Erling Haaland’s first-half strike earned Man City a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford, which moves them to within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal – and there was a positive update on an injury to Rodri.

City were completely dominant during a first half which saw in-form Haaland bulldoze past Sepp van den Berg to blast in his 18th goal of the season for club and country. His run of scoring in nine games in a row is the best of his career at this level.

Caoimhin Kelleher also made a stunning stop from Tijjani Reijnders, while Phil Foden missed a string of chances. Brentford didn’t manage a touch in the City box and the visitors should have been out of sight.

But Rodri’s exit on 20 minutes after he pulled up clutching his right thigh will have concerned Pep Guardiola, who had been managing the midfielder’s minutes as he continued to build up his fitness after his long ACL layoff last season.

Later, Rodri – who spent the second half coaching his team-mates from the sidelines before celebrating with them on the pitch at full-time – gave Sky Sports an encouraging assessment of the problem, saying: “I feel a little bit in the hamstring but, I don’t know, it seems like it’s not that much. Hopefully I can be in the next game.”

Rodri’s absence was a big factor in Man City’s drop-off last term and City lost their stranglehold on this contest after the break, as Brentford upped the intensity. Igor Thiago squandered their best chance, allowing Gianluigi Donnarumma the opportunity to close him down in a one-on-one situation. There was an onslaught of high balls into the City box too.

But City – who conceded a last-gasp equaliser at Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday – stood up and held on to go into the international break on a seven-game unbeaten run and in an encouraging league position. Brentford – who failed to score for the first time this season – remain 16th.

Haaland: Brentford reminded me of Stoke!

Man City goalscorer Erling Haaland to Sky Sports:

“It was a tough game and reminded me a bit of Stoke City with [Rory] Delap 15 years ago. It was lovely to win and important. They are huge and they do throw ins from the middle so of course it’s not easy, but it’s about being ready for what’s to come. We have a great backroom staff who did their job well so all praise to them.”

Is he in the form of his life? “I’ve never felt better than I do now so you could say so. It’s about preparation and getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready, but you need to be mentally ready as well.

“With a kid, makes me ever better because it makes me disconnect more than ever. I don’t think of football at all.”

Guardiola: We’re getting better and better

Man City boss Pep Guardiola:

“Whenever you win away 1-0 always you suffer. In the first half we were in our best for many months but could not score more goals. We are there and in our game I have the feeling it gets better and better game-by-game.”

On Rodri’s injury: “I was right, no? In the beginning of the game when you asked me why I don’t play him 90 minutes all the time. The journalists always ask me why substitute him? Hopefully, it will not be huge.”

Andrews: We were outstanding in the second half

Brentford boss Keith Andrews:

“We’re proud of what they produced in the second half, we made it very uncomfortable [for Man City]. It was a game of very few chances. When you restrict them to very few chances you’ve done well. I’m not sure how many forwards in world football score that goal. That was the difference.

“First half they controlled the game. That’s what they’ve done for donkey’s years. Second half was our half and we were outstanding.”

City hold on for valuable three points

Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports:

“City were so comfortable first half, you felt like it could be any score, but Brentford came out second half, they did not change their tactics, they just got after people. They narrowed the gaps, we did not see as much of Phil Foden and Haaland, who was unplayable in the first half.

“And City just lost their rhythm a little bit and sometimes in these games when it comes a bit messy and difficult, you just need to get over the line and get the three points and they are now just three points behind Arsenal.”

More to follow.

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