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Ben Fisher<\/p>\n
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There is only one place to start with Brentford\u2019s Michael Kayode: his unique baby gender reveal at an empty Gtech Community Stadium in February. The 21-year-old walked towards the West Stand, the frame of the goal covered in balloons, and after wiping the ball with a towel, it was time for his trademark long throw, though on this occasion only from the edge of the D. After the ball rippled the net, pink smoke confirmed his partner, Eleonora, is expecting a girl.<\/p>\n
Given Kayode launched the ball 65.4 metres last September \u2013 further than any other player in the Premier League<\/a> since Opta began recording such data in 2019-20 \u2013 it is hard not to think he was underselling himself. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to miss,\u201d he says, breaking into laughter, \u201cso I just kept it easy.\u201d Family, friends, a videographer and photographer, plus the couple\u2019s pomeranian, Kiri, were the only ones present. \u201cIt was a really special moment and celebrating like this was unbelievable \u2026 I just have to say thanks to Brentford for giving me use of the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n Significantly, there is substance to Kayode\u2019s long throw: of the 157 he has hurled into the box in the Premier League this season, 40 have resulted in a shot and five have culminated in goals, almost 10% of Brentford\u2019s goals scored tally. He downplays his part. \u201cIt is simple. Obviously it is a weapon, but across 90 minutes, in that period the ball is out for maybe not even five minutes for throw-ins.\u201d Does he practise throw-ins? \u201cNo, no, not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The City captain Bernardo Silva gives the officials a mouthful before leaving the field. He needs to be careful as he\u2019s already on a yellow card after whacking Nathan Collins on the leg.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.20 EDT<\/p>\n Half time: Manchester Cty 0-0 Brentford<\/p>\n A frustrating 45 minutes for Pep and friends, who dominated Brentford<\/a> without creating a host of clear chances. Jeremy Doku was irresistible but City need more from Cherki, Semenyo and Haaland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min There will be two minutes of added time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min Reijnders has a shot blocked by Ajer after a shimmering run to the edge of the area. Semenyo\u2019s follow-up is also blocked.<\/p>\n Brentford need a half-time breather because it\u2019s been one-way traffic since around the 25th minute.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min \u201cI think, according to the letter of the law, whacking another player in a fit of anger counts as violent conduct,\u201d writes K\u00e1ri Tulinius. \u201cI think the reason Bernardo Silva remains on the field is his Little Guy Privilege. Frankly, Silva striking Nathan Collins is a bit like a mouse punching an elephant.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min Doku beats Kayode for the 477th time and cuts the ball back from the byline. Jensen is on hand to clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 min Cherki\u2019s free-kick is unwittingly blocked by Haaland, then Doku\u2019s shot deflects behind for another corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min Doku, who has been a constant threat, is fouled just outside the D. The free-kick is slightly to the left of centre. Cherki, Doku and Reinnders are over it\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min Bernardo Silva whacks Collins on the back of the leg with his right arm and is booked. That wasn\u2019t a million miles from violent conduct.<\/p>\n Collins and another Brentford<\/a> player ushered the ball out of play for a goalkick. Bernardo tried to challenge them, lost his balance and then swung his arm into Collins\u2019 leg.<\/p>\n Bernardo Silva is crowded out by Nathan Collins and Mathias Jensen. Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.11 EDT<\/p>\n 35 min Cherki and Semenyo have had quiet games so far, with most of City\u2019s best attacks coming through O\u2019Reilly and Doku on the left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min Lewis-Potter is fine.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min Lewis-Potter needs treatment after being kneed in the head by the goalkeeper Kelleher, who leapt to claim a cross. Lewis-Potter looks okay, and the break gives both managers a chance to get out their metaphorical chalkboards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min Bernardo Silva growls with frustration after blasting high and wide from the edge of the D. But City are having their best spell, and for the first time it feels like a goal is coming.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>28 min: Chance for Haaland!<\/p>\n After another City short corner, Doku surges into a crowded area and cuts the ball back to Haaland, whose close-range shot is smothered by Kelleher. Haaland\u2019s movement was superb again but there were too many bodies between him and the goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min Lovely movement from Haaland to get across Ajer and meet Semenyo\u2019s cross with a header that is saved comfortably by Kelleher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 min City take a short corner on the left and work the ball infield to Reijnders. He blooters over the bar from distance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 min Thiago lobs the ball over the City defence to put the speedy Schade through on goal. He tries to cut across the last defender Nunes, who makes an awkward but crucial challenge just outside the area.<\/p>\n Nunes would have been off had he got that wrong.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.54 EDT<\/p>\n 20 min Doku\u2019s flat cross is headed over from 10 yards by Haaland, whose first touch was almost a goal. That was a pretty good chance for a finisher of his ability.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19 min Doku and O\u2019Reilly combine well on the left. O\u2019Reilly\u2019s cross is cleared as far as Bernardo Silva, whose outside-of-the-boot effort from 25 yards goes wide.<\/p>\n In other news, Erling Haaland has yet to touch the ball in this game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min Kayode\u2019s throw-in is half cleared to Jensen, whose deflected shot from distance is headed away. Brentford<\/a> are the better team just now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15 min Jensen whips in a dangerous ball that is spooned away by the diving Donnarumma. It was a cross rather than a shot, but Donnarumma had to wait to see whether anybody got a touch before he could commit to saving it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.47 EDT<\/p>\n 14 min Hickey is fouled just outside the area on the left by Cherki. City look nervous, the Etihad is quiet and Rodri is having another great game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min Lewis-Potter strolls to the halfway line and spins a terrific pass behind the City defence. Ake does excellently to get between the ball and Schade, who barges him over on the edge of the area.