West Brom 0 - 4 Man CitySergio Agüero hits two as Manchester City thrash West Bromwich Albion
Away team scorersSergio Aguero 19
Sergio Aguero 28
IIkay Gundogan 79
IIkay Gundogan 90
The dry spell is over – in more ways than one. Manchester City had not won since Sergio Agüero’s last goal, away against Swansea City on 24 September, but seven games later the Argentina striker found the net twice in the first half to catapult Pep Guardiola’s team past an uninspiring West Bromwich Albion and back to the top of the table, where Arsenal had momentarily displaced them earlier in the afternoon.
Ilkay Gündogan, who looks increasingly comfortable, capped a terrific individual showing with a brace of his own late on in what was perhaps City’s most dominant performance yet under Guardiola.
That comes with a caveat, though, because their opponents were plagued by hesitancy to such an extent that their own fans chided them sarcastically before half-time with a chant of “We’ve got the ball” when they had managed half a dozen successful passes.
Much had been said about Guardiola’s longest spell without a victory but this response was emphatic, no matter the welcoming nature of their hosts. He said the three points were the most pleasing aspect of a commanding afternoon but the performance must also be a confidence boost before the Champions League meeting with his former club Barcelona on Tuesday.
The only period they were put under any degree of pressure was midway through the second half when two goals in front. “We are still learning how to improve in the second half, it’s difficult to control 90 minutes,” Guardiola said.
Albion’s best chance when still in the game came in the opening couple of minutes when Nacer Chadli shot over, and their only attempt on target was a tame 67th-minute free-kick.
Instead they spent much of the afternoon pinned back by a visiting side that hardly broke sweat. That Ben Foster had managed the same amount of touches as both wingers, Chris Brunt and James McClean, by the interval spoke volumes for the level of control exerted by City in the opening 45 minutes. “They didn’t push up,” Guardiola said, “so we had time to think about it.”
Agüero’s first arrived in the 19th minute following an exquisite through ball from Gündogan. The striker composed himself before rifling low past Foster from a tight angle in a slick, almost effortless move that made the West Brom back four appear mannequin-like.
The hosts’ attempt to protect a clean sheet was understandable but their dismal response to falling behind was to concede even more of the ball. Gündogan, alongside David Silva in the centre of a four-man line of attacking midfielders, seemed to enjoy every moment.
Tony Pulis, who signed a new contract on Friday much to the frustration of a substantial portion of Albion supporters, had sought to stifle City’s midfield by pairing Darren Fletcher with Jonny Evans but Gündogan and Silva found continuous joy.
Indeed, West Brom’s marking for Agüero’s second was the opposite of stifling. Neither Jonas Olsson nor Gareth McAuley were alert enough to intercept a loose ball on the edge of the area, allowing Agüero time to take possession, turn and send a stunning effort into the top-right corner from the penalty arc. His finish was immaculate but the reality is the 28-year-old should never have been allowed the opportunity in the first place.
“They were too good for us today, had too much quality,” said the Albion assistant manager, Dave Kemp, who was sent by Pulis to address the media instead. “The players we’re playing against are top drawer. They’re not coming down from the job centre. They’re very, very good.”
Albion did grow into the game briefly when Jonathan Leko and James Morrison were sprung from the bench 10 minutes after half-time – the latter came on for Fletcher, who was harshly jeered off – but their end product remained so limited. Even when they finally made Claudio Bravo work it was bread and butter for the goalkeeper, who smothered a low, tame free-kick from Brunt.
City continued to threaten on a regular basis. Nolito, who was booked for lashing out at Craig Dawson in the first half, accidentally obstructed a pair of goal-bound efforts from Silva and Gündogan, while Raheem Sterling, turning in another lively performance on the right, shot over following a botched Allan Nyom clearance.
Foster denied Agüero a tap-in for his hat-trick in the 72nd minute when getting his leg in front of a Kevin De Bruyne cross. The Belgian, sufferer of a calf twinge against Southampton last week, was introduced for the final quarter – another boost for Guardiola before Barcelona visit the Etihad.
Agüero unselfishly turned architect for Gündogan’s first goal, jigging along the edge of the area before his lofted through-ball was deflected by McAuley into the German’s path. Unmarked, and with time on his hands, Gündogan finished low past Foster for his second goal in a City shirt.
His third followed in the final minute, a simple tap-in from De Bruyne’s cross from on the left, though Albion already looked to have thrown in the towel. “He has so much quality,” Guardiola said. “He is really good with the ball, especially when attacking one on one with defenders.”
Guardian
