Brentford 1-0 Man City: Player ratings as Premier League champions beaten on final day
FROM GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM – Manchester City rounded off their title-winning Premier League season with a 1-0 defeat at Brentford.
Pep Guardiola made sweeping changes to his starting lineup ahead of the FA Cup and Champions League finals, with Man City’s cohesion understandably suffering.
The Bees held up their end of the final-day bargain and are the only team to have done the double over City this season, but were denied a spot in the Europa Conference League due to results elsewhere.
City went close to taking the lead within the first five minutes when Cole Palmer weaved past Ethan Pinnock and Zanka before letting fly from 18 yards, but his effort was pushed away by David Raya.
Down the other end in a frantic opening period, Yoane Wissa rattled the post after cutting inside from the left channel, though a late offside flag was raised to deny him anyway.
The next big chance fell the Bees‘ way too when City couldn’t deal with a long throw and Ben Mee was allowed to get a shot away, with Ederson reacting quickly to tip it behind for a corner.
Just after the break, Brentford wanted two penalties in quick succession when Mee was clipped by Sergio Gomez when attacking a loose ball from a free-kick, while Rico Lewis appeared to block cutback from the centre half with his arm – both times the Bees‘ appeals were dismissed.
After a long second half of trying but largely failing to break City down, Brentford took the lead heading into the final five minutes. Kevin Schade managed to race around Sergio Gomez and cross for Bryan Mbeumo, whose header back across the face was smashed in by Ethan Pinnock.
With stoppage time looming, Palmer missed three chances in quick succession to equalise. His first two shots from close range were blocked by Pinnock before Raya got back up to deny his final attempt.
Brentford survived five minutes of stoppage time to take their tally to 59 points for the season, while champions City end on 89.
GK: David Raya – 7/10 – Made some saves early doors to keep Brentford in the game, while his range of kicking was pushed right to the limit.
CB: Zanka – 7/10 – On throw-in duties due to Mathias Jensen’s absence. Solid at the back and was barely troubled by Foden and co.
CB: Ethan Pinnock – 9/10 – Shut down the threat of Alvarez and cleared most balls which arrived in the Brentford box before firing in the winner.
CB: Ben Mee – 8/10 – Likewise solid and took the sting out of Man City’s attacks.
RM: Aaron Hickey – 6/10 – Comfortable going down the flank and coming infield. It’s no wonder Man City have been linked with such a wing-back.
CM: Frank Onyeka – 6/10 – Off the pace in the first half but got going when Brentford cranked up the intensity after the break.
CM: Vitaly Janelt – 6/10 – Similarly found his footing when the Bees made more of an effort to try and win the game.
CM: Mikkel Damsgaard – 5/10 – Couldn’t really get into the game throughout and was eventually replaced with an attacker in Schade.
LM: Rico Henry – 6/10 – Ran hard at Walker and usually got the better of him. Another fine display against quality opposition.
CF: Bryan Mbeumo – 7/10 – The Bees‘ in-form man was a little more wasteful today, often being cut out at the last just as he was about to pull the trigger and strike at goal, but eventually popped up with an assist.
CF: Yoane Wissa – 6/10 – Gave Man City real problems with his trickery and determination to fight for loose balls.
Substitutes
SUB: Kevin Schade (70′ for Damsgaard) – 7/10
SUB: Josh Dasilva (70′ for Hickey) – 7/10
SUB: Shandon Baptiste (81′ for Onyeka) – N/A
SUB: Mads Roerslev (87′ for Wissa) – N/A
SUB: Saman Ghoddos (87′ for Mbeumo) – N/A
Subs not used: Strakosha (GK), Ajer, Stevens, Trevitt
Manager
Thomas Frank – 7/10 – Brentford stuck to their plan and were rewarded with a famous win.
GK: Ederson – 7/10 – Like Raya had to showcase his kicking ability. Patrolled his own six-yard box well because the defenders in front of him seemed reluctant to.
RB: Kyle Walker – 5/10 – Put to work by the pacy Henry. Got the benefit of a few 50/50 decisions but it was hardly a roasting.
CB: Aymeric Laporte – 5/10 – Thrown around in the opening stages but pulled himself together to organise what became an inexperienced backline in the second half.
CB: Nathan Ake – 6/10 – Looked sharp and fresh on his return to the starting XI. Good minutes in the tank ahead of Man City’s two cup finals.
LB: Sergio Gomez – 3/10 – For the most part lacked confidence on the ball, though notably fired a couple of pot-shots way off target. Torn apart by Schade.
DM: Rico Lewis – 5/10 – Kept the ball moving but that was about as good as it got.
DM: Kalvin Phillips – 5/10 – Man City’s most senior midfielder tried to piece it together but found it difficult in the second half when Brentford flew forward.
RM: Riyad Mahrez – 4/10 – Got chump change out of Henry and looked disinterested throughout.
AM: Cole Palmer – 6/10 – Man City’s most dangerous player by miles needed more support from his fellow attackers.
LM: Phil Foden – 5/10 – Danced his way into midfield and further forward but couldn’t sustain any real threat.
CF: Julian Alvarez – 4/10 – Reduced to speculative strikes from distance. Didn’t exactly bust a gut to try and score.
Substitutes
SUB: Shea Charles (63′ for Ake) – 5/10
Subs not used: Ortega (GK), Stones, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Robertson, Knight, Haaland
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 5/10 – Man City did not seem that keen to make a game of this.