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Ben Fisher
Half-time reading
There is only one place to start with Brentford’s Michael Kayode: his unique baby gender reveal at an empty Gtech Community Stadium in February. The 21-year-old walked towards the West Stand, the frame of the goal covered in balloons, and after wiping the ball with a towel, it was time for his trademark long throw, though on this occasion only from the edge of the D. After the ball rippled the net, pink smoke confirmed his partner, Eleonora, is expecting a girl.
Given Kayode launched the ball 65.4 metres last September – further than any other player in the Premier League since Opta began recording such data in 2019-20 – it is hard not to think he was underselling himself. “I didn’t want to miss,” he says, breaking into laughter, “so I just kept it easy.” Family, friends, a videographer and photographer, plus the couple’s pomeranian, Kiri, were the only ones present. “It was a really special moment and celebrating like this was unbelievable … I just have to say thanks to Brentford for giving me use of the stadium.”
Significantly, there is substance to Kayode’s long throw: of the 157 he has hurled into the box in the Premier League this season, 40 have resulted in a shot and five have culminated in goals, almost 10% of Brentford’s goals scored tally. He downplays his part. “It is simple. Obviously it is a weapon, but across 90 minutes, in that period the ball is out for maybe not even five minutes for throw-ins.” Does he practise throw-ins? “No, no, not at all.”
The City captain Bernardo Silva gives the officials a mouthful before leaving the field. He needs to be careful as he’s already on a yellow card after whacking Nathan Collins on the leg.
Half time: Manchester Cty 0-0 Brentford
A frustrating 45 minutes for Pep and friends, who dominated Brentford without creating a host of clear chances. Jeremy Doku was irresistible but City need more from Cherki, Semenyo and Haaland.
45 min There will be two minutes of added time.
44 min Reijnders has a shot blocked by Ajer after a shimmering run to the edge of the area. Semenyo’s follow-up is also blocked.
Brentford need a half-time breather because it’s been one-way traffic since around the 25th minute.
43 min “I think, according to the letter of the law, whacking another player in a fit of anger counts as violent conduct,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I think the reason Bernardo Silva remains on the field is his Little Guy Privilege. Frankly, Silva striking Nathan Collins is a bit like a mouse punching an elephant.”
41 min Doku beats Kayode for the 477th time and cuts the ball back from the byline. Jensen is on hand to clear.
39 min Cherki’s free-kick is unwittingly blocked by Haaland, then Doku’s shot deflects behind for another corner.
38 min Doku, who has been a constant threat, is fouled just outside the D. The free-kick is slightly to the left of centre. Cherki, Doku and Reinnders are over it…
36 min Bernardo Silva whacks Collins on the back of the leg with his right arm and is booked. That wasn’t a million miles from violent conduct.
Collins and another Brentford player ushered the ball out of play for a goalkick. Bernardo tried to challenge them, lost his balance and then swung his arm into Collins’ leg.
35 min Cherki and Semenyo have had quiet games so far, with most of City’s best attacks coming through O’Reilly and Doku on the left.
34 min Lewis-Potter is fine.
33 min Lewis-Potter needs treatment after being kneed in the head by the goalkeeper Kelleher, who leapt to claim a cross. Lewis-Potter looks okay, and the break gives both managers a chance to get out their metaphorical chalkboards.
29 min Bernardo Silva growls with frustration after blasting high and wide from the edge of the D. But City are having their best spell, and for the first time it feels like a goal is coming.
28 min: Chance for Haaland!
After another City short corner, Doku surges into a crowded area and cuts the ball back to Haaland, whose close-range shot is smothered by Kelleher. Haaland’s movement was superb again but there were too many bodies between him and the goal.
26 min Lovely movement from Haaland to get across Ajer and meet Semenyo’s cross with a header that is saved comfortably by Kelleher.
24 min City take a short corner on the left and work the ball infield to Reijnders. He blooters over the bar from distance.
22 min Thiago lobs the ball over the City defence to put the speedy Schade through on goal. He tries to cut across the last defender Nunes, who makes an awkward but crucial challenge just outside the area.
Nunes would have been off had he got that wrong.
20 min Doku’s flat cross is headed over from 10 yards by Haaland, whose first touch was almost a goal. That was a pretty good chance for a finisher of his ability.
19 min Doku and O’Reilly combine well on the left. O’Reilly’s cross is cleared as far as Bernardo Silva, whose outside-of-the-boot effort from 25 yards goes wide.
In other news, Erling Haaland has yet to touch the ball in this game.
