Phil Foden's first-half strike was enough to earn Manchester City a 1-zero victory at Brentford on Wednesday night.
The win puts the Cityzens 8 points clear on the Premier League summit, capitalising on Liverpool's 1-zero defeat at Leicester the night time before and Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Brighton that kicked off earlier on Wednesday evening.
It turned into a laboured performance from Pep Guardiola's guys, however one that indicators ten consecutive league wins and one which cements their place at the pinnacle of the standings heading into 2022.
In what have been tight establishing exchanges, City breathed a sigh of alleviation after Ederson showed first rate reflexes to keep out Yoane Wissa's deflected pass out of his internet before Joao Cancelo cleared off the road from the resulting corner.
Overcoming that spell of Brentford stress, Guardiola's side broke forward and right now took the lead. Kevin De Bruyne's deliciously inch-ideal and first-time go laid the ball on a plate for Foden, who produced a neat finish to transform from near range.
The starlet thought he'd doubled his side's lead 5 minutes into the second one 1/2, heading in Gabriel Jesus's whipped pass, best for a clear offside to be called through the linesman. The visiting side seemed the likeliest to get the sport's 2d intention thereafter, and really nearly did as De Bruyne struck the upright with a daisy-cutter of a left-footed strike.
A 19th goal in 4 games wasn't to materialise, but, with Aymeric Laporte additionally seeing a header disallowed with 3 mins of the fit last.
City ultimately did sufficient to see out their 1-0 win, solidifying their vicinity atop of the Premier League because the Bees 14th and nine points clean of the relegation area.
Alvaro Fernandez (GK) - 5/10 - Couldn't do lots approximately Foden's strike and wasn't referred to as upon that a lot afterwards. Ethan Pinnock (CB) - 7/10 - Good positional cognizance and chew within the mission, looking same to his big name-studded opposition for maximum of the game. Pontus Jansson (CB) - 7/10 - Should have completed better to incorporate Foden for the opening purpose but became largely commanding at the heart of the lower back 3, registering nine shielding interventions. Mads Sorensen (CB) - 6/10 - Invariably positioned his body on the road for his facet and produced more than one moments that actually riled the gang up.
Mads Roerslev (RWB) - 6/10 - Battled tenaciously in opposition to whoever popped up on City's left wing, making tackles and pressing frequently. Shandon Baptiste (CM) - five/10 - Combative in his protective responsibilities however it'd were proper to look him try to have an effect on the game in addition upfield as he has proven he can do this season. Mathias Jensen (CM) - 7/10 - Plugged gaps honestly cleverly to stifle and limit City's potential to play via the hosts and managed 4 ball recoveries. Frank Onyeka (CM) - five/10 - Demonstrated a few superb dynamism whilst scurrying round the field but appeared to vanish out of the sport as time advanced. Dominic Thompson (LWB) - 6/10 - Worked tirelessly, making 3 ball recoveries, and in no way wilted in the face of his competition.
