Manchester City 1-0 Brentford
by James Nalton
at City of Manchester Stadium

MANCHESTER CITY went within one point of the Premier League summit thanks to an Erling Haaland strike against an often stubborn and sometimes dangerous Brentford side on Tuesday evening.

The visitors defended well, from their forwards to their defensive line, and the score was 0-0 at half time as a result.

They had some chances of their own, too. Frank Onyeka saw a good one saved by Ederson.

In the end, the goal was unlucky for Brentford, when Kristoffer Ajer slipped at a key moment as Haaland received the ball near the halfway line.

There was no luck about the finish, though, as the Norwegian charged through to slot past Mark Flekken.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank told opposite number Pep Guardiola after the final whistle that if anyone needed such a moment of fortune in a game like this, it was his side, up against the world-class talent of City.

Guardiola had plenty of praise for Frank’s team after the game, saying he has never seen a team that create so many dangerous situations in so many different ways.

City had other chances, though, and fully deserved the win.

Oscar Bobb showed good composure to time a shot well in the first half, only to see it cleared off the line by Ben Mee.

This was a game in hand for both sides after the fixture was originally postponed due to their involvement in the Club World Cup in December.

Until Liverpool’s game against Luton last night, brought forward due to Jurgen Klopp’s side’s involvement in Sunday’s EFL Cup final, all the teams at the top of the table had played the same number of games.

It gave a clearer picture of where things stand, and on this form City look poised to overtake an injury-hit Liverpool side.