Manchester City vs. West Brom: Winners and Losers from Premier League Clash
Manchester City enjoyed a palate-cleansing 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Wilfried Bony, Fernando and David Silva ensured the champions got back to winning ways after defeats to Burnley and Barcelona. There was early controversy at the Etihad Stadium, however, after Gareth McAuley was mistakenly sent off following a Craig Dawson foul on Bony.
Read on for the winners and losers from this Premier League clash.
Loser: Premier League Refereeing
1 of 5
Ultimately, referee Neil Swarbrick mistaking Gareth McAuley for Craig Dawson—the player who actually brought down Wilfried Bony—did not make too much difference.
West Brom were always going to be left with 10 men against the champions for almost the entirety of the match. The visitors would likely still have been pummeled into a siege mentality in the face of Man City's repeated attacks—and may have been regardless of the sending off.
Nonetheless, it has not done the reputation of Premier League referees any favours.
If anything, this was more clear cut than the recent incident of mistaken identity involving Sunderland's Wes Brown and John O'Shea. Dawson's No. 25 was clear to see for the chasing Swarbrick when the defender fouled Bony.
McAuley, wearing 23 on his back, was nearby, so you can sympathise with Swarbrick getting confused. Yet when referees cannot get simple decisions such as this right, it is difficult to trust their decision-making and concentration in even tougher moments.
It will create a lack of faith that is only going to lead to more calls for referees to have technological assistance, such as this one from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
Winner: Wilfried Bony
2 of 5
Wilfried Bony had failed to score in his first six matches for Manchester City following his January transfer from Swansea City. That run ended on Saturday with a well-taken goal that set the home side on their way to an important three points.
Fernando's pass toward the striker momentarily looked to have been obstructed. The ball bounced kindly for Bony, though, and he smartly brought it under control and fired into the net.
It was a moment in keeping with the quality of Bony's contributions throughout the afternoon. Where he lacked for inspiration at Burnley and struggled in Barcelona, he was confident and sharp here.
Bony might have scored as soon as the second minute but for Dawson's aforementioned foul.
His next chance was tamely struck, but the Ivorian continued to search for space between the Albion defenders. When it was not immediately forthcoming, he dropped deeper to link up with his midfielders.
That participation in City's, at times, scintillating approach play persisted well into the second half. Bony hit the crossbar during one sustained period of pressure, while his presence helped create space for Sergio Aguero and others.
As Man City look to get their title challenge back on track, boss Manuel Pellegrini will hope the club's £25 million January signing has found his feet at just the right time.
"Wilfied Bony is new in the squad and arrived after playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and he felt that," Pellegrini said, per PremierLeague.com. "Every day, he is settling better and he is doing very well."
Loser: Saido Berahino
3 of 5
Away at the Premier League's second-placed team, Tony Pulis was always likely to set his team up with a measure of restraint.
With Brown Ideye injured, Victor Anichebe was left on the bench and Saido Berahino was fielded as the sole striker proper. The quick, skilful Stephane Sessegnon was on hand to provide support from midfield, with the intention clearly to try and catch Man City out when they least expected it—at least as far as the early going was concerned.
McAuley's sending off left the West Midlands club fighting a losing battle. Besides the poor defender, though, the biggest victim was Berahino.
The 21-year-old was immediately drained of almost all service. Just about the only thing that came his way in the first half was the occasional hoofed pass from Jonas Olsson.
The plan to be the Albion live wire who would shock the champions was all but shelved as he chased fruitlessly around behind their passing.
Yet for all the frustration of the first 72 minutes, Berahino had a chance to perhaps turn the game on its head. Olsson nodded a Craig Gardner corner his way, but the young forward could only head against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
City went on to make it 3-0 soon after.
Winner: Man City's Midfield
4 of 5
Outclassed, outfought and outsmarted by their Barcelona counterparts and the sublime Lionel Messi on Wednesday, the Manchester City midfield enjoyed a much better time of things on Saturday.
Only David Silva remained from the group that started that contest. But after being thoroughly schooled by the Liga outfit, it was important to reassert the club's superiority back home.
Silva led the way in a sparkling performance.
Capped by his goal, he was at his influential best throughout. Rather than grow frustrated by West Brom's obstinate post-sending off tactics, he revelled in the challenge of finding a way through.
Ably supported by Fernando and Frank Lampard centrally and Jesus Navas out right, Silva and City explored just about every nook and cranny they could find.
They should have had more than the three they scored—Aguero and Lampard were especially wasteful—but regaining the sense of creativity they lacked at Burnley last time out in the Premier League was vital for this unit's morale.
A tricky match away at Crystal Palace is next up before the Manchester derby on April 12. Man City's midfield should be tested far more in those games than they were against this restricted West Brom side. But they reminded themselves here what they are capable of when they take hold of a game.
Winner: Boaz Myhill
5 of 5
It was not quite Joe Hart stopping Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou, but Boaz Myhill's work in keeping the scoreline down to single figures at the Etihad Stadium deserves credit.
The West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper could do little about Man City's three goals. Bony and Silva were left unmarked, while he was undermined by Olsson's aimless swing for City's second.
Myhill was helped by some less than lethal finishing from some of City's attackers. Still, he reacted superbly to deny Aguero, Navas and Silva among others on several occasions, both from close range and further out.
As BBC Sport reported, Man City managed 16 shots on target from 43 attempts altogether. In the circumstances, Myhill could have had a much worse afternoon.
With first-choice goalkeeper Ben Foster out for six months, Pulis will need his back-up to continue in this vein. The lack of senior options besides the 32-year-old is so problematic the manager is considering an emergency loan, per the Express & Star.
