City maintain stunning form with win over West Brom

Pre-match you could have been forgiven for thinking that the game was a foregone conclusion with City going into the game in fine form and West Brom being without a win in their last five.

Many onlookers may have expected a rout when Leroy Sane powered home to give City the lead after just 10 minutes. The German received the ball from Fernandinho, who had already tried his luck from range twice at this point, out on the left and he proceeded to shift the ball out of his feet before powering past a helpless Ben Foster in the home goal.

However, the cat was thrown amongst the pigeons just two minutes later as West Brom levelled. The evergreen Gareth Barry set Jay Rodriguez away over the top and the England international got to the ball before Ederson, lifting an effort over the Brazilian’s head and into the back of the net to restore parity.

The frenetic start to the game was not over yet though as City hit back again to retake the lead with many of the home fans still on their feet in celebration. Fernandinho gathered the ball around 25 yards out and he once again took aim, with his effort this time creeping inside the far post with a slight kiss off the upright on the way through.

4:56 - There were just 4 minutes and 56 seconds between Man City scoring first, WBA equalising and City restoring their lead. Escalation. pic.twitter.com/ECEp4xuNCH

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 28, 2017

The tempo slowed at this point as City began to dominate possession. The ‘Citizens’ should have extended their lead just before the half-hour mark when a beautiful cross from Kevin De Bruyne found David Silva unmarked six yards out but the Spaniard got his header all wrong a spurned a glorious chance.

City were enjoying 78% of the possession at this point but West Brom were by no means out of the game, Salomon Rondon arguably should have levelled the scores once again after 42 minutes when he met Rodriguez’s cross from the right six yards out but he contrived to head over.

Sane and De Bruyne both fired over from range just before the break but City were forced to settle for a one-goal lead at the half.

The second half took much the same pattern as the first with West Brom content to remain disciplined and try to make the most of their chances on the counter.

The hosts has an early chance to haul themselves level when Grzegorz Krychowiak met a cross from the right just minutes after the restart, but he could only guide his header into the grateful arms of Ederson.

Despite City’s dominance of the ball, they were unable to create an real chances of note for large spells with two long range efforts from De Bruyne and a scuffed strike from Kyle Walker the most notable chances as the game moved past the hour mark.

Raheem Sterling’s introduction proved a masterstroke from Pep Guardiola as the winger scored with what may have been his first touch of the game. The England man was introduced after 61 minutes and with just 64 on the clock he extended his side’s lead, tapping home from close range after a fantastic low cross from Walker down the right.

West Brom responded well to that goal but they struggled to find a way back into the game.

Foster had to be alert to race off his line to deny Jesus after great work from Fernandinho before De Bruyne spurned a great chance late on, firing wide after being put in down the right by Sterling. Foster made another terrific save as the game moved into its final knockings, somehow keeping out David Silva’s powerful effort from six yards with a strong left hand.

The hosts were gifted a goal late on as Nicolas Otamendi attempted to chest the ball back to Ederson but instead presented the ball to Matt Phillips who duly converted, but it was too little, too late for Tony Pulis' men.

The win means that City maintain their stunning run of form, with focus now switching to their Champions League commitments in midweek.