Sergio Aguero and Martin Demichelis were both on target for Man City[ACTION]It went to plan for City last night, a relief after their last two results. And it was pretty predictable for Albion as well, just three wins in 24 games now since they were lofty and safe five months ago.
City have six points to make up on Liverpool, and little leeway, while West Brom still sweat three points above the relegation zone.
City surged into a 10-minute two-goal lead through Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero, and although the Baggies hit back with a Graham Dorrans goal, Martin Demichelis put City in control again by half-time.
West Brom were in trouble virtually from the kick-off.
Zabaleta scored in three minutes and Aguero doubled the lead within seven minutes, barely giving them a breath.
But after that early bombardment, Albion shook the Etihad as they reduced the arrears through Dorrans six minutes later.
So suddenly, just as in the previous home game against Sunderland, which did so much damage to their title hopes, City from a position of strength found themselves challenged.
Both their early goals involved Aguero, first with a shot that West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster saved one-handed, only for Zabaleta to score his first goal of the season with a diving header.
Then Aguero, in his third game since recovering from injury, bent a superb 20-yard shot to put his side two ahead and at that stage both he and City looked ready to ravage West Brom,
But City became sloppy, possibly the reason they won’t win the league.
David Silva was stretchered off with a nasty-looking injury [ACTION]They had had most of the possession, offered all the danger, but when they gave the ball away at their own free-kick, Albion took advantage through Stephane Sessegnon and Matej Vydra, for Dorrans to control the ball with his right foot and score superbly with his left.
The Baggies had successfully traded quality goals, but could they continue to make a contest of the bout?
The answer came in the 36th minute when City regained their two-goal lead.
From a corner Demichelis forced his way between Jonas Olsson and Liam Ridgewell to sidefoot the ball into the net after Vincent Kompany had headed on Samir Nasri’s cross.
The odd thing was that when City were asked to retreat – and it wasn’t often – they didn’t look at all in control and it needed Kompany to throw himself at the ball to block a shot just before half-time.
West Brom needed encouragement because City have been stronger in terms of goal scoring in the second half of games this season.
They buzzed around the Albion defence once more and if they couldn’t find an opening they kept the ball. And waited.
West Brom’s manager Pepe Mel, who beat the City boss Manuel Pellegrini 3-0 the last time they met in the Spanish league – Mel with Betis, Pellegrini with Malaga – couldn’t afford to let this go on and Victor Anichebe was sent on to replace Vydra with half an hour left in a bid to take something from the game and give City the jitters.
Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping his side can make a late bid for the title [GETTY]Just before that Olsson had needed to do well at the post to keep Nasri from getting another goal and putting City out of sight.
Just when they needed to attack City if they were going to retrieve the game, the Baggies were defending in numbers.
The better news for Albion was that Aguero came off in the 64th minute – to a standing ovation from the Etihad faithful – so that was one danger diluted.
David Silva was also injured, taken off on a stretcher, a splint on his right leg, after he fell awkwardly. James Milner came on to replace him.
It gave West Brom time to take a drink, talk, and think how they could get back into this game.
Then at least they made an effort and Morgan Amalfitano had a drive saved by City keeper Joe Hart. West Brom had to hope that City were still mentally worried after the shocks they had suffered in their previous two games.
But they badly needed to put some pressure on to find out.
There was a cross-come-shot from Ridgewell that needed a save from Hart in the 82nd minute as City looked content to try to see the game out and get over the title yips. At least they are still in with a shout of the title.
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