Yoane Wissa was on target as Brentford were beaten 2-1 by Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

The DR Congo international got the Bees off to a flyer at Etihad Stadium – heading beyond Ederson inside the opening 30 seconds – but striker Erling Haaland struck twice before the break to turn the game in City’s favour. Wissa was then worryingly withdrawn in first-half stoppage time after a heavy challenge from Mateo Kovačić.

Thomas Frank made two changes to the side that lined up against Southampton in Brentford’s final game before the international break.

Mathias Jensen - unavailable due to a calf injury - and Kevin Schade were replaced by Keane Lewis-Potter and Sepp van den Berg as the west Londoners switched from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2.

Deadline Day signing Jayden Meghoma was among the substitutes.

Straight from kick-off, Kristoffer Ajer’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Lewis-Potter, John Stones failed to clear from underneath the crossbar and Wissa was perfectly placed to loop a header into the net.

Just 22 seconds were on the clock, making it the fastest goal scored in the Premier League this season.

With the Etihad stunned into silence, the Bees went in search of a second.

On four minutes, Rico Lewis made an important intervention to prevent Bryan Mbeumo from getting a shot away from close range.

Ederson then raced off his line to stop Wissa from having a clear sight at goal after a superb combination between the Bees’ front two.

Nathan Collins, in space in the penalty area as a corner was swung in, turned the ball towards goal and forced Ederson into a smart stop low to his right.

City, second best during the opening stages, began to grow into the game and scored an equaliser on 20 minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne found Haaland with a short pass and the Norwegian’s snapshot from the right of the area clipped Pinnock’s heel and flew past Flekken.

On 26 minutes, Lewis played a pass inside to De Bruyne. The Belgian beat Wissa with a clever feint and flashed a low shot just wide of Flekken’s left post from 25 yards.

At the other end, Ajer’s deep cross was headed towards goal by Ethan Pinnock and Ederson tipped the ball over the bar.

City took the lead just after the half-hour mark – and Haaland was on target again. The striker raced clear of Pinnock to latch on to Ederson’s long ball over the top, waited for Flekken to advance and lifted the ball over the keeper and into the far corner.

Savinho then had two efforts in quick succession: the first blocked by Collins and the second well held by Flekken.

Brentford’s goalscorer Wissa was withdrawn in the first minute of stoppage time following a poor challenge from Kovačić that saw the midfielder shown a yellow card.

In the final action of a frantic first half, Lewis-Potter beat Walker with dummy and his curling effort was pushed away by Ederson at his near post.

The first big opening after the break fell to Brentford. A string of crisp passes allowed the Bees to beat City’s press. Christian Nørgaard turned the ball around the corner for Mbeumo who, racing towards goal, had substitute Kevin Schade in space to his right.

However, the Cameroon international opted to slide the ball into the path of Lewis-Potter, who overhit his cross and the ball bounced out for a goal kick.

De Bruyne’s delivery from the right was headed out for a corner by van den Berg under pressure from Haaland, before Savinho’s rising effort flew over the bar.

City continued to push forward, wave after wave, with Flekken at his acrobatic best to turn Jack Grealish’s curling effort around the post and then tip Haaland’s powerful first-time strike over the bar.

Walker’s dipping effort from 20 yards grazed the roof of the net with the Bees’ no.1 rooted to the spot.

Gvardiol then made a penetrating run before finding Savinho in space inside the six-yard box, but Flekken advanced quickly and smothered the Brazilian’s shot.

Savinho, cutting in from the right, skipped between Lewis-Potter and Damsgaard and curled narrowly wide of Flekken’s right post.

City swept the ball from right to left, with Rodrigo and Grealish involved. Haaland, collecting the ball in the centre of the Bees’ box, lashed a shot on to the base of the post. The hosts immediately recycled, with Grealish teeing up Haaland and Collins making a trademark block to prevent his shot from finding the target.

Flekken denied Haaland again moments later, diving to his left to palm to safety.

Despite City’s relentless pressure, Brentford could have snatched a point in stoppage time.

Mbeumo, held up by Manuel Akanji on the edge of the box, teed up Yehor Yarmoliuk, but the substitute dragged wide of Ederson’s right post as the Bees left Manchester empty handed.

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones (Dias 84), Akanji; Lewis (Gvardiol HT), Kovačić (Rodrigo); Savinho, De Bruyne, Gündoğan, Grealish (Bernardo 83); Haaland

Subs not used: Ortega Moreno, Doku, Nunes, Foden, McAtee

Brentford: Flekken; Ajer (Roerslev 72), van den Berg, Pinnock, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Nørgaard, Janelt (Carvalho 72), Damsgaard (Yarmoliuk 84); Wissa (Schade 45+1), Mbeumo

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Mee, Meghoma, Konak, Trevitt

Frank left with mixed emotions after narrow loss

Thomas Frank believes Brentford’s performance on Saturday was better than the Bees’ display in November 2022 that saw his side beat Manchester City 2-1.

The Bees boss said: “50 per cent of me is very frustrated we didn’t get something out of the game; 50 per cent is extremely proud of the team, the players and the club.

“The performance today was, overall, much, much better than two years ago.

“The first 25 minutes we were close to world class… not many teams come here and have more possession, shots on target, xG.

“Second half they got a little bit more on top, but we stayed in the game and had two opportunities.

"The fans should be very proud."

Collins: City performance sets the standard

Nathan Collins highlighted Brentford’s “bravery” against Manchester City and insisted that the Bees’ performance sets the standard for the season ahead.

“I thought we were very good,” he said.

“We were brave on the ball and in the press. We worked hard and we got our reward early on.

“They got on top a bit more during the second half, as they do, because they’re one of the best teams in the world, but I’m incredibly proud of the boys.

"This has to be the standard for the rest of the season.”