Nice play from Manchester City around the penalty area, they manage to find a way through in a congested area but Savinho's resulting shot is wide.

A reminder that there is no VAR tonight. Which means there was no second opinion on that Abdukodir Khusanov challenge.

James Trafford punches away the free-kick.

Image source, PA Media

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

That would generally be a red card. I don't think there's any doubt that the next touch would have been a shot. I do think that he should've expected to see a red card there. Man City are fortunate.

Image source, Reuters

Confirmation of that substitution. On comes Phil Foden for Oscar Bobb just before Brentford take a free-kick.

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Oscar Bobb cannot continue and hobbles straight down the tunnel.

The in-form Phil Foden is being readied.

Well this isn't good news for Oscar Bobb.

He goes down on the turf and it's not long before he's calling it a night, heading straight down the tunnel. It looked like he was holding his hamstring as he made his way down there.

Phil Foden is being readied.

Is Abdukodir Khusanov fortunate there? Brentford are saying it is the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

Now then, the long ball comes in and Kevin Schade is almost through on goal but Abdukodir Khusanov makes the challenge right on the edge of the penalty box.

The defender goes into the book for the challenge but the Brentford players aren't happy, they think it should have been more.

Good feet from Oscar Bobb down the right-hand side, he shimmies round Nathan Collins but can't squeeze his effort into the bottom corner from close range and Hakon Valdimarsson gathers.

Image source, Reuters

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter at Etihad Stadium

It's old school tonight. Old school kick off time, and no VAR.

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

James Trafford is taking no chances on the ball, almost everything that comes to his feet is going long.

The Man City forwards would be wise to stay on their toes as something could well skip through to them on this greasy surface.

Kevin Schade is played in by Rico Henry but once again the forward has strayed offside.

Up the other end, Savinho plays a square ball across the box but it evades everyone. It comes back to Rayan Cherki who shoots with his left foot but drags it just wide.

Kevin Schade thinks he's wriggled free of City's defence but he's timed his run just too early and the offside flag goes up.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter at Etihad Stadium

Absolutely no let up in the intensity of the rain so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Young Nico O'Reilly is quickly establishing himself as someone Pep Guardiola can fully rely on, whichever competition it is - there is no rest for the 20-year-old tonight.

After scoring a dream goal against Real Madrid last week, I asked Guardiola about his reliability to City and the manager replied by calling him "the best left-back in the UK".

Agree or disagree with that?

A big long ball from James Trafford sends Oscar Bobb on his way and he gets himself one-on-one with Rico Henry.

Luckily for the Brentford man, his turn of pace gets him out of trouble and prevents Bobb taking hold of the ball.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Pretty strong start from Brentford. Man City aren't the tallest of teams or the most aggressive in the air, so that could be an opportunity for Brentford to create chances.

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Lovely Manchester weather for this one, with rain sweeping across the pitch from right to left.

It's spraying straight into the face of James Trafford so tricky conditions for the City goalkeeper to deal with in the first half.

A sweeping ball into the box from Vitaly Janelt is headed away as Brentford make a positive start, pinning Manchester City in their own half.