Re: PREMIER LEAGuE 2013/2014
Manchester City moved within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a routine victory over West Brom.
Pablo Zabaleta headed the home side in front after two minutes before Sergio Aguero drove in from 20 yards.
Graham Dorrans pulled one back for the Baggies with a fine effort from the edge of the area before Martin Demichelis stabbed in from a corner.
City winger David Silva was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the second half.
Pepe Mel's West Brom are three points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining after a defeat that saw City take their goal tally to 145 for the season.
Argentine quality
This is the first time that three different Argentine players have scored in the same Premier League match.
Third-placed City, who have game in hand, are still reliant on Liverpool slipping up following their 3-2 defeat at Anfield and a 2-2 draw with Sunderland last week and could be nine points behind the Reds again by the time they kick off against Crystal Palace on Sunday,
But this was a performance that suggested Manuel Pellegrini's side believe there is still some life left in the title race.
In his third appearance since returning from a hamstring injury, Aguero looked sharp and ended a five-match run without a goal with his 27th of the season in his 63-minute run-out.
But there was concern as Silva, who has been struggling with an ankle problem, left the field on a stretcher following a challenge from Morgan Amalfitano midway through the second half.
After the lack of fluidity of their previous two performances, City took little time to show they had rediscovered some of their attacking bite.
Samir Nasri's cross was headed away by Liam Ridgewell and after Ben Foster got a hand to Aguero's shot, Zabaleta turned it in with a diving header for his first goal since January 2013.
Fast starters
No team has managed more than Manchester City's 11 goals in the opening 10 mins of Premier League games this season.
West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon had an effort ruled out for offside but Aguero added a second after just nine minutes when he thumped in from just outside the area.
Dorrans pulled one back with a strike of real quality, lifting the ball over Gael Clichy and thumping in a half volley after the Baggies punished City's confusion over a free-kick with a swift break.
But nine minutes before half-time City got a third when Nasri's corner was flicked on by Vincent Kompany and side-footed in from close range by Demichelis.
Craig Dawson blocked a Zabaleta shot and also turned a Nasri shot past the post after City cut through the visitors with a slick move.
After Silva was forced off, Hart made a scrambling save to push away a drive from Amalfitano before Stevan Jovetic thumped wide from distance at the other end.
Manchester City moved within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a routine victory over West Brom.
Pablo Zabaleta headed the home side in front after two minutes before Sergio Aguero drove in from 20 yards.
Graham Dorrans pulled one back for the Baggies with a fine effort from the edge of the area before Martin Demichelis stabbed in from a corner.
City winger David Silva was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the second half.
Pepe Mel's West Brom are three points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining after a defeat that saw City take their goal tally to 145 for the season.
Argentine quality
This is the first time that three different Argentine players have scored in the same Premier League match.
Third-placed City, who have game in hand, are still reliant on Liverpool slipping up following their 3-2 defeat at Anfield and a 2-2 draw with Sunderland last week and could be nine points behind the Reds again by the time they kick off against Crystal Palace on Sunday,
But this was a performance that suggested Manuel Pellegrini's side believe there is still some life left in the title race.
In his third appearance since returning from a hamstring injury, Aguero looked sharp and ended a five-match run without a goal with his 27th of the season in his 63-minute run-out.
But there was concern as Silva, who has been struggling with an ankle problem, left the field on a stretcher following a challenge from Morgan Amalfitano midway through the second half.
After the lack of fluidity of their previous two performances, City took little time to show they had rediscovered some of their attacking bite.
Samir Nasri's cross was headed away by Liam Ridgewell and after Ben Foster got a hand to Aguero's shot, Zabaleta turned it in with a diving header for his first goal since January 2013.
Fast starters
No team has managed more than Manchester City's 11 goals in the opening 10 mins of Premier League games this season.
West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon had an effort ruled out for offside but Aguero added a second after just nine minutes when he thumped in from just outside the area.
Dorrans pulled one back with a strike of real quality, lifting the ball over Gael Clichy and thumping in a half volley after the Baggies punished City's confusion over a free-kick with a swift break.
But nine minutes before half-time City got a third when Nasri's corner was flicked on by Vincent Kompany and side-footed in from close range by Demichelis.
Craig Dawson blocked a Zabaleta shot and also turned a Nasri shot past the post after City cut through the visitors with a slick move.
After Silva was forced off, Hart made a scrambling save to push away a drive from Amalfitano before Stevan Jovetic thumped wide from distance at the other end.
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