- Yoane Wissa headed in from close range in the first minute of the match
- Erling Haaland produced two fine finishes to put City ahead at half-time
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all about to begin!available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Erling Haaland rescued Manchester City from an early setback, ensuring Pep Guardiola’s side maintained their 100 percent Premier League record.
City were shocked by a Yoane Wissa goal in the opening minute, but Haaland scored twice more before half-time to take his tally to nine goals in four games this season.
It is the best start to a season for an individual player since the competition was founded in 1992. However, the Norwegian’s attempt to score a third hat-trick in a row was thwarted by Bees keeper Mark Flekken and the woodwork.
Brentford were the last visiting team to win at the Etihad Stadium almost two years ago and after 22 seconds the Londoners were up to their old tricks.
The stadium paid tribute to former manager Sven Goran Eriksson as the Londoners stormed forward at kick-off.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat Brentford
Halfway through the first half, Haaland levelled the score with a fine finish on the turn
The striker then went through on goal and tapped the ball over the keeper to put his team ahead
The champions secured four wins from four, continuing their early season dominance
Kristoffer Ajer crossed to the far post, where Keane Lewis-Potter headed the ball back into the danger zone.
Ederson and John Stones got in each other’s way, causing the ball to deflect off Stones’ boot onto the keeper’s gloves, allowing Wissa to tap the ball in.
Pep Guardiola was muttering angrily on the touchline and his mood almost became grimmer when Brentford remarkably threatened a second goal.
A final effort from Rico Lewis denied Wissa another chance, Ederson saved Nathan Collins’ header on the line and Bryan Mbuemo then came close to saving an overhead kick.
Last week, all that was talked about in Manchester was the financial hearing due to start on Monday, in which City are defending 115 charges alleging breaches of Premier League rules.
But the early going at the Etihad focused mainly on football and Erling Haaland, still mourning the passing of close family friend Ivar Eggja, took centre stage.
He had only touched the ball once before scoring the equaliser after 19 minutes.
Kyle Walker went forward and played a square pass to De Bruyne in the penalty area. The Belgian played a ball to Haaland which the Norwegian found despite the attention of Christian Norgaard and Nathan Collins.
The result was inevitable. Haaland turned and unleashed a thumping right finish that would have beaten Flekken even without the small cut on Ethan Pinnock’s heel.
Yoane Wissa surprised the home crowd when he headed in a rebound in the first minute
Wissa celebrates with his teammates after breaking the deadlock in just 22 seconds
Haaland put City ahead on 32 minutes, Ederson’s long pass sending the striker into a race with Pinnock, the pair pushing the ball back to free the Norwegian to coolly strike the oncoming Flekken.
Brentford gathered around referee Darren Bond to protest a foul, but VAR saw no reason to intervene.
The visitors suffered a setback when Wissa limped off the pitch late in the first half, with Mateo Kovacic hitting him on the ankle and giving him a yellow card.
Guardiola made two substitutions at half-time, with Rodri coming on for the first time since winning the European Championship with Spain.
Rodri helped City maintain control, something that had not been the case in the opening 45 minutes.
In most of the stadium, the subplot revolved around whether Haaland would become the first player since 1946 to score three consecutive hat-tricks in England’s top division.
He certainly did his best. Flekken, who also made saves from Jack Grealish and Savinho, tipped Haaland’s shot over after a pass from Ilkay Gundogan.
The striker then looked anguished as he smashed a back pass from De Bruyne against the post from eight yards out and saw Collins block his effort.
It was a disgrace for the No.9, whose City record now stands at an incredible 99 goals from 103 games. The consolation is that his team are now the only Premier League team to have dropped no points and are on course for a fifth successive league title, despite independent commissions.