Brentford 0-1 Manchester City: Phil Foden's goal sends City eight points clear at the top

Manchester City rounded off 2021 by taking command of the Premier League title race as victory at Brentford moved them eight points clear at the top of the table.

With Chelsea being held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton earlier on Wednesday and Liverpool losing 1-0 to Leicester the day before, City capitalised by seeing off a spirited Bees side.

Phil Foden settled the encounter with his fifth league goal of the season early in the first half, superbly finishing first time from Kevin de Bruyne's whipped ball.

The strike had come just moments after Brentford came close to scoring themselves but Ederson reacted well to keep out a cross that bounced towards the City goal off Ruben Dias, before Yoane Wissa's deflected strike was cleared off the line.

City were looking to equal the club's top-flight record of scoring at least four goals in four successive games set in 1905 but they rarely carved open a hard-working Bees side.

Ivan Toney was fortunate to go unpunished for catching Fernandinho with his studs as the City midfielder lay on the ground shortly before half-time.

The visitors went close to doubling their lead soon after the break when De Bruyne and Foden again linked up, with the latter heading his team-mate's cross just wide of the post.

De Bruyne struck the base of the upright with a fierce low drive from distance, while Dias had a header ruled out for a marginal offside, but in the end Foden's first-half strike was enough as Manchester City ended a year top of the Premier League table for the third time.

The previous two occasions they rounded off December in this position - in 2011-12 and 2017-18 - they went on to win the title.

Brentford, meanwhile, remain 14th with 20 points - nine clear of the relegation zone as they look to ensure a second season in the top flight.

City grind it out to keep on track

What looked like being a three-horse title race at the start of the December now has City firmly out in front after an incredible run of form while their rivals faltered.

City have won every Premier League game they have played in December, scoring 24 goals in the process and conceding just five.

But while their previous three victories involved them scoring seven, four and six goals respectively, this was a narrow but hard-fought win that arguably only serves to strengthen their credentials as favourites for the 2021-22 title.

Being able to grind out results is just as important as recording big wins and they managed to come out on top against a physical Brentford side who provided a stern test for Guardiola's team.

The only glimmer of hope for City's title rivals is that they did not look at their fluid best, particularly in the second half, but ultimately they had done enough to secure the points as Brentford rarely looked like threatening an equaliser.

The Bees certainly deserve credit for limiting a previously rampant City to just the solitary goal and despite the defeat it was a battling performance that suggests they have a good chance of preserving their Premier League status for another season.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

Brentford

Squad number17Player nameToney

Squad number28Player nameBidstrup

Squad number26Player nameBaptiste

Squad number8Player nameJensen

Squad number2Player nameThompson

Squad number5Player namePinnock

Squad number15Player nameOnyeka

Squad number11Player nameWissa

Squad number18Player nameJansson

Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen

Squad number30Player nameRoerslev

Squad number40Player nameFernández

Squad number7Player nameCanós

Squad number14Player nameGhoddos

Line-ups

Brentford

Formation 3-5-2

40Fernández

5Pinnock18Jansson29Bech Sørensen

30Roerslev26Baptiste8Jensen15Onyeka2Thompson

11Wissa17Toney

Substitutes

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

27Cancelo3Rúben Dias14Laporte6Aké

17De Bruyne25Fernandinho20Bernardo Silva

9Gabriel Jesus10Grealish47Foden

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Brentford 0, Manchester City 1.

Second Half ends, Brentford 0, Manchester City 1.

Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).

Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Mads Bech Sørensen (Brentford).

Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

Mads Bech Sørensen (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).

VAR Decision: No Goal Brentford 0-1 Manchester City.

Offside, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne tries a through ball, but Aymeric Laporte is caught offside.

Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Mads Roerslev (Brentford).

João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Saman Ghoddos (Brentford).

Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Mathias Jensen (Brentford).

Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Dominic Thompson because of an injury.

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