Reggae Boy Ethan Pinnock Seals Brentford’s Remarkable Season with Late Winner Against Champions Manchester City
In a thrilling encounter on the final day of the Premier League campaign, Jamaican international Ethan Pinnock stole the spotlight as his late goal earned Brentford a stunning 1-0 home victory over champions Manchester City.
Despite their heroic efforts, the win was not enough to secure a coveted place in Europe next season for the Bees.
Brentford entered the match knowing that they needed a victory and required both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur to drop points in order to secure a seventh-place finish, which would have secured them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.
However, their rivals also emerged victorious against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United, respectively, dashing Brentford’s hopes and leaving them to settle for a respectable ninth-place finish.
Treble-chasing Manchester City, who had already secured their third consecutive league title with three games remaining, topped the table with a remarkable 89 points, a comfortable four points ahead of runners-up Arsenal. Brentford finished the season with 59 points, narrowly trailing behind Tottenham Hotspur in eighth place.
Despite narrowly missing out on European qualification, Brentford manager Thomas Frank showered his team with praise and celebrated their remarkable season. “The team deserve a lot of praise. It sums up a fantastic season,” said Frank. He also expressed his lack of disappointment at missing out on European competition, emphasizing the incredible progress the club has made.
“You need to look back where we’ve actually come from. To finish ninth with 59 points and the second lowest budget is incredible. Now we want to have a rest and come back as strong as possible.”
Throughout the match, Brentford’s resolute defense limited a much-changed Manchester City side to half-chances, frustrating their attacking prowess. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute when Pinnock, who had just signed a four-year contract earlier that day, unleashed a powerful strike from close range.
Pinnock capitalised on a clever header from Bryan Mbeumo, redirecting the ball into the net and sealing a memorable victory for Brentford.
Looking ahead to next month’s FA Cup and Champions League finals, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made seven changes to his lineup, opting to rest key players such as Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who did not feature in the squad.
As a result, City lacked their usual intensity, but they nearly snatched a draw in stoppage time when Cole Palmer’s efforts were heroically blocked by Pinnock, and another shot was cleared off the line by Ben Mee.
Brentford’s triumph against Manchester City marked an extraordinary achievement for the club. They became the only team to defeat City both at home and away this season, while also halting their impressive 25-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
With Ethan Pinnock’s heroic late winner capping off an unforgettable season, Brentford can now reflect on their remarkable progress and build on this success for the future.
Despite narrowly missing out on European qualification, the Bees have left an indelible mark in the Premier League, showcasing their immense potential and determination.
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