West Brom vs. Manchester City: Score and Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match
Manchester City swaggered to an emphatic 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in their Premier League opener on Monday at The Hawthorns, surging to the summit of the table in the process.
Goals from David Silva and Yaya Toure gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the interval, preceding a powerful Vincent Kompany header just before the hour mark that put Manuel Pellegrini's men safely ahead.
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Raheem Sterling lined up in a competitive match for the first time for City alongside Silva and Jesus Navas in a mouthwatering trio of attacking midfielders. For the hosts, Rickie Lambert began at the point of the attack, while James McClean and James Chester also made their debuts for the Baggies.
But it was two familiar faces who combined to give City the lead in the ninth minute. After some early possession, the ball broke for Toure in the penalty area, and his soft strike was diverted toward goal by Silva, whose backheeled flick then deflected off a West Brom player and into the corner.
It was a messy goal which left Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill flat-footed, but City’s early probing definitely warranted a lead. There was also some confusion over which player got the final touch on the effort, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher credited the goal to the Spaniard instead of Toure:
Surprisingly for a side so well-drilled, West Brom were struggling with their shape in the initial exchanges, with the two-striker system deployed by manager Tony Pulis leaving the Baggies outnumbered in midfield. It allowed the visitors to dominate the middle of the park—Toure in particular, who was running riot with his blistering bursts forward.
So it was no surprise when the languid Ivory Coast international, linking up superbly with his compatriot, Wilfried Bony, stroked home a sumptuous equaliser from the edge of the penalty area in the 24th minute. After doubts about who got the last nick on the first goal, this was as emphatic a finish as you’re likely to see from the midfielder.
Kartik Krishnaiyer of World Soccer Talk dampened any early optimism that City supporters may have been developing after this blistering beginning to the match:
City were well in the ascendancy, though, and they came close to a third not long after as Bony flashed a fierce shot just wide of Myhill’s right-hand post. Sterling also went through on goal five minutes before half-time after a scything pass from Fernandinho, but his effort was tame and easily parried by the Baggies goalkeeper.
As referee Mike Dean blew for half-time with the score 2-0 in favour of the visitors, former City midfielder Joey Barton reflected on a dominant display from Pellegrini’s side:
Perhaps with their manager’s words ringing in their ears after the interval, West Brom began the second half with a renewed sense of purpose, pushing their more illustrious opponents back. But Kompany was on hand to quell any potential fightback from the hosts, as the Belgian thundered a near-post header past Myhill in the 59th minute.
Usually a major threat from set pieces, the goal had actually been a long time coming for the City skipper, as OptaJoe noted:
It was game over for West Brom, and the sight of Sergio Aguero, the top scorer in the division last season, rising from the bench to come on just after did little to lift the lull that had engulfed The Hawthorns following Kompany’s goal.
Their players did force some late saves from Joe Hart, but with a big game to come against Chelsea this weekend, it was understandable that City coasted through the final stages of the contest, keeping their three-goal lead intact as the game wound to an inevitable close.
In the last five Premier League campaigns, the team which has started the season on a Monday night has gone on to win the title, and after this comprehensive showing, there will be plenty predicting that City go on to do exactly the same. After all, of all the displays over the opening weekend, this was by far the most impressive of any of the title contenders.
Going forward, Pellegrini’s men are still the finest side in the league, with Sterling adding a high-octane new dimension to complement the intricacy of Silva, the power of Toure and the amalgamation of both from Aguero. If City can preserve these stellar levels against Chelsea on Sunday, the champions will be in for an extraordinarily tough afternoon.
Post-Match Reaction
Afterward, Kompany admitted he had no doubt the team would get off to a fast start, per Sky Sports (h/t BBC):
"We have something to prove. Last season was below what we’re used to doing. It was a good way to start the first game.
It gives us extra motivation. We came out knowing we had a point to prove. If you’d seen the faces in training last week, I knew the team was going to be ready for this game.
Every club needs stability. It [Manuel Pellegrini's new contract] gives us stability and the right kind of environment to work in towards the end of the season.
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