Football React | Brentford fans not happy with display against City

Brentford 0 - 1 Manchester City

A defensive Brentford side suffered their first home defeat of the season against Manchester City

Author | Ed

Stadium | Gtech Community Stadium 

For the first time in their 159 Premier League matches, Brentford failed to register a single touch inside their opponent’s penalty area during the first half.

The game became more open after the interval, with Michael Kayode heading over the bar, while Brentford restricted City to just one attempt in a subdued and scrappy second period.

The hosts’ best opportunity fell to Igor Thiago, who has scored five times this season, but when he broke through one on one, Gianluigi Donnarumma stood firm to make an excellent save. 

READ MORE | Brentford fans delighted with win over Man United

The defeat leaves Brentford 16th in the table, with just two wins from their opening seven matches and does leave some fans concerned that they are too close to the relegation zone going into the international break. 

View from the stands

The best comments

Liam: As soon as I saw the line-up with a defensive back five, I knew it was the wrong approach against a side like Man City. Surely the old saying that attack is the best form of defence is the right way to go, just as Thomas Frank has shown against City more than once.

James: Why play five at the back? It was always going to be a tough game whatever the line-up, so we should have gone for it and started with the same team as last week. Despite improving in the second half, we still lack quality up front. A top striker is still badly needed.

Daniel: What a disappointing performance from the Bees. Five at the back, negative football, and relying on long throws as the main threat. It was like watching Stoke from 15 years ago. Frustrating that Keith Andrews set up to contain rather than take the game to them.

Not everyone was so negative...

Omar: Really proud of this Brentford team. We may have been under pressure in the first half, but we came back so strongly and probably deserved more than we got. Jordan Henderson just keeps showing his value.