Manchester City vs. West Brom: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri overturned a one-goal deficit to help Manchester City beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Nasri struck with 20 minutes remaining after Aguero's first-half penalty had levelled Stephane Sessegnon's stunning opener for the Baggies.

It's three points that put the fourth-placed Citizens just two adrift of Arsenal in third and four ahead of neighbours Manchester United, who have a game in hand, in the race to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

City are still in this season's competition and have an excellent chance of dispatching Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final. Manager Manuel Pellegrini will be delighted to have eased some top-four worries ahead of Tuesday's second leg.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Pellegrini made five changes with Champions League duty in mind. Among them were full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna dropping to the bench in favour of Aleksandar Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta and ex-Arsenal man Nasri replacing David Silva as the conductor-in-chief of midfield.

Pellegrini's gamble wasn't a major one, since he made sure attacking heavyweights Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne were on the bench. Both would be needed after City were given all they could handle by the visitors in the first half.

Baggies boss Tony Pulis had included included Sandro at the heart of midfield and featured the dangerous Saido Berahino up top.

Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News revealed the starting XIs for both teams:

Pellegrini may have been regretting his team selection when West Brom took the lead with barely five minutes on the clock. The goal came from mercurial attacking midfielder Sessegnon, who tucked away an emphatic half-volley that deceived City goalkeeper Joe Hart at his near post.

But Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News felt the England No. 1 was unfortunate:

Sessegnon owed his team a goal after failing to make the trip for the Baggies' last Premier League game, per the Express & Star.

But he went from hero to villain when he felled Kolarov in the box to concede a penalty Aguero duly dispatched. Kolarov had gotten in behind the Albion defence after a smart exchange of passes with Nasri. This combination on the left flank gave the visitors fits in the first half.

The goal meant Aguero moved up in the club's all-time scoring charts, per Brennan:

Things got worse for the Baggies when bullish centre-forward Salomon Rondon struggled off and had to be replaced by midfield workhorse Craig Gardner.

Matt Wilson of the Express & Star provided details of the striker's problem:

Gardner had a chance from a close-range free-kick but saw his rasping drive blocked by the wall. Still, the Baggies continued to make a good accounting of themselves going forward, with Sessegnon lively.

By contrast, the home side remained sluggish in attacking areas. Many passes went astray, while the combination of Aguero and fellow striker Wilfried Bony was failing to click.

The result was a stalemate at the break.

West Brom took a robust approach to stifling City during the early moments of the second half. Centre-back Jonny Evans set the tone when he cynically clattered Aguero.

Brennan felt more punishment should have been levied against the former Manchester United man:

But West Brom were the ones feeling aggrieved when they had a legitimate penalty claim denied after Eliaquim Mangala barged over Sandro in the box. The French centre-back simply bulldozed his man to the floor, making the non-decision a real mystery.

Not deterred, the Baggies continued to press, and Gardner soon dragged a tame shot wide to waste an excellent move, featuring clever movement and quick passing between Sessegnon and Berahino.

At this point, Pellegrini made the necessary changes, bringing on both Toure and De Bruyne. The dismal Bony made way along with Fabian Delph.

Squawka summed up Bony's lack of impact:

The changes made a difference quickly when De Bruyne's vision released winger Jesus Navas in the box. His pull back was met by Aguero, but City's No. 10 couldn't capitalise.

They needed Nasri to turn home the Argentinian's blocked shot and give City the lead. That meant the playmaker, who has had injury problems this season, ended a long scoring drought in England's top flight:

Berahino might have scored a quick equaliser had his control not deserted him in the City box moments later after James Chester's sly through pass. The Albion striker soon scooped another shot wide when all the stadium was expecting to see the linesman raise his flag for offside.

Later, Berahino couldn't stretch far enough to toe Craig Dawson's teasing low cross across the face of goal into the net. Then Gardner thumped a long-range free-kick Hart was forced to tip over, as West Brom continued to pose a considerable threat.

There was a scare of a different kind for City when Aguero pulled up limping. Pellegrini eventually took the cue and substituted his star striker for left-back Clichy.

Brennan hoped attacking talisman Aguero wasn't too hurt, despite some worrying scenes:

The Citizens were able to eventually see things out but not without their share of frights. Most notably, James McClean thrashed wide amid a melee from a corner deep into injury time.

Post-Match Reaction

Pellegrini wasted little time confirming the news all City fans wanted to hear regarding the club's main man up front, per Bajkowski:

As for Pellegrini's opposite number, Pulis was still irked the official didn't take any action over Mangala's clumsy challenge, according to Wilson:

This is a significant win for Pellegrini's squad, giving them a real platform to wrap up a Champions League place for next season.

As for this season's tournament, Nasri's return to form gives City one more attacking menace, although Pellegrini will hope Aguero's problem proves only a mild one.