A title push is still going to be extremely difficult for Manchester City, but they kept hopes alive on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Manchester City vs. West Brom 2015: Final score 3-0, early red card makes it easy for Citizens
Saturday’s match will be remembered more for referee Neil Swarbrick’s case of mistaken identity than anything else.
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Referee Neil Swarbrick showed a straight red card to Gareth McAuley in the second minute, virtually ending the game at that moment. However, he managed to send off the wrong man. Craig Dawson was the one who made the challenge that was whistled, but Swarbrick mistook him for his defensive partner.
City plodded along, poking at the West Brom defense after that, and were content to be patient. Their breakthrough came in the 27th minute, when Wilfried Bony brought down a chipped pass from Fernando, then smashed into the top corner with his second touch to notch his first goal for City in the Premier League.
The hosts were on cruise control for the rest of the game, though they found time to score two more goals. Fernando capitalized on some terrible set piece defending in the 40th minute and David Silva scored the best goal of the day in the 77th, placing a perfect shot from 15 yards from a cutback by Stevan Jovetic.
Manchester City: Hart, Clichy, Mangala, Kompany, Zabaleta, Silva (Milner 81'), Lampard (Jovetic 65'), Fernando, Navas, Aguero, Bony (Dzeko 78')
Goals: Bony (27’), Fernando (40’), Silva (77’)
West Bromwich Albion: Myhill, Lescott, Olsson, McAuley (red 2'), Dawson, Morrison, Baird, Gardner, Fletcher, Sessegnon (Mulumbu 90'), Berahino (Anichebe 86')
Goals: None
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