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Erling Haaland’s second-half objective moved Manchester Metropolis one level behind Premier League leaders Liverpool as they beat Brentford 1-0.
Metropolis endured a tense night till Haaland benefitted from Kristoffer Ajer’s slip to attain the winner after 71 minutes, placing the frustration of Saturday’s 9 missed possibilities towards Chelsea behind him.
Bernardo Silva’s obtrusive first-half miss and Ben Mee’s clearance off the road to disclaim Oscar Bobb on his first league begin had solely added to the anxiousness on the Etihad, however Haaland’s seventeenth league objective secured a seventh league win in eight video games for the hosts.
Metropolis transfer a degree above Arsenal having taken benefit of their recreation in hand, whereas maintaining the strain on Liverpool who host Luton on Wednesday evening within the league. The champions face Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal in a frightening run of March fixtures.
Manchester Metropolis’s Bernardo Silva missed an excellent first-half probability together with his head
Pep Guardiola revealed after the sport that Kevin De Bruyne, an unused substitute, was not match sufficient to play as a result of he was feeling his hamstring. “It is only a precaution however he did not really feel snug and so after 5 months off we did not take any threat,” he mentioned.
Brentford had their possibilities however had been wasteful once more as Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa didn’t capitalise when via within the first half. Thomas Frank’s aspect are 5 factors above the relegation zone after simply two wins of their final 11 league video games.
How Man Metropolis beat Brentford
Man Metropolis bossed possession early on however it was Brentford that had the higher of the probabilities as John Stones needed to be alert to slip clear Toney’s via ball to Wissa. Metropolis had been most weak on the break and maybe ought to have been punished.
Frank Onyeka – but to attain for Brentford in 67 video games – was one-on-one with Ederson at an angle however shot straight on the Man Metropolis goalkeeper. Wissa might do no higher when in on objective, his poor headed contact taking the prospect away from him.
Haaland, who had not scored in his final two video games for Metropolis, endured extra frustration within the first half regardless of his greatest efforts. Toney and Manuel Akanji each got here shut with efforts from vary, with the Man Metropolis defender seeing his shot tipped over.
The strain grew on the Etihad as Metropolis toiled within the remaining third. The temper wasn’t helped by the sight of Silva lacking from 5 yards out. Bobb additionally had a shot cleared off the road by Ben Mee as Brentford clung on.
Metropolis confirmed no signal of discovering a breakthrough after the break as Brentford saved them at bay. The visiting aspect once more confirmed extra promise going ahead and will have seen Toney take a look at Ederson one-on-one had Onyeka discovered the striker with a via ball.
Because the look ahead to a objective went on, the choice to go away De Bruyne on the bench regarded increasingly more puzzling. Guardiola later defined he was not risked because of a niggle in his hamstring.
Brentford’s resistance was damaged after an unlucky slip by Ajer, which allowed Haaland clear via, because the Bees had been made to pay for his or her profligacy for a second recreation operating after the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Haaland completed convincingly previous Flekken, scoring his first objective towards Brentford, to say a Premier League full home and safe a significant win for his aspect, who at the moment are 10 video games unbeaten within the league forward of a decisive month within the title race.
Pep praises Metropolis and divulges De Bruyne harm
Pep Guardiola praises Man Metropolis after their win and divulges why Kevin De Bruyne stayed on the bench
Man Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola:
“Brentford are such a troublesome group to play towards. Final season they took six factors from us. They’re extremely organised. Toney is a grasp participant at maintaining the ball, he is an unbelievable participant.
“After that they’re actually good in all particulars, throw ins and free kicks and so forth.
“We performed a extremely good recreation, we had numerous possibilities contemplating how powerful it’s to create towards them. Our recreation in hand, we gained it and now we get well. Now we come to the hardest interval of the season.”
On his lacking captain, he added: “Immediately we couldn’t use Kevin as a result of he had niggles in his hamstring and I did not need to take a threat,” he mentioned, including: “He is okay. It is only a precaution however he did not really feel snug and so after 5 months off we did not take any threat.”
Mills backing Metropolis to win title once more
Former Man Metropolis defender Danny Mills on Soccer Particular:
“It was a unbelievable end from Erling Haaland via one on one. Clearly he’s not missing in any confidence.
“Brentford had been unlucky, their gameplan was virtually excellent. It was 9, 10, 11 males behind the ball at occasions and so they annoyed Metropolis.
“However as champions do, Metropolis discovered a approach. Video games like that you need to win. Metropolis have managed to do this.
“It may be a unbelievable title race however my cash continues to be on Metropolis.
“Metropolis have large video games to come back but when they arrive via that unscathed they’re virtually champions elect.”
Frank on slip: Metropolis do not want that luck!
Brentford boss Thomas Frank:
“Extremely pleased with the group and very happy with the efficiency. We all know they’re the very best group within the league and the world – very troublesome to shut down.
“We restricted them to little or no. The Bernardo Silva header and the Bobb probability that was cleared off the road. Till the objective, due to the slip. They’re adequate, they do not want that luck to get them over the road.
“For me within the second half we had been in management defensively. I believe we had been getting near getting one thing and we had a number of alternatives. We’re again to that top stage defensive urgency, which I’m happy with.
“It appears the margins aren’t going our approach however we have to hold believing.”
Opta stats: Man Metropolis’s unbeaten residence run continues
- Manchester Metropolis stretched their unbeaten residence run in all competitions to 35 video games (W30 D5), whereas they’ve discovered the online in every of their final 54 on the Etihad Stadium.
- Man Metropolis’s Erling Haaland has now scored towards all 21 groups he is confronted within the Premier League – he is simply the second participant to have confronted a couple of aspect and scored towards all of them within the competitors, after Harry Kane (32/32).
- Erling Haaland’s opener for Man Metropolis was the seventh time he is scored the primary objective in a Premier League match this season, greater than some other participant. It additionally ended up being his fifth profitable objective within the competitors this time period, with no participant netting extra (Ollie Watkins additionally 5).
- Brentford have misplaced 11 of their final 14 Premier League video games (W3), as many as they’d of their earlier 46 mixed (W18 D17).
What’s subsequent?
Saturday twenty fourth February 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Metropolis journey to Bournemouth on Saturday Evening Soccer (kick-off 5.30pm), whereas Brentford go to West Ham United on Monday Evening Soccer (kick-off 8pm), with each video games stay on Sky Sports activities.
Monday twenty sixth February 6:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
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