Brentford 1-3 Manchester City
by Layth Yousif
at Brentford Community Stadium
A superb hattrick by Phil Foden sealed three points for Pep Guardiola's outstanding Manchester City team in West London on Monday evening.
Ominously for those watching on from Merseyside and North London, the victory saw City move to within two points of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, leapfrogging Arsenal in the process.
In front of a sellout crowd of 17,096 in the shadows of the A4 flyover, hemmed in southwards by the River Thames, those in attendance at this praiseworthily compact ground witnessed a superb performance from the 22-year-old England throughout the match, which saw the treble-winners stage an imperious comeback after falling behind to a Neal Maupay goal.
Despite losing nine of their last 11 matches, Thomas Frank's side hustled their illustrious visitors in the early stages, aiming to show they deserved more than the current league table suggests, with the Bees in a lowly 15th position.
Yet, it was no surprise Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was the busiest player on the pitch during City's first half bombardment - that saw him make no fewer than nine excellent saves as City demonstrated their quality. In total City unleashed 17 shots throughout.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola admitted: "We had a lot of chances. The goalkeeper was sensational."
In the ninth minute Julian Alvarez tested Flecked from distance as the Netherlands-born 30-year-old turned the ball round the post.
Four minutes later Alvarez saw Flecked turn away another low shot, prior to spectacularly keeping out a rasping long-range effort from Kyle Walker, who nearly scored his first goal for three years with his 30-yard thunderbolt.
The visitors were bolstered with Erling Haaland who played 86 minutes in his first game since December. Even if Flekken also denied the Norwegian - who, understandably, looked to be short of match fitness after his foot injury. Leaving the strange quirk that Brentford remain the only English team Haaland has failed to score against.
Brentford went ahead in the 21st minute when Maupay raced through to latch onto keeper Flekken’s long punt to slot home past Ederson and put the Bees 1-0 ahead as the crowd erupted. The move was supplemented by Intelligent play from Ivan Toney in using his muscularity to let Flekken's long-ball through the City backline.
Five minutes later the Increasingly inspired Bees keeper parried a tremendous drive from Josko Gvardiol as City searched for parity.
Frank's side had chances of their own, especially when Sergio Reguilon's teasing ball into the box saw Emerson stretch low to keep the inswinger from curling into the net.
It was soon Foden's turn to try his luck, with his powerful, swerving drive - after Christian Norgaard lost possession on the edge of the box - saw Flekken earn a spot of luck after his earlier heroics, as the ball spat up on the greasy surface causing the former to fumble. Luckily for him the ball squirmed just past the post and out for a corner.
Moments later Flekken showed his true worth when turning the stylish Kevin De Bruyne's shot past the post to make it nine outstanding saves in the opening 45 minutes.
However, just when Brentford hopes rose of reaching the interval ahead, City's dominance eventually told when a loose header by Bees No5 Ethan Pinnock teed up Foden, who made no mistake to level for City moments before referee Jarred Gillet blew for half time.
After the break, merciless City went for the kill, which was soon applied in the 53rd minute when Foden scored his second of the game to put Pep Guardiola’s side 2-1 ahead with his 13th of the season. The well-placed header arriving after De Bruyne picked him out with a well-calibrated cross.
Still Brentford refused to give up, and on the hour mark, Norgaard's shot was blocked by Ruben Dias after Region's ball into the box was nodded down by Toney via what looked like Nathan Ake's arm. Yet City's world class centre-back wa alert to the Bees captain's intentions and blocked the strike.
Four minutes later Rodri tested Flecken before Brentford carved out a chance of their own, but Toney's drive flew over the bar.
City were relentless. Sensing Brentford's hopes had faded with 20 minutes remaining, Foden grabbed his treble, with a clinical low finish past Flekken, as teammates and fans celebrated in the far corner.
As the clock ticked down, City displayed their dominance with Flekken keeping out Alvarez, while De Bruyne's powerful shot after trickery from substitute Doku flew just past the post.
Speaking after the match, hattrick hero Foden said: "The outcome of the game is what we deserved. Brentford caused us problems. I'm delighted with the first goal because it came at a good time for us, just before half-time.
"I've been getting goals and assists more recently. I have been playing more centrally so I think that's why. I want to be that player, and long may that continue."
