonight’s win moves City to just a point behind the Reds, with all of the top three now having played 25 games each. The need for a victory tonight and indeed in four days time when they travel to Bournemouth, becomes even more abundantly clear when you consider how much both the pressure and the difficulty of fixtures will ramp up in March. City kick off the month with a Manchester Derby vs United then a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, a trip to the AMEX to face Brighton before welcoming Arsenal on the 31st. Mouth watering clashes. This title race is only just warming up.

The 28-year-old was simply superb tonight for City. Going forward he was a constant threat down the left-hand side, delivering some terrific passes to get his side up the pitch. He completed a whopping 106 of his 108 passes (98%), misplacing just two all evening. Defensively he was spot on too, making three clearances, two interceptions and one tackle.

Manchester City: Ederson 7, Walker 7, Stones 7, Dias 7, Akanji 9, Rodri 9, Bernardo 8, Foden 8, Alvarez 7, Bobb 7, Haaland 8 Subs: Doku 6, Kovacic 6

Brentford: Flekken 9, Mee 7, Ajer 6, Zanka 6, Roerslev 6, Onyeka 6, Norgaard 6, Janelt 6, Regulon 7, Wissa 7, Toney 7 Subs: Maupay 6, Jensen 6, Lewis-Potter 6, Damsgaard 6, Ghoddos 6

34’ BERNARDO WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF THE NIGHT SO FAR – Kyle Walker nods the ball across the face of goal to Bernardo Silva who diverts his header wide of the target. That was a golden chance and Bernardo really should have scored.

36’ ANOTHER BIG FLEKKEN SAVE – Manchester City are really piling on the pressure now. This time Rodri floats in a cross to the back post and Ruben Dias heads the ball down low but Flekken comes up with a great save.

37’ OFF THE LINE FROM MEE! – Unbelievable! City can’t believe they haven’t taken the lead! Oscar Bobb does brilliantly to take the ball past a Brentford defender before striking an effort which looked a certain goal until Ben Mee got back on the line to clear it away!

71’ GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 BRENTFORD (HAALAND) – Manchester City have found the breakthrough and it’s that man Erling Haaland! The ball is played forward into the feet of Haaland, Ajer slips leaving the City forward to go 1v1 with Flekken and he was never going to miss, sliding it past Flekken.