Correlation FC

Bees lose 3-0 to City

After a tight first half, Manchester City flexed their muscles in the second half and scored three unanswered goals. The game was tense throughout and felt much closer than the final scoreline would suggest. Kevin Schade was tripped up twice in the box, but neither resulted in penalty calls. Final score 3-0 for City.

What was different

Players back from injuries

The Bees have been getting healthier again. Aaron Hickey made his first start since February. Vitaly Janelt made his first appearance since February. Jordan Henderson made his first appearance since being injured while on international duty with England in the March break.

Hickey in midfield / Bees play a 4-4-2

Hickey is known to be great with both feet, allowing him to excel at both left and right back. Keith Andrews pushed that versatility one step further against City by having the Scot take a role in midfield. Hickey spent much of the first half man-marking dangerous City newcomer Rayan Cherki. Hickey was effectively able to neutralise Cherki, limiting him to only 23 completed passes, his second lowest total in the league this season when starting. Hickey's final action of the game was desperately trying to head out the first goal of the game, beautifully scored by Jeremy Doku.

Bees down 3-0

When Omar Marmoush scored in second-half injury time, it put the Bees behind 3-0. It's only the second time they've faced a 3-0 deficit, with the only other occasion happening in the very first game of the season away at Nottingham Forest. The Bees, of course, followed that up with a clean-sheet victory at home the following weekend.

Other data stories

100 for Schade

This was Kevin Schade's 100th Premier League match, all with Brentford. He's started 67 of them. He's picked up a career high six yellow cards this season. The Bees website has a good article about some of his other numbers in those first 100 league games.