Manchester City had a two-goal lead over Premier League leaders Arsenal, and with three goals in the second half they extended their goal difference with a big win over Brentford.
Jeremy Doku, who scored a double in Monday’s 3-3 draw with Everton, broke the deadlock with an almost identical curling finish in the 60th minute before Haaland scored his second with a close-range backheel and set up Omar Marmouche’s third.
The win allows Arsenal to keep the pressure on ahead of Super Sunday’s game against West Ham at the London Stadium, and means they are now just one goal behind the leaders on goal difference.
Brentford were upset by several refereeing decisions that went against them, the first of which saw Matheus Nunez cleared by VAR after a last-man challenge on Kevin Shade, causing the Brentford forward to fall to the ground.
Erling Haaland scores Manchester City’s second goal
In the final moments of a tense first half, a prone Bernardo Silva was only booked for hitting Brentford defender Nathan Collins in the leg with his arm. Brentford had a penalty appeal dismissed in the second half after Nunez and Schade raced together again.
Brentford caused City some awkward moments in the first period and had a chance to take the lead early in the second when behind-the-back Igor Thiago’s shot was too close to Gianluigi Donnarumma, but City quickly overpowered them, amassing 25 shots to the visitors’ four.
Doc’s superb shot made it his fourth in three official games, and after a scramble for the goal, Haaland scored his 26th goal of the season in the Premier League, before substitute Marmouche teed it up in stoppage time.
Another substitute, Phil Foden, also had chances to score, but he was twice denied by Caoihin Kelleher.
The result kept Manchester City’s title hopes alive, while Brentford’s European ambitions were thwarted. Coach Keith Andrews’ side currently sit outside of Europe in eighth place with two games remaining.
Featured: Big Moments
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Was Matheus Nunez lucky not to get penalized for his last man challenge on Kevin Shade?
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Bernardo Silva struck out Nathan Collins but got away with a yellow card.
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Jeremy Doku scores Man City’s stunning opener.
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Haaland scores Manchester City’s second goal to keep title contention alive
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Omar Marmouche added the third goal from Haaland’s pass.
Analysis: Will Doku peak at the right time?
With a three-goal victory, City looked set for an easy victory, but it took a moment of brilliance from another Doc player to spark a tense game. The 23-year-old hit at the right time.
Doc’s goal was an almost exact copy of the two goals he scored against Everton, coming from the left side of the box and firing his right foot into the top corner. Aaron Hickey took the lead with a backpedal to the goal line, but he still couldn’t save it.
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Jeremy Doku says we need more tap-ins like Raheem Sterling
Not only are their executions strikingly similar, but all three of his goals in the last five days have been decisive, either giving Manchester City the lead or leveling the score with his 97th-minute goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Josep Guardiola expressed his joy following the recent heroics. “He looks like the end product,” he told Sky Sports. He added that Doc has always had “incredible” dribbling ability, but now appears to have taken an important step in adding goals to his game.
While flow from City’s other support forwards has dried up – Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki have scored twice in the Premier League since the start of March – Doc has thrived in the moment. Thanks to him, City’s right to win the title is alive and well.
Guardiola: “Doc has stepped up”
Man City manager Josep Guardiola told Sky Sports: “They’re a really tough opponent. They’ve proven that everywhere they’ve played this season.”
“Transitions, set-pieces, throw-ins. We struggled in the first few minutes, but after that we played really well, especially on the left in the first half. On both flanks in the second half.”
“Jeremy was outstanding in many ways. The difference in the second half was that he put more players in the box. That’s why in the first half we struggled to create the final product. In the end we got a great result and we keep moving forward.”
As for Doc, he added: “He’s like a finished product. Of course he can improve, but he’s always had incredible dribbling ability. His connection with Nico (O’Reilly) is extraordinary.”
“But now he can win games. I’m also incredibly happy for Omar (Marmouche). We felt that not only Erling but also the wingers and other attackers had to score, and Jeremy has taken that step.”
Andrews: “We should have given a penalty”
Brentford head coach Keith Andrews told Sky Sports: “There’s been a lot going on with the guys involved. I’m always the first to say what a difficult job they have and what they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.
“It’s difficult with all the controversial issues and acting stuff.
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Keith Andrews has questioned some of the refereeing decisions in Brentford’s defeat to Man City and was particularly disappointed that Kevin Shade was not awarded a penalty in the second half.
“I thought Kevin Shade’s shot in the second half was a penalty. I’d like to say that. So it was really disappointing.”
Mr Andrews told the BBC: “I only look at the second one, but every time I look at it, and I’ve seen it three or four times, there’s no way Kevin is going to fall.”
“The comment was, ‘We didn’t make enough contact.’ But Kevin is one of the quickest players in the league. When you’re moving that fast, you’re only going to make a little bit of contact. He had the goal wide open, so that shot was a penalty.”
Man City’s unbeaten record continues
Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 13 games (W9 D4). City have scored three or more goals in more games than any other team this term (14). Jeremy Doku has scored in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time in his Manchester City career. The Belgian has scored seven goals in his last six games (five goals, two assists), as many as in his previous 24 games (one goal, six assists). Bernardo Silva became the third Manchester City player to receive ten or more yellow cards in a single Premier League season, after Joey Barton (10 in 2006/07) and Pablo Zabaleta (11 in 2013/14).
