Manchester City 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
For Manchester City, all roads lead to the Champions League. While thoughts now turn to Tuesday's quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, and the prospect of a first semi-final appearance, they moved a step closer to a return to the competition.
While City struggled to see off West Bromwich Albion, it gave them a four-point cushion in fourth place. Manchester United can reduce that Sunday, but require a result against title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur.
City applied pressure to their neighbours.
Yet the irony is that the path back to Europe’s premier competition was smoothed by a man who cannot play in it. Samir Nasri was omitted from the squad for the knockout stages, largely because he was injured. A frustrating season has brought few highlights for City’s forgotten man, who was sidelined for six months and overshadowed by expensive arrivals in his position, in the shape of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
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A winner proved a rare moment to savour.
Yet, on just his second league start of the season, he offered a belated reminder of his quality. He combines deftly and cleverly with colleagues. He has a lovely touch. His incisive pass to Aleksandar Kolarov led to City’s leveller. His assured finish, through James Chester’s legs, secured the points.
For once, he deflected the limelight from Sergio Aguero. This was a landmark occasion for City’s top scorer and he marked it in typical fashion. A 200th appearance in the club’s colours brought his 130th goal, taking him into City’s all-time top 10.
With three years remaining on his contract and 48 goals required to overhaul Eric Brock, the record holder, he ought to depart the Etihad Stadium as their most prolific poacher.
His 17th goal in 18 league games came from the penalty spot, but was clinically dispatched after Stephane Sessegnon tripped Kolarov. It was a much-needed equaliser.
City have suffered five home league defeats already this season. Briefly, a sixth setback seemed on the cards after an improbable opener.
Albion manager Tony Pulis has been bringing teams to the Etihad Stadium since 2008 and with nothing to show for their efforts. An eight-year, 635-minute wait for a league goal was ended spectacularly, Sessegnon’s crisp drive zooming past a motionless Joe Hart.
While City have to repel PSG’s current, star-studded attack on Tuesday, it boded badly they conceded to one of the French champions’ former players, who was exiled before the expensive imports arrived.
And thereafter, with the notable exceptions of Aguero and Nasri, City fashioned little.
Manuel Pellegrini had tried to rest much of his first-choice attacking armoury but, with an hour played, he introduced elite reinforcements, in the shape of Yaya Toure and De Bruyne. It paid dividends. The Belgian instigated the move that led to the decider, bringing a contrast with his predecessor on the pitch.
Wilfried Bony was utterly ineffectual. He is yet to find the net in 2016. He looks enduringly ill-suited to this City side and it is still harder to imagine him playing a part in Pep Guardiola’s plans.
It remains a source of frustration to fans that he ranks ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho in the pecking order.
Even with an advantage, this was not a comfortable evening for City. Theirs was not the soundest defensive display. There is a case for rushing Vincent Kompany back against PSG, four weeks after suffering his latest calf injury, and not just because Eliaquim Mangala was limping at moments. The Frenchman’s clumsy shove on Sandro provoked penalty appeals from Albion. Referee Mike Jones was unmoved.
While Pulis kept up to 10 men behind the ball, Craig Gardner almost restored Albion’s lead with an angled drive. An offside, although not flagged, Saido Berahino had a glorious chance to equalise. James McClean’s injury-time volley went inches wide.
Pulis came closer to a point at the Etihad Stadium than ever before but Nasri ensured this visit was ultimately as fruitless as each of the others.
Man of the Match: Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
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