MAN CITY 2, WEST BROM 1
Manchester City made hard work of beating West Brom as they looked distracted by Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain.
Goals from Sergio Aguero, a penalty, and Samir Nasri, making his first start since September, earned City their first and long overdue back-to-back Premier League victories since October.
But they were unconvincing as the Baggies, with more clinical finishing, could have avoided a ninth straight defeat against City who now have third-placed Arsenal, held by West Ham, in their sights.
In the last 20 minutes, Saido Berahino wasted two glorious chances while Craig Gardner and James McClean also had openings to earn what would have been a deserved point. They also had a stone-wall penalty rejected.
You only had to look at the stats that showed how close it was. Each side had 13 goal attempts with City having four on target to Baggies’ two while they also had eight corners apiece.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the victory declaring: “We needed to win and we won the game.
“This was a very important game with Arsenal drawing with West Ham and Tottenham playing Manchester United depending on the result of that game.”
Pellegrini added he had a difficult team selection due to tiredness and injuries after the midweek game in Europe.
But he was delighted by the return of Nasri following injury as he was named man of the match after a tireless display.
And he added that Aguero, who limped off, in not an injury concern saying it was simply a kick.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis was convinced his side ought to have won penalty adding he was disappointed his side didn’t enjoy one of two breaks in their favour.
“When you look at all the teams around City fighting for Champions League spots, they will be disappointed by that result,” he remarked.
City made five changes to the side that kicked off Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final in Paris.
There were recalls at full back for Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov, Fabien Delph and Nasri in midfield and Wilfried Bony up front.
The players to lose out were Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
Raheem Sterling was ruled out through injury, but Yaya Toure was back on the bench after a lay off.
City, who had won eight successive games against West Brom, fell behind in the sixth minute in bizarre circumstances.
The Baggies broke after Nasri lost possession after colliding with referee Mike Jones. The ball was played to James McClaen on the left and his cross found Sessegnon on the right of the box.
The Benin international found the net with a shot that beat keeper Joe Hart at the near post. Replays showed the ball went through the legs of Kolarov that probably explained why Hart was stood rooted to the spot.
It was the shot shy Baggies’ first on target effort in the last three matches as they finally ended their dismal sequence.
Sessegnon soon became villain as he conceded the penalty that brought City level.
Nasri released Kolarov whose burst into the box was ended by a trip from Sessegnon and Aguero scored from the spot.
It was his 23rd goal of the season and 130th in 200 appearances for City as he claimed 10th place on the club’s all-time scoring list.
City came alive as Kolarov’s drive was turned over the bar by Foster and from the resulting corner Eliaquim Mangala headed over.
The Baggies remained a threat and Craig Gardner, who replaced the injured Salomon Rondon early in the game, fired narrowly wide.
Aguero forced a fine save from Foster as City went for a second goal.
The Baggies could have had a penalty themselves when Mangala clearly climbed all over Sandro, but Mr Jones was unmoved.
City made a double change on the hour bringing on big guns De Bruyne and Toure who replaced Bony and Delph.
And De Bruyne played a part in the build up that led to City regaining the lead midway through the second half.
Jesus Navas and Aguero were also involved in the move, Aguero’s shot being blocked and running free to Nasri to slot home from inside the six-yard box putting his effort through the legs of James Chester who was covering on the goalline.
Saido Berahino had two great chances to make it 2-2 in quick succession but shot wide each time when he ought to have found the net.
Aguero was denied by the legs of Foster and Nasri curled an effort not far wide as they came close to sealing victory with a third City goal.
The Baggies refused to throw in the towel and a 30-yard drive from Gardner was tipped over the bar by Hart.
City made their last change in the last minute as Aguero, who had been the victim of some hefty challenges, was replaced by Clichy.
There could have been a dramatic ending as McClean almost equalised in the fifth minute of stoppage time, his volley flashing just wide of the upright after Hart had punched clear a corner.