Man City 2, Brentford 0: Cherki and Savinho Propel Hosts into Carabao Cup Semis, but Guardiola Faces Injury Setback

CHRISTMAS is coming – and Cherki looks set to be the centrepiece of Pep Guardiola’s festive menu.

Manchester City’s French magician Rayan Cherki certainly knocked the stuffing out of Brentford with a first half cracker.

The Spanish boss has many delights to choose from as his talented squad have started to go through the gears in recent months.

But he can’t overlook Cherki right now – with the former Lyon man serving up all kinds of treats for the Etihad faithful recently.

Last time here, he pulled out a ‘rabona’ which landed on the head of Phil Foden for City’s third goal against Sunderland.

This time, he decided he didn’t need his accomplice – thumping in a 20 yard screamer that almost took the net with it.

Savinho rounded things off with a deflected second midway through the second half

And it all means Guardiola’s new look City will head into the New Year with an interest in FOUR tournaments.

Where have we heard that before?

The boss admitted he got it wrong when he changed 10 players for the Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen last month.

He felt the team he picked in the 2-0 defeat to the German side lacked a ‘father figure’ – so he was more cautious this time.

Only slightly though. He still rested seven from the XI that won convincingly at Crystal Palace – one more than his opposite number Keith Andrews.

The travelling Bees fans might have been slightly dismayed – their team are seven points clear of the drop zone and quarter finals do not come around that often.

A long ball forward from James Trafford put Oscar Bobb in a straight head to head with Rico Henry but the Bees man got in first

Cherki gave a glimpse of what was to come but pulled his shot wide of the post – if anything it was a bit of a sighter.

Bobb was looking lively too and skipped round his marker but his low shot was straight at visiting keeper Hakon Valdimarsson.

It proved to be the Norwegian’s last action of the night as he seemed to tweak a hamstring and was replaced by Phil Foden

At the other end, Abdukodir Khusanov cleaned out Kevin Schade when he had his eyes on goal and earned a yellow card.

Brentford felt it could have been more and VAR would almost certainly have had a good look had it been in place.

It proved to be a key moment too .as just after the half hour a corner from the left was headed out by Schade but only as far as Cherki on the edge of the box.

He took a touch to go past his man before unleashing an unstoppable shot that whistled past Valdimarsson on its way into the top corner.

Then it was no so much Cherki – more cheeky – as he nicked Erling Haaland’s ‘robot’ celebration AND the Norwegian’s more regular Buddha pose.

No doubt the top scorer – who was named among the subs – will have something to say about it.

The French international took a while to settle in England after his move from Lyon – but is finding his feet now.

And the City fans like what they are seeing. It is early days but £30 million is looking like a gift for the title chasers.

Brentford made a promising start to the second half and as Schade again threatened to go clear on goal, this time Khusanov timed his challenge just right.

Then Trafford had to go full stretch to push away an angled drive from Kristoffer Ajer.

This was a big night for the former Burnley keeper whose move back to the Etihad has not gone as he hoped.

He began the season looking likely to be the No1 as Ederson looked for a move away but then Guardiola swooped for Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day.

And he now looks set to be the cup keeper – which may not be enough to earn him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.

He fancies a move in January but Pep is not so keen. Even so this was a chance to put himself in the shop window and he is sure to have some admirers.

City were getting chances on the break too and just as he did for the second goal at Palace on Sunday, Cherki teed up Foden but this time Valdimarsson kept out his effort.

Guardiola made a raft of changes in a bid to bring some fresh energy into his team and within a couple of minutes the second goal arrived.

Tijjani Reijnders played a pass through to Savinho who cut in from the left and sent in a shot that deflected off Ajer and looped over the helpless Bees keeper.

The Brazilian winger has responded well to some criticism from Guardiola after the 5-4 thriller at Fulham two weeks ago.

His only other goal this season was in this competition at Huddersfield in September – he will hope to be credit with this one as it will do his confidence the power of good.