Manchester City kept up their 100% December record as they won 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion to keep track with Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
City began the afternoon under a bit of pressure, with Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea overcoming London rivals West Ham 2-0 in the day’s early kick-off, meaning only a win would do in the Midlands.
The pressure never really got to City however, with efforts from David Silva and Sagna inside the opening 5 minutes outlining a signal of intent. They did in fact take the lead just 7 minutes in, with a telling Jesus Navas cross forcing Albion keeper Foster to catch, but he failed in his attempt and Fernando capitalised to loop the ball over the embarrassed goalkeeper and into the net for the Brazilian’s first goal for the club.
City did not stop there and continued to press, gaining another reward from one of their former players in the shape of Joleon Lescott, as the defender tripped the in-form David Silva in the area to leave Clattenburg with no choice but to point to the spot. West Brom seemed unhappy with the decision, but there was nothing Foster could do as Yaya Toure confidently stepped up and converted from 12 yards to double City’s lead.
It was an excellent first quarter for City, and they looked dangerous on every attack. On 16 minutes, Jesus Navas burst forward before unleashing a shot which didn’t trouble Foster.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute that the hosts had their first real chance of the game. Berahino spurned a decent opportunity wide before a second shot from the promising young Englishman forced Hart into a save.
But City were always the team most likely to score and they did exactly that just past the half hour mark, with David Silva rounding off a fine move to add City’s third of the game. Fernando snatched the ball off Lescott and fed Navas, who squared for his fellow Spaniard to gratefully curl the ball into the corner.
West Brom did try to reduce the deficit before half-time with efforts from Craig Gardner and Berahino, but they didn’t trouble Hart as City went into the break with a commanding advantage.
There was a definite chill in the air as the second half began, so there was no surprise to find that snow was beginning to fall through the Birmingham sky.
The Champions did not start the second period as impressive as the first, with Albion being awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area just after the break which, fortunately for Hart, flew high over the wall.
The quiet Varela almost found the net with a fierce effort which went just past the far post, and Gardner tested Hart from distance to fire a warning to the temporarily half-asleep visitors.
City’s first effort of the second half came from Nasri, but his shot from Navas’ cross was deflected wide for a corner which eventually came to nothing.
As the snow began to come down with more intensity, West Brom desperately searched for a way back into the game, and made a triple substitution in the 65th minute with Gamboa, Ideye and Brunt replacing Pocognoli, Varela and Gardner. City followed suit 3 minutes later as Fernandinho came on for the powerful Toure, before Joe Hart was called into action again as two efforts from the home side fell into his grateful arms.
Joleon Lescott almost made up for his foul earlier in the game with a header which went just over the bar, and Sessegnon tried his luck from range, but it all seemed too little too late for Albion as the clock ticked down.
The hosts did eventually get a goal back through £10 million man Brown Ideye, as Hart failed to deal with a corner and the ball was bundled in off Ideye’s back. Despite claims of an own goal, it was always just a consolation for Albion on a poor afternoon for the home side.
That proved to be the last meaningful action of the match as Clattenburg ended the game, much to the relief of the West Brom players and fans on an extremely frosty evening.
But it was certainly a late Christmas present for City as they won nine times in a row for the first time since their first title-winning season in 2011-12. And for a team without a recognised striker, that run is all the more impressive.
City face lowly Burnley at home in their next Premier League encounter, and they will be hoping to continue their fine form and claim another vital three points to keep up with Chelsea, who face a tricky trip to the south coast to play the impressive Southampton, who also triumphed 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