<\/p>\n Had Ake been less alert, both Schade and Igor Thiago would have been through on goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.44 EDT<\/p>\n 10 min The Kelleher save aside, Brentford<\/a> will be pleased with their start. They\u2019re having plenty of the ball and look a threat in attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8 min Kayode\u2019s first long throw almost leads to the opening goal. Donnarumma comes and gets nowhere near the ball, which bounces around the six-yard box before Nunes lumps it clear.<\/p>\n Gianluigi Donnarumma makes a mess of things. Photograph: Naomi Baker\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.42 EDT<\/p>\n 6 min Brentford are playing with two men up, Schade and Igor Thiago. The midfield looks fairly narrow, with Damsgaard and Yarmoliuk tucking in from wide positions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min \u201cThe inclusion of Kevin Schade in the Brentford<\/a> starting lineup nicely sets up the type of freude that City\u2019s detractors will feel, should the German winger bang home the winner\/equaliser,\u201d puns Peter Oh.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min Doku releases the underlapping O\u2019Reilly, whose cutback from the byline is crucially cut out by Jensen. Kelleher had gone to meet O\u2019Reilly was out of the game.<\/p>\n Yehor Yarmolyuk feels the presence of Jeremy Doku. Photograph: Michael Regan\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.38 EDT<\/p>\n 3 min: Good save by Kelleher Jeremy Doku almost picks up where he left off at Everton. He ran straight at Kayode, no messing around, and curled a low shot across goal that was pushed away by the diving Kelleher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min Brentford have started with Keane Lewis-Potter at left-back with Aaron Hickey in the centre of midfield. Interesting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Brentford kick off from right to left as we watch. And why not?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHaaland has 25 goals,\u201d begins Zach Neeley. \u201cArsenal\u2019s highest is Gyokeres at 14, and not because they score fewer goals (67 to 69). Which is better, the bulk scorer who you know will go out there and usually get something? Or the balanced team, where it can come from so many places?\u201d<\/p>\n That would make for a great podcast discussion. The short answer: it\u2019s complicated. (See Van Nistelrooy, Ruud.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.31 EDT<\/p>\n A reminder of the teams<\/p>\n Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O\u2019Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.<\/p>\n Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.<\/p>\n Brentford (4-2-3-1) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.<\/p>\n Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.<\/p>\n Referee Michael Salisbury.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Keith Andrews\u2019 pre-match thoughts<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re very understanding of the magnitude of the game for them, but we\u2019ve got our own agenda and we want to finish the season well.<\/p>\n This is as hard it gets. We need to play very, very well today to get something from the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pep Guardiola\u2019s pre-natch thoughts<\/p>\n double quotation markKhusanov got a knock from Beto in a painful area. He\u2019s not ready.<\/p>\n We\u2019re into the last two weeks \u2013 let\u2019s go for every game.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nice to play at home. We\u2019ll try to play a good game, then go to sleep!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Brentford still have a chance of qualifying for next season\u2019s Champions League. If Aston Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final, the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League<\/a> will qualify for the Champions League.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll probably be between Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford<\/a>. Not since Bad Santa have the three Bs caused such excitement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.23 EDT<\/p>\n Premier League results<\/p>\n Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea<\/p>\n Brighton 3-0 Wolves<\/p>\n Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth<\/p>\n Sunderland 0-0 Man Utd<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.03 EDT<\/p>\n One of tonight\u2019s subplots is the race for the Premier League<\/a> golden boot. Erling Haaland leads the way with 25 goals; the only man with a chance of catching him is Brentford\u2019s Igor Thiago.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola makes two changes to his Manchester City<\/a> side. Nathan Ake and Tiijani Reinders replace Abdukodir Khusanov (who is injured) and Nico Gonzalez.<\/p>\n Keith Andrews also makes a couple of changes. Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer come in for Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara.<\/p>\n Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Ake, O\u2019Reilly; Bernardo, Reijnders; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.<\/p>\n Subs: Trafford, Dias, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.<\/p>\n Brentford (4-3-3) Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey; Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Jensen; Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade.<\/p>\n Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Dasilva, Nelson, Ouattara, Janelt, Furo.<\/p>\n Referee Michael Salisbury.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.07 EDT<\/p>\n Pre-match reading<\/p>\n In which Harry Paterson previews the last lap of an intriguing title race.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n \u201cNext time, there\u2019ll be no next time.\u201d The point of no return. Do or die. The last-chance saloon. Endgame tavern. Jeopardy Dread Wetherspoons.<\/p>\n However you want to describe it, Manchester City<\/a> are in the position all sports teams fear: knowing they have no margin for error.<\/p>\n City lost control of the title race during their madcap 3-3 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday. If they fail to beat Brentford<\/a> at the Etihad tonight, it\u2019ll be all over bar the tweeting.<\/p>\n Though City are strong favourites, they will be wary of an impressive, overachieving opponent. Brentford might be the only regular Premier League<\/a> team who have never suffered a pasting at the hands of Pep Guardiola \u2013 none of their defeats have been by more than two goals.<\/p>\n Goal difference could still decide the title, so City would love to change chat tonight. But the most important thing, by far, is that they don\u2019t slip up again.<\/p>\n Kick off 5.30pm.<\/p>\n