Manchester City go into the new year with an eight point cushion at the top of the Premier League. The Bees fight hard, but cannot find the goal to earn themselves a point at the Brentford Community Stadium!

Manchester City will head into 2022 with an eight-point lead at the summit of the English Premier League (EPL), after Phil Foden’s first-half strike gave them a 1-0 victory at Brentford on Wednesday.

Foden hit the back of the net just after the quarter-hour mark, from Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning, pinpoint cross. Ultimately, the goal proved to be enough to earn a 10th EPL win on the bounce for Pep Guardiola’s champions.

With Liverpool going down at Leicester City on Tuesday and Chelsea held by Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, City have now taken complete control of the EPL title race.

They were far from their imperious best in west London, however, with Brentford always looking capable of salvaging something, in an encounter that was closer than many predicted.

De Bruyne did hit the post after the half-time break, and both Foden and Aymeric Laporte had goals disallowed, as City looked to give themselves a two-goal insurance policy.

The visitors couldn’t achieve that, but held on in the second half, with few real scares from Brentford, to register 50 points from 20 matches. Chelsea are on 42 from 20 and Liverpool on 41, with one game in hand over top two.

This is the fourth time Guardiola has experienced a 10-game winning streak since becoming boss of the Citizens.

Thomas Frank’s Brentford stay in 14th position and are nine points clear of the relegation places.