Brentford 1-3 Manchester City: Phil Foden scores hat-trick in comeback win as City go second

This was Phil Foden’s second Premier League hat-trick, having netted three against Manchester United in October 2022

Manchester City moved menacingly into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool, as Phil Foden’s hat-trick was the catalyst for a convincing win at Brentford.

The hosts actually took the lead through Neal Maupay’s breakaway goal in the 21st minute, but it took a heroic performance from Bees keeper Mark Flekken to keep the reigning champions at bay with a string of stunning saves until Foden struck in first-half stoppage time.

Foden’s goal gave City the added momentum they needed and he grabbed his second eight minutes after the break when he stole in behind Brentford’s defence to glance Kevin de Bruyne’s cross beyond the exposed Flekken.

Brentford, despite being dominated, had fleeting chances to level, especially when Ivan Toney volleyed over from close range, but City were vastly superior and wrapped up the win 20 minutes from time when Foden took Erling Haaland’s pass in his stride to steer the ball past Flekken.

City kicking into gear

Manchester City may have taken until the closing moments of the first half to finally beat the outstanding Flekken, but it was no more than they deserved for peppering the Brentford goal with shots before making the breakthrough.

With Haaland still working his way back from a foot injury and not quite his usual deadly self, Foden assumed the goalscoring responsibilities with the second senior hat-trick of his career, after scoring three in the 6-3 derby win over Manchester United in October 2022.

And this was an ominous City performance, not only as they close in on top spot but also with the sight of world-class duo Haaland and De Bruyne starting a game together for the first time since the opening night of the league season at Burnley back in August.

This is traditionally the time of year when City hit top form and the statistics are starting to hint at another charge, with this their seventh successive win since claiming the Club World Cup with victory over Fluminense in late December.

City can go now top with victory over Everton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime as their presence starts to loom even larger over the Premier League title race.

More to follow.

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Brentford

  1. Squad number1Player nameFlekken

  2. Squad number22Player nameCollins

  3. Squad number5Player namePinnock

  4. Squad number16Player nameMee

  5. Squad number30Player nameRoerslev

  6. Squad number8Player nameJensen

  7. Squad number6Player nameNørgaard

  8. Squad number27Player nameJanelt

  9. Squad number12Player nameReguilón

  10. Squad number17Player nameToney

  11. Squad number7Player nameMaupay

  1. Squad number20Player nameAjer

  2. Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter

  3. Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard

  4. Squad number26Player nameBaptiste

  5. Squad number33Player nameYarmoliuk

Manchester City

  1. Squad number8Player nameKovacic
  2. Squad number11Player nameDoku

Line-ups

Brentford

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1Flekken
  • 22Collins
  • 5Pinnock
  • 16Mee
  • 30RoerslevSubstituted forLewis-Potterat 76′minutes
  • 8JensenSubstituted forDamsgaardat 77′minutes
  • 6Nørgaard
  • 27JaneltSubstituted forYarmoliukat 76′minutes
  • 12ReguilónSubstituted forAjerat 79′minutes
  • 17Toney
  • 7MaupayBooked at 31minsSubstituted forBaptisteat 90+1′minutes

Substitutes

  • 13M Jorgensen
  • 20Ajer
  • 21Strakosha
  • 23Lewis-Potter
  • 24Damsgaard
  • 26Baptiste
  • 33Yarmoliuk
  • 38Brierley
  • 43Fredrick

Man City

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 31Ederson
  • 2Walker
  • 3Rúben Dias
  • 6Aké
  • 24Gvardiol
  • 16Rodri
  • 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forDokuat 71′minutes
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 19Álvarez
  • 47Foden
  • 9HaalandSubstituted forKovacicat 86′minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Stones
  • 8Kovacic
  • 10Grealish
  • 11Doku
  • 18Ortega
  • 25Akanji
  • 27Nunes
  • 52Bobb
  • 82Lewis

Referee:
Jarred Gillett

Attendance:
17,096

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