West Bromwich Albion 1 - Manchester City 2

Summary:

Manchester City showed why they currently hold the Premiership trophy by ending Albion's run of home wins, but they had to work hard to do it after being reduced to ten men during the first half.

Steve Clarke recalled Marc-Antoine Fortune, Liam Ridgewell and Graham Dorrans to the starting lineup in favour of Zoltan Gera, Goran Popov and Peter Odemwingie, and should arguably have been two men up at half time, Mario Balotelli being lucky to escape with just a booking but James Milner seeing red after flooring Shane Long as the last man.

And it was Long who gave Albion hope of getting a fifth consecutive home win when he capped a fine performance by putting second half substitute Peter Odemwingie's through ball past Joe Hart.

But City responded by bringing on yet more quality in the shape of Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, and the latter swung the game in their favour, heading home a free kick to level the scores with ten minutes left and tucking away Aguero's pass after a fast breakaway in added time to grab all three points.

Albion remain in sixth place with 14 points from 8 games.

Sean Clarke:

Two things to say really

1. Stop taking Long off. You would have backed him to score the header Lukaku handed to Hart, and to have slid in for the Odemwingie cross.
2. You are 1-1 at home to Man City, and you leave only 1 in defence (Mulumbu I think) for a corner in the 92nd minute. Don't. Not against Man City. A point would have been lovely.

Great performance by the team today though even though it was 11 v 10 for an hour. Odemwingie was good when he came on, lifted the team. Fortune .. don't see it and don't see why he starts in front of Gera and can't see why he stayed on. Dorrans should have stayed on instead, he was having a good game. And I already mentioned Long.

Well done to Tamas for not getting sent off and taking one in the clangers for the team.

Weak official today. Sent Milner off because he had to... but Baggies got 4 yellows for 5 fouls in the first half, Man City did 13 fouls. Long for a small debate. Yet Ballotelli continually fouled and moaned and got away with a yellow.

Bobby Hope:

Well that's why they are champions - along with the fact that they have the 'pick of the playground' when it comes to players.

I agree with all of what Sean has stated apart from the Long piece. Lukaku posed a threat and that is why SC put him on but admittedly fluffed his lines in the end having had four chances to score. On the 92nd minute thing, yes it cost us the point but we decided to 'roll the dice' and let's face it, it very nearly paid off. Sometimes it's all about fine lines and I'm afraid Ben put us in a position we should not have been in. Almost a replica of what Hart did in the week. Had he stayed on his line the header would have gone straight into his hands - a bad mistake from a very good keeper.

St Peter looked really sharp and left Lescott for dead with ease. Long does ever so well doesn't he? He's a great lad to have in your team. I thought Dorrans played well and I would like to see him have a run of a few games as he is a confidence player. Jonas and Gareth did well but when you are up against Tevez, Bagobollox, Dzeko and Aguero it's a busy day at the office! Yacob is still my player of the season so far and is very consistent.

All in all I think a draw would have been a fair result and we must take all the positives from the result and move forward.

COYB

Philip Cole (RSABaggie):

It's a measure of how far we have come in a relatively short space of time that we are rightly disappointed to not come out with at least a point against the plutocrats of Manchester City. This was the sort of game that's often described as 'great entertainment for the neutrals' and that it certainly was. No marks as everyone played well and knew their job in a very organised performance. As so often this season, we kept it tight for the first hour and then opened up and went for the win. I applaud Steve Clarke for always going for the win in every game - this is the first time it didn't pay off. A few points:

1. The ref started out giving out yellow cards like confetti, which left him with a problem once the serious fouls started to be committed. Balotelli's yellow card was frankly soft - but by the rules of the game he should have been sent off just before halftime for two appalling straight-through challenges on two Albion players in quick succession.
2. Milner's sending off was one of the easiest red cards for a ref to give. No brainer ...
3. Steve Clarke got the substitutions partly wrong for me today. Peter Odemwingie was a correct and influential substitution, although perhaps not for Dorrans who as other posters have noted was having a really good game. It was a mistake however to bring Long off for Lukaku and he was right to feel dissatisfied. His hold up play and chasing of lost causes had been immense and he was not looking tired.
4. Marc-Antoine Fortune was the weakest Albion player for me today. You know why he starts - he holds the ball up well, brings others into the game and can often do the unexpected with his close control and ball skills. But it did not go for him at all today. For me, Lukaku should have been on for him no later than 60 mins. Lukaku cutting inside from the right onto his powerful left foot would have been a real threat and, given more time, could have won us the game!
5. Dzeko was the substitution that changed the game for Man City. For all their dominance of possession and more shots on goal, they had not really threatened against our very well organised defence. Even Tamas looked good! He gave them the target man they needed, compounded by Foster's error coming for a free kick that he should have left to Olsson and McAuley, who were excellent all game and are developing into one of the strongest centre-back combinations in the division.

Derby Bernie:

Came away from the game on Saturday feeling really proud of our performance but obviously very disappointed with the result. Loved our attitude of not being satisfied with just a point and going all out for the win. Steve Clarke is pro-active with his substitutions and more positive with his tactics than the previous Head Coach.

This year we may lose while trying to win, which to me is far better than trying to hang on for a draw and failing, as happened last season. Stalemate matches such as Stoke and Everton at home, were thrown away without any attempt being made to claim all 3 points.

Thought every player put in a good shift against Man City. As always Morrison gave his all but his match for Scotland in the week seemed to take its toll on his legs, before he was rightly substituted. The spine of the team is looking stronger and stronger. The brilliant Foster (we can forgive him one misjudgement), the ever reliable central defensive pairing of Olsson and McAuley, Jacob the destroyer/pass-master and the dynamic Long up front make for the best core of the team the Baggies have had for donkey's years. Hopefully we've got good times to look forward to.