West Brom 2 - 3 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Adam Bailey

Praise may be endlessly flowing from the mouths of City supporters after last nights uncharacteristic away win, but ultimately, Manchester City should be relishing playing teams like West Brom who really shouldn't stand a chance against such formidable opponents.

Manuel Pellegrini's tinkering surprised me somewhat, especially with the inclusion of Edin Džeko alongside Sergio Agüero. However, the Bosnian's first half display was encouraging and his interchanges with Sergio and the advancing Pablo Zabaleta made for some dazzling play and you can't argue with his magnificent record against the Baggies. Although Džeko enjoyed a relatively straightforward first half in which the Blues achieved a comfortable two goal cushion, his showing in front of goal was less than clinical in the second and Álvaro Negredo's strength and technique would have troubled the Baggies a lot more in my opinion.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

Match Reflection: West Brom 2 - 3 Manchester City

City break away duck with solid victory

By Jack Mumford

City slayed their away demons last night, powering past a shell-shocked West Bromwich Albion to win 3-2, with a late onslaught from West Brom making the scoreline a more respectable one. After losing four of the six away Premier League games so far this season, City knew they had to improve their away form to stand a chance of winning the title. 

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

West Brom have already won at Old Trafford and drawn at Stamford Bridge this season so City’s comprehensive victory is no mean feat.

Manuel Pellegrini made three changes from Sunday's victory over Swansea. The major news was captain Vincent Kompany returned to the side after two months out with a thigh injury. Joleon Lescott was the unfortunate man who had to make way for the returning Belgian. 

Match Preview: West Brom vs Manchester City

City looking to break away curse in the Midlands

By Aaron Leggott

The Premier League has seen a real Jekyll and Hyde version of Manchester City this season. At the Etihad Stadium, they are ruthless - seven wins out of seven and a goal difference of +23 sees the Blues stand out from the pack. 

It's a different story away from east Manchester though; with just one win in six, Manuel Pellegrini's men sit in a meagre 15th place in the away form table - a worrying stat for any title challenger.

City have enjoyed a number of wins against West Brom over the past few years
Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

However, after three successive wins, the Blues go into their clash against West Brom in high spirits and realistic of hopes of turning around their away form ahead of the festive period.

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.

Manchester City: The season so far

Edin's form is sending chills through defenders across the country.

By Aaron Leggott

After Saturday's win at the Hawthorns, City are sitting pretty in third place after eight games played, but it hasn't been as simple as it looks on paper.

Despite an unbeaten start to the season, there have been many occasions where that record has looked under threat. Performances at Anfield and Craven Cottage pop into mind, where late goals from Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko helped prevent any blushes on Roberto Mancini's part.

G'Edin there! Dzeko's late goals have won City vital points already this season
Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Europe

And some out of sort Champions League performances has meant that, barring a miracle, City are facing an early exit from the elite competition.

If I was to describe the start to this season, it would be a mixed bag of performances. At times, we have looked unstoppable (Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium comes to mind, in particular), whilst at points we have looked to have been suffering from a title winning hangover.

Match Report: City 2 - 1 West Brom

The Edin Dzeko show
Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Europe

City's garden of Edin 

By Dave Walker

Manchester City’s thoroughly deserved 2-1 win at The Hawthorns was undoubtedly the late Edin Dzeko show as 10-man City persevered in adversity.

But it was a victory built on resilience, self belief and strength of purpose stemming from that memorable, last minute, title-clinching win over QPR last May.

Has there ever been a team more aware of the rewards to be had by keeping going until the final whistle, than Roberto Mancini’s men – I think not.

This was as dramatic a win as you’ll see all season as City kept their composure, stayed patient and ultimately triumphed after being a man down for 75 minutes of play. 

City vs West Brom: Match Report

Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe

Back to the future for mission not so impossible!

By David Walker

Manchester City went into re-wind mode to go fast forward and put their Premier League title challenge back on track, with a rampant second half display against West Bromwich Albion.

Roberto Mancini’s marauders turned back the clock to their all-conquering form of the first five months of the season and annihilated a painfully negative Albion at the Etihad Stadium.

City vs West Brom: Match Preview

I have a feeling City will bounce back... 3-0 to the Blues

By Andy Leggott

With the press now having declared the title race over City entertain the side whose Boxing day, rear-guard performance prompted a run of mystifying away form from which City are yet to recover. In scenes now ever familiar to travelling blues, the Baggies celebrated their 0-0 draw with all the gusto of a World Cup winning side. Indeed such was the magnitude of the achievement that serious thought was given to ending the Premier League season there and then!

TSBV Feature: Premier League preview (Part 4)

With less than 24 hours to go before the season finally kicks off, we wrap up our Premier League Preview by examining how Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic and Wolves will do this season.