17 min Kayode’s throw-in is half cleared to Jensen, whose deflected shot from distance is headed away. Brentford are the better team just now.
15 min Jensen whips in a dangerous ball that is spooned away by the diving Donnarumma. It was a cross rather than a shot, but Donnarumma had to wait to see whether anybody got a touch before he could commit to saving it.
14 min Hickey is fouled just outside the area on the left by Cherki. City look nervous, the Etihad is quiet and Rodri is having another great game.
13 min Lewis-Potter strolls to the halfway line and spins a terrific pass behind the City defence. Ake does excellently to get between the ball and Schade, who barges him over on the edge of the area.
Had Ake been less alert, both Schade and Igor Thiago would have been through on goal.
10 min The Kelleher save aside, Brentford will be pleased with their start. They’re having plenty of the ball and look a threat in attack.
8 min Kayode’s first long throw almost leads to the opening goal. Donnarumma comes and gets nowhere near the ball, which bounces around the six-yard box before Nunes lumps it clear.
6 min Brentford are playing with two men up, Schade and Igor Thiago. The midfield looks fairly narrow, with Damsgaard and Yarmoliuk tucking in from wide positions.
5 min “The inclusion of Kevin Schade in the Brentford starting lineup nicely sets up the type of freude that City’s detractors will feel, should the German winger bang home the winner/equaliser,” puns Peter Oh.
4 min Doku releases the underlapping O’Reilly, whose cutback from the byline is crucially cut out by Jensen. Kelleher had gone to meet O’Reilly was out of the game.
3 min: Good save by Kelleher Jeremy Doku almost picks up where he left off at Everton. He ran straight at Kayode, no messing around, and curled a low shot across goal that was pushed away by the diving Kelleher.
2 min Brentford have started with Keane Lewis-Potter at left-back with Aaron Hickey in the centre of midfield. Interesting.
1 min Brentford kick off from right to left as we watch. And why not?
“Haaland has 25 goals,” begins Zach Neeley. “Arsenal’s highest is Gyokeres at 14, and not because they score fewer goals (67 to 69). Which is better, the bulk scorer who you know will go out there and usually get something? Or the balanced team, where it can come from so many places?”
That would make for a great podcast discussion. The short answer: it’s complicated. (See Van Nistelrooy, Ruud.)
A reminder of the teams
Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Brentford (4-2-3-1) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.
Referee Michael Salisbury.
Keith Andrews’ pre-match thoughts
We’re very understanding of the magnitude of the game for them, but we’ve got our own agenda and we want to finish the season well.
This is as hard it gets. We need to play very, very well today to get something from the game.
Pep Guardiola’s pre-natch thoughts
Khusanov got a knock from Beto in a painful area. He’s not ready.
We’re into the last two weeks – let’s go for every game.
It’s nice to play at home. We’ll try to play a good game, then go to sleep!
Brentford still have a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. If Aston Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final, the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League will qualify for the Champions League.
It’ll probably be between Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. Not since Bad Santa have the three Bs caused such excitement.
Premier League results
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Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
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Brighton 3-0 Wolves
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Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth
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Sunderland 0-0 Man Utd
One of tonight’s subplots is the race for the Premier League golden boot. Erling Haaland leads the way with 25 goals; the only man with a chance of catching him is Brentford’s Igor Thiago.
Team news
Pep Guardiola makes two changes to his Manchester City side. Nathan Ake and Tiijani Reinders replace Abdukodir Khusanov (who is injured) and Nico Gonzalez.
Keith Andrews also makes a couple of changes. Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer come in for Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Brentford (4-3-3) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.
Referee Michael Salisbury.
Pre-match reading
In which Harry Paterson previews the last lap of an intriguing title race.
Preamble
“Next time, there’ll be no next time.” The point of no return. Do or die. The last-chance saloon. Endgame tavern. Jeopardy Dread Wetherspoons.
However you want to describe it, Manchester City are in the position all sports teams fear: knowing they have no margin for error.
City lost control of the title race during their madcap 3-3 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday. If they fail to beat Brentford at the Etihad tonight, it’ll be all over bar the tweeting.
Though City are strong favourites, they will be wary of an impressive, overachieving opponent. Brentford might be the only regular Premier League team who have never suffered a pasting at the hands of Pep Guardiola – none of their defeats have been by more than two goals.
Goal difference could still decide the title, so City would love to change chat tonight. But the most important thing, by far, is that they don’t slip up again.
Kick off 5.30pm.
