Manchester City moved 12 points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League after seeing off Brentford 2-0 at the Etihad stadium.
Goals from Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne either side of half ended the struggling Bees’ brave resistance and moved Pep Guardiola’s men closer to the league title.
City were totally dominant, enjoying 75 percent of possession in the first half, but Brentford belied their dismal recent form to make a fight of it.
Raheem sterling and Rodri fired wide while David raya saved from mahrez and joao concelo blazed the rebound over the crossbar as the hosts got into their stride.
And five minutes before the break they were in front.
After the break, City put any hopes 14th-placed Brentford had of a fight back to bed with a goal all of the Bees’ own making.
While city moved well clear of second- placed Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
It is a sixth defeat in a row for the Bees, who have now lost nine of 11 league and cup games.
