City’s best chance of that first half came at the point they were exerting maximum pressure on Brentford’s defence. Oscar Bobb ghosted inside Mads Roerslev with the most delicious of faints and must have thought he was about to claim his second Premier League on his first start in the competition only for Ben Mee to clear brilliantly off the goalline. Bernardo should also have done better with a close-range header and Frank was right when he said you know you have done a “good job” against City when you get to 70 minutes having limited them to two notable chances on goal.
Brentford have managed to land more punches on the champions than most teams in recent seasons and their threat on the break – and from set pieces – remains undiminished. Guardiola said “every corner and free-kick is a nightmare” and it was obvious what he meant.
Frank’s side are the last team to win at the Etihad in the Premier League, in November 2022. On that particular day, they punished City mercilessly on the counter and you could have imagined Guardiola having a restless night coming into this game over precisely the sort of chance Brentford carved in the 16th minute.
After Rodri missed a header, Yoane Wissa released Frank Onyeka in behind John Stones and Kyle Walker. The Brentford midfielder was not going to be caught but there was little conviction about his shot, a tame effort that dribbled straight towards a grateful Ederson. It was, to say the least, a let off for the men in sky blue.
Brentford really did not look like a team with just two wins from their previous 10 league outings. They were organised, aggressive and you could sense City’s unease whenever their opponents hit with pace and power on the break. That nervousness was evident among the home crowd and you know City are in a game when Guardiola is waving manically from the touchline, imploring fans to make more noise. That was just 10 minutes into the second half, with Brentford on the front foot and City having to soak up pressure.
City fans booed the introduction of Neal Maupay after his provocation of Kyle Walker two weeks ago and the England defender exacted a modicum of revenge when he was booked for piling through the Brentford substitute with a thundering challenge.
By the end, though, it was all about Haaland.
