Match Reflection: Manchester City 1 - 0 West Brom

Dzeko secures Champions League football for third successive year

By Aaron Leggott

Edin Dzeko's 13th league goal of the season ensured Manchester City were to reach the Champions League for a third successive season following a hard fought win at home to West Brom.

Dzeko, who has been slated for his recent performances, silenced his critics with a fine effort in the 35th minute.

Edin Dzeko fires in City's only goal against West Brom
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The opener was against the run of play after the Baggies started well and should have been ahead early on. Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, was causing problems to a makeshift Manchester City defence which saw Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott make rare appearances. 

Match Preview: Manchester City vs West Brom

Mancini expected to rest key players ahead of FA Cup Final

By Aaron Leggott

Ahead of the penultimate home league game of the season, Roberto Mancini has once again expressed his frustration at his team's league campaign, but knows that they must finish the season off as strongly as possible.

The Blues face three more league fixtures as they bid to cement second place - whilst also competing in their second FA Cup final in three years this weekend. Mancini said:

"I am not satisfied as I wanted to win the Premier League, but now we cannot do anything about that, we cannot change it.

"But in the end we are in the cup final and we are in second position, so we can be satisfied. But when you start the season you want to win the league."

Late but great: Dzeko celebrates injury time winner against West Brom in October
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Despite Mancini's hopes to secure second in the Premier League, he is expected to make a number of changes ahead of Saturday's game against Wigan.

Swansea 0 - 0 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

This game had a proper end of season feel about it and a draw was a fair result. It was a game of two (very unentertaining) halves - with Swansea shading the first half, and City becoming much stronger after the break.

You can tell that the motivation for some players has totally gone in terms of the Premier League and it is hard to shake them out of that mindset - we just need to ensure that Champions League football is secured which I'm fairly confident we will manage. 

David Silva in action against Swansea
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With games against West Brom, Reading and Norwich we should be expecting a full nine points in return to finish the league season off strongly. And a win at Wembley on Saturday wouldn't be too bad, either. 

Match Reflection: Swansea 0 - 0 Manchester City

Drab draw as City fail to win in Wales again

By Aaron Leggott

Roberto Mancini and Michael Laudrup came face to face once again as their teams produced a fairly uninspiring game in a typical end of season performance.

Manchester City's season ended a fortnight ago after Manchester United secured the title, whilst the Swans have faded off ever since their Capital One Cup success in February. 

Both sides had a number of chances but the lack of incisiveness from both parties ensured that Joe Hart and Michel Vorm were rarely tested.

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