Player Ratings: Man City 1-0 Brentford as Haaland's Goal Downs Spirited Bees

In a tight clash on Tuesday evening, Manchester City secured a slim 1-0 victory over Brentford, pushing them to the second spot in the Premier League table.

The first half remained without any goals, but Erling Haaland's brilliantly executed strike eventually set the two teams apart, helping the current champions nab the needed win against a determined Brentford team.

This win brings the Cityzens a point closer to Liverpool at the top of the league, continuing their pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title.

After their slip-up against Chelsea the previous Saturday, Man City knew the importance of a win during Brentford's trip to the Etihad. The tempo of the match was set early on with Pep Guardiola's team dominating from the start.

Despite the dominance, Brentford had a great opportunity within the first 20 minutes. Yoane Wissa masterfully controlled the ball in the middle of the pitch before providing a precise through ball to Frank Onyeka. However, his attempted shot was easily caught by Ederson.

Ivan Toney was also close to scoring from a free kick, while Julian Alvarez missed several potential chances due to misfiring attempts at the opposite goal.

Man City's most notable moments in the first half came towards the end, with near misses from Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji. However, Mark Flekken denied Akanji with a save over the crossbar.

A stellar goal-line save by Ben Mee from Oscar Bobb's shot denied the champions any lead before the half-time.

Brentford showcased their toughness during the initial phase of the second half by halting Man City's attempts in the final third while displaying impressive pace in transition.

Despite Brentford's robust defense, an unfortunate slip-up by their player Kristoffer Ajer Red allowed Haaland to collect a pass from Alvarez and score the sole goal of the game.

Man City had thoughts of a second goal, with Haaland again finding the net. However, the goal was disallowed for offside, allowing Brentford to narrowly escape conceding again.

Phil Foden had a nearly successful attempt to double the score before full-time, but Flekken managed to block it. The hosts eventually claimed an essential three points.