Man City 2-0 Brentford LIVE – Cherki and Savinho help City cruise into Carabao Cup semi-finals

Asked about Andrews’ feeling that Khusanov should have been showed a red card, Guardiola responded: “Tomorrow in the training ground, I invite him to a coffee, we will discuss that.”

Brentford are not returning home tonight and are instead using City’s training ground tomorrow.

“I like Savinho. It was a deflection goal, but what I like from Savinho is that he’s always digging, digging, you know, it’s go, go, go all the time, all the time.

The final decision can be better, of course, but always there’s a reward with this work ethic… with time he’ll improve the final decision. He’ll become a top, top class player.”

“Close to the opponent’s 18-yard box, he’s an exceptional player,” said Guardiola of Cherki. “He made a fantastic goal. A blind guy, a blind woman can realise, it’s not necessary to be a journalist or manager to realise that was a fantastic, fantastic goal.”

“I saw many times with Phil this type of goal with Kevin before. So I’m happy that he opened the game.”

Key players Henderson and Thiago were both absent from Brentford’s squad tonight. It was assumed that the duo were just resting but Andrews has suggested otherwise.

“They didn’t quite make it for tonight. We will see how they are for Saturday.”

There were big appeals for a red card when Khusanov was booked early on in the match, and Andrews has made his opinion felt.

“I’m very quick to defend officials but it’s one that doesn’t sit well with me tonight. If it’s a red card, it’s obviously a big advantage for us.”

“Picked as competitive a team as we could,” reflected Andrews. “And there were moments where we could have punished City.

“Very proud of the performance, we restricted City to very little.”

Reaction to follow shortly, after City booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Chelsea are the only other team to qualify so far, with Newcastle and Fulham currently drawing 1-1, and Arsenal hosting Crystal Palace next week.

An almost perfect night for Guardiola, as his side cruise into the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and he is able to offer some rest to almost all of his key players – Reijnders is the only man who started in their last match who played the full 90 tonight. The only downside of the evening is the injury to Bobb, coinciding with the recent injury to Doku, the Blues will certainly hope it is nothing that keeps him out of action.

For Brentford it was always going to be a tall task tonight and they ultimately came up well short. The changes made by Andrews made it clear that priorities lie elsewhere for the Bees this season, and a chance to claim three league points against Wolves on Saturday is an opportunity that they will surely want to capitalise on.

Just three minutes added on at the end of this game, which very much feels decided.

If Brentford were able to find two gaols from somewhere, then we would head straight to penalties. However, that certainly does not feel likely.

The last substitution of the night are made, as Schade and Yarmolyuk are withdrawn.

Konak and Gustavo Nunes are sent on for the final couple of minutes.

Schade carries the ball a long way, with Nunes tugging at his shirt the entire way.

The German eventually goes down and the Portuguese international is cautioned.

Foden now returns to the bench, as the substitute is substituted.

Guardiola sends on youngster Charlie Gray to make his first-team debut.

Another change for the visitors as Jensen makes way.

He is replaced by 19-year-old Donovan, making just his second appearance for Brentford.

Brentford make a double change, and Andrews sends on Hickey and Lewis-Potter.

Kayode and Henry are the two withdrawn.

City continue to get forward and Savinho looks to add another.

Shooting from a wide angle, the Brazilian cannot cause any serious trouble for Valdimarsson.

City double their lead and are one step closer to the semi-finals.

Reijnders plays a brilliant ball through for Savinho who bursts into the box. The Brazilian releases his strike and is fortunate as it takes a wicked deflection off Ajer, flying over the head of a helpless Valdimarsson and into the net.

These substitutions appear pre-planned from Guardiola, as all three who come off started the last match.

O’Reilly, Gonzalez and Cherki are withdrawn to be replaced by Gvardiol, Nunes and Silva.

Vladimarsson produces a brilliant stop to deny Foden.

The ball comes to Foden who controls with his chest, allows the ball to bounce once and then fires an effort towards the bottom corner.

The momentum of the game has started to swing slightly against the hosts.

Guardiola will look to rectify this as he prepares to make a triple change.

Brentford have increasingly been getting forward across the last ten minutes or so.

It seems to be that Khusanov is the man stepping in to end most of these attacks for City, and the Uzbek is impressing at centre-back.

Schade looks to get in behind yet again, but Khusaniv deals with the danger brilliantly.

The Uzbek uses his pace and physicality to steal the ball away from the Brentford forward.

Ajer strikes powerfully from range, providing Trafford with his toughest test of the night so far.

The Englishman is equal to it and produces a good stop to protect his clean sheet.

Tempers almost boil over as Collins fouls Savinho and the Brazilian is not happy with the challenge.

Teammates step in to calm the situation and now cards are shown by the referee.

O’Reilly is the latest of Guardiola’s men to take a shot at goal.

From a long way out, the Englishman’s effort goes straight down the throat of Valdimarsson.