Manchester City convincingly earned three points at The Hawthorns on Sunday, though the same sword that cut the Citizens an early two goal lead left the club in a precarious position at the match’s two-thirds mark. Ultimately that sword, City striker Mario Balotelli, lived up to both his positive and negative billings. In a somewhat surprise start over James Milner, Balotelli had a brace within half an hour. He also was dismissed in the 63rd minute.
West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Manchester City: Mario Balotelli Performance Brings Old Questions Back Into Focus
Before that, the league got a glimpse of how dangerous City will be once they find a goal scorer to augment Carlos Tévez. Balotelli’s sliding score at the far post in the 21st minute converted the work of David Silva and Tévez. Shortly after, a right-footed finished from 16 yards gave City the match. The Citizens were able to settle into their conservative approach, play off the counter, and keep West Bromwich Albion at arms length.
That’s not to say there were no dicey moments. Balotelli made sure there were. After putting spikes to Youssuf Mulumbu, he saw red, leaving his team down a man. West Brom proceeded to threaten for the next fifteen minutes, pressure that culminated when Peter Odemwingie headed a corner kick off the cross bar.
Thankfully, the same man who suffered at the end of Balotelli’s boot bailed-out Manchester City. Youssuf Mulumbu would find a second yellow card in the 81st minute, evening the sides.
Manchester City preserved their 0-2 win, snapped their losing streak, and will have temporarily thrown-off the hunt for Roberto Mancini’s head. They also rekindled all the old questions surrounding their Italian prospect: How good will he be? And when will his attitude allow him to succeed?
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