Match Report & Player Ratings: Brentford 0-1 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City defeated Brentford 1-0 to move three points behind league leaders Arsenal in the final match before the October international break.

Erling Haaland added another to his season tally in the first-half, which was enough to take all three points away from London. City started off with a flyer, in almost identical fashion to Wednesday night’s draw in Monaco, after Josko Gvardiol looped a long ball forward for Haaland.

This time, Haaland controlled the ball and used his immense strength to shrug off Sepp Van Den Berg before striding towards goal and powering a near post finish past Caoimhin Kelleher to put City in the lead after just nine minutes.

Haaland’s 94th Premier League goal now means that Anfield is the only Premier League stadium that he hasn’t scored in, that he has made an appearance at. After 20 minutes, Phil Foden came close to doubling the lead after some good play that allowed Tijjani Reijnders to lay the ball off for the Englishman, but his shot was straight at Kelleher.

A minute later, a blow came City’s way as Rodri pulled up with an injury and after receiving treatment was replaced by Nico Gonzalez.

By the half hour mark, City had completed over 150 more passes than Brentford, and another couple of those allowed Oscar Bobb to find acres of space on the right to pull the ball back for Foden who shot first time with his weaker foot but shot well wide of the post.

Six minutes before half time, Reijnders almost made it two. Nico O’Reilly’s cross from the left flank was met at the back post by the Dutchman – who hasn’t scored since his Premier League debut against Wolves – but his first time volley was saved well by Kelleher.

City went into the break with the lead, and limiting Brentford to no touches in the opposition penalty area, for the first time in a Premier League fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Three minutes after the whistle for the second period, Brentford had a golden opportunity to equalise when a long ball forward put Gvardiol under pressure, his miscued header allowed Thiago to run 1v1 with Gianluigi Donnarumma but the Italian giant closed down the angle and kept City in the lead with a vital stop.

After a dominant and controlled first half from the visitors, it was Brentford who piled on the pressure in the second but by the 80th minute, The Bees hadn’t made the most of their territorial dominance.

The second half was an anti-climactic one, and one that saw City take all three points away from London and moving three points behind league leaders Arsenal as we enter the October international break.

Here are the player ratings from Manchester City’s narrow win in west London on Sunday evening!

Player Ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7

Made a huge save in the second half to deny Thiago, distribution looked shaky at times but didn’t cause problems.

Matheus Nunes – 5.5

Careless passes in the second half and a couple of defensive errors but nothing too drastic.

Ruben Dias – 7

Did what was needed defensively and led the team to a third Premier League clean sheet this season .

Josko Gvardiol – 6.5

Lovely assist for Haaland once again, looked uncomfortable defensively at times.

Nico O’Reilly – 7

Didn’t really put a foot wrong, good performance again.

Rodri – 6

Good until his unfortunate injury after 20 minutes, hopefully not a serious blow.

Tijjani Reijnders – 7

Solid performance from The Dutchman and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the first half.

Phil Foden – 6.5

Was wasteful in front of goal in first half and almost a ghost in the second, unable to add to his six goals in last four appearances away to Brentford.

Oscar Bobb – 7.5

Focal point of attack on the right flank, unlucky not to get an assist or two.

Savinho – 6

End product was poor but did well to get past defenders

Erling Haaland – 8

Only one shot in the game but clinical to get another goal, did his job.

Substitutes

Nico Gonzalez – 7

Called into action after Rodri’s early injury, solid in midfield and looked good defensively.

Bernardo Silva – 6.5

Helped the team out to hold onto the lead in final 15 minutes.

Jeremy Doku – 7

Showed bright sparks as he has done so much for the club, seems to have been given a rest for today’s game.