Mark Hughes made several changes to the side that were demolished by Racing on Thursday. Hart replaces Schmeichel, Ball is back in for Garrido who drops to the bench. Dunne is in for Ben-Haim, and Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kompany all come back after being rested in midweek. Benjani also makes a fast recovery from a hamstring injury but theirs no Robinho who is still troubled with an ankle injury and Elano who is left out of the squad completely. Surely this means its goodbye to magical Brazilian.
WBA:
Carson, Robinson, Koren, Greening (c), Bednar, Kim, Moore, Zuiverloom, Meite, Olsson, Morrison.
Subs: Kiely, Hoefkens, Barnett, Brunt, Beattie, Dorrans, Teixeira.
City:
Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne (c), Richards, Ball, Kompany, Fernandes, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Vassell, Benjani.
Subs: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido, Clayton, Hamann, Evans, Caicedo.
The game started brightly for both sides, and within a minute Vassell broke down the left and forced the Albion defence into conceding a corner, which produced a chance for Ireland but he shot over. Straight after this West Brom forced an attack, as Bednar tried to catch onto a long ball but was unsuccessful.
City then had two chances within the next couple of minutes. Benjani got between both Greening and Meite but got the ball caught between his legs and committed a fouled against Robinson. Ireland then forced a save out of Carson after City won the ball back.
Good work from the impressive Benjani allowed Vassell to move in on goal, he then laid the ball of to SWP, who produced a low shot that took a deflection that forced the ball over the crossbar.
West Brom then had their best chance of the game. City failed to clear the box and James Morrison’s shot was blocked by Dunne as it squeezed past the post. City then had the woodwork and a bit of luck to thanks for keeping the scored level. Bednar found some space at the near post and fired the ball towards goal. The ball bounced of the woodwork before connected with the back of Hart’s head, But luckily enough the ball bounced to the side of the goal.
Shaun Wright-Phillips who has moved back to his best position on the right wing kept his balance with 10 minute remaining in the half, and rolled the ball to Fernandes but the young Swiss could only find the throat of Carson who saved comfortably.
As the game entered stoppage time, City had their best chance of the half. From a free-kick taken by Ball, City found the ball inside the Albion box, but Benjani and Richards could not bundle the ball as Benjani fired the ball over.
Halftime: West Brom 0 Manchester City 0
The game started in the same fashion as the first. Both sides went on the attack but both sides also lost the ball with ease.
The game was summed up in the first 5 minutes. Stephen Ireland laid the ball off for Fernandes but his cross found nobody at the back post as all the players ran to the near post. Paul Robinson then picked up the first yellow card of the game after he brought down Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Good work by City created a half chance for Shaun Wright-Phillips. The ball was played well before it Shaun Wright-Phillips found the ball just inside the centre of the box, but his fizzling shot could only find Scot Carson. Benjani then appeared to pull up after chasing a ball. He went straight off the pitch and was replaced by Caicedo. Is this another player rushed in to quickly just because Hughes wants him playing?
Richards and Dunne then made trouble for themselves when they lost the ball inside their own half but Bednar could not do anything special and fired wide. West Brom then made their first change. Do-Heon Kim was replaced by Dorrens.
West Brom break with a purpose on the counter, in which James Morrison slides a tempting ball through to Moore who finishes excellently under the body of Hart.
The goal scorer was then replaced by Beattie. That’s one way for a manager to acknowledge your goal.
Manchester City could then have been 2-0 down. Joe Hart drops a cross which drops straight to Beattie who fires the ball home but the whistle goes for pushing.
Manchester City then get their slice of luck. Felipe Caicedo’s backheel finish takes a deflection, which hits the foot of the post but crosses the line. 1-1
But guess what happens next. The game goes from end to end and City went inches away from connecting with a cross, but I’m sorry but it has to be goodbye Mark Hughes because West Brom found the wining goal in the last minute. West Brom won a throw that was swung into the box and found the head of Bednar. Complete rubbish from City.
Final Score: West Brom 2 Manchester City 1.
Aaron’s Conclusion:
Nothing really to say other than we were better today than against Racing but without someone like Elano playing then Mark Hughes pack your bags, because I wouldn’t want to give you £1 never mind £100 million.
Im off to enjoy my birthday and drown my sorrows.
Share this article
