Manchester City started the season in perfect fashion as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion.
Two first-half Yaya Toure goals and a towering Vincent Kompany header at the beginning of the second period were enough to dispose of a flat West Brom side who never really turned up to the occasion. There was much anticipation before the game with some of the previous results going City’s way; most notably, both Arsenal and Chelsea dropping points at home to West Ham and Swansea respectively. The high-profile signing of Raheem Sterling also heightened the mood from a Blue perspective after the Englishman was announced as being in the starting team.
The game couldn’t have started better for City as they dominated proceedings inside the opening fifteen minutes and were rewarded with a goal for their efforts. A Yaya Toure shot took deflections off David Silva and a West Brom defender, before trickling into Boaz Myhill’s net to open City’s account for the 2015/16 season. There was debate about who the goalscorer was, but the goal stood.
The half wore on as City claimed over 75% of possession, and they soon found themselves 2-0 up, and it was that man again, Yaya Toure, whose summer break seems to have done him a world of good. He combined with fellow Ivorian Wilfried Bony before the latter teed the big midfielder up to hit a stunning effort into the top corner.
It really was a goal to savour, and City did not stop pressing there. Bony nearly added a third as he connected with a mean Kolarov cross from the left, only to see his effort deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.
Sterling found himself through on goal a few minutes later, however he had his shot saved by a nervous looking Myhill, when he should have perhaps done better.
West Brom’s only real chance of the half fell to Saido Berahino, but the youngster’s effort was ruled out for offside as referee Mike Dean blew for half time, with City laying out the gauntlet for what was going to be a strong second period.
As the second half began, the Baggies began to show more spirit and found themselves on a select number of attacks which did not result in anything sufficient. Rickie Lambert went close with a free-kick before Berahino got in behind the City defence again, only for Hart to beat him to the ball.
With City beginning to feel slightly wary about their slender 2-0 lead, captain Vincent Kompany rose up to a delicious David Silva corner to power a header past Myhill in front of the strong City away support, prompting a passionate celebration from our Belgian skipper. City’s recent troubles with regard to corners were put to bed in this instance as Vincent superbly glanced his header into the top right corner of the net to all but seal the points for City with just an hour on the clock.
Sergio Aguero, now sporting the No. 10 shirt, made an appearance in place of Wilfried Bony later in the half to a standing ovation from the City fans, before Sterling made way for Nasri shortly afterwards, in what was a convincing debut for our new man.
The inclusion of youngsters Jason Denayer and Kelechi Iheanacho on the City bench led many fans to hope that they would get some form of playing time, but there was no sign of them as Pellegrini opted to use his last substitution to bring on the experienced Martin Demichelis for the fantastic Yaya Toure.
A few half chances later, Mike Dean blew his whistle for full-time. It was a fantastic away performance from City as every player put in the effort and showed Pellegrini their worth. Hart had little to do throughout the match, with Silva and Toure standing out as the man-of-the-match performers.
The result sends City to the top of the league with their superior goal difference over Leicester City.
