Manchester City kept their slim Premier League title hopes alive on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to break down Brentford for almost an hour before Jeremy Doku opened the scoring with a superb strike.
Erling Haaland later doubled City’s lead, while Omar Marmoush sealed the victory in stoppage time.
City endured a frustrating opening period as Brentford defended resolutely and threatened from set-pieces.
Doku had earlier forced a save from Caoimhin Kelleher, while Gianluigi Donnarumma almost gifted Brentford a goal after failing to deal properly with Michael Kayode’s long throw.
Haaland missed a good chance when he headed wide from Doku’s cross, before Kelleher denied him again from close range.
City finally found the breakthrough in the 60th minute through Doku.
After his first effort was blocked, the winger reacted quickly and curled a fine strike into the top corner from the left side of the penalty area.
It was Doku’s fourth goal in his last three matches.
City remained vulnerable at the back, with Brentford appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty after Kevin Schade went down following contact from Matheus Nunes.
Guardiola introduced Marmoush and Phil Foden in the second half to inject pace and creativity into the attack.
Haaland made it 2-0 in the 75th minute, back-heeling into the net from close range after his first effort from Antoine Semenyo’s cross was blocked.
Marmoush then added the third in stoppage time with a composed finish inside the area.
The win moved City to within two points of leaders Arsenal, who face West Ham on Sunday.
City will still have a game in hand after this weekend, but Arsenal remain in control of the title race and will be crowned champions for the first time in 22 years if they win their remaining matches against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Guardiola’s men will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday before turning attention to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.
