Manchester City beat Brentford 3-0 in the Premier League to ensure that the title race goes into the final week of the season
Manchester City overcame a stubborn Brentford side to keep their Premier League title hopes alive. The race with Arsenal will go into the final week of the season with Pep Guardiola’s side just two points off top spot with three games to go.
City had to wait more than an hour to break the deadlock against Keith Andrews’s side and there was frustration building before Jeremy Doku took the roof off with a stunning effort curling into the top corner. With a double attacking change having already been made, City pushed on and Erling Haaland added a second.
Phil Foden nearly added a third before Omar Marmoush did to make a good afternoon even better for the Blues as they got back to winning ways after drawing at Everton on Monday. Arsenal travel to West Ham on Sunday looking to go five points clear again. Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News.
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Donnarumma: An uncomfortable flap from an early throw helped nobody’s confidence but he made a few decent stops 7
Nunes: Survived two almighty scares when he was the last man but got what he deserved and kept his cool. 7
Guehi: A few nervous moments when he was on the ball after Monday but he won basically everything in the air with Thiago. 7
Ake: Stepped in for Khusanov with no worries, reading the game perfectly to keep the Brentford attack quiet. 8
O’Reilly: Didn’t always make the best decisions in attack but got in the box regularly and was game in his defending. 7
Silva: Tried to get in a scrap while lying on the floor and his finishing was wild. but otherwise sensed every bit of danger and reacted to it. 8
Reijnders: Brought more energy and drive than Gonzalez had but maintained his habit of too many shots without thinking. 6
Cherki: A few potshots that went close to the posts but otherwise he struggled to find the right moments to shine. 6
Semenyo: He ran and ran at the Brentford defence but needed more invention once he got to the final third. Did well for the second goal. 7
Doku: Went at Brentford from the first minute with pace and intent and stepped up again with a decisive goal. 9
Haaland: Kept quiet in a predictably physical contest but found the space to score the second and his workrate was excellent. 8
Substitutes
Foden (for Cherki, 61) Nearly scored a beauty. Guardiola turned to his bench and pointed to say that is exactly what is needed. 7
Marmoush (for Reijnders, 61) Worked well up top with Haaland and won some decent free-kicks then took his goal very well. 7
Savinho (for Doku, 90): No time
Not used: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic, Gonzalez
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