Facts and figures ahead of today's clash with the Blues (ko 3pm)
Football statistics website WhoScored.com have below crunched the numbers ahead of the Boxing Day visit of Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City to The Hawthorns.
City, since such vast investment began, have become one of the world’s biggest clubs and provide one of the sternest tests in England’s top flight.
Things will be no different just 24 hours after Christmas when City make Friday’s trip to the midlands.
Albion will be looking to make a lightning start for a second successive game after storming into a two-goal lead within 20 minutes at Loftus Road last time out.
City have conceded more Premier League goals (five) between the 16th and 30th minute this season than in any other fifteen-minute period.
There has also been a goal in the opening ten minutes in three of the last five meetings between these two sides. A fast start will be key today.
City's defence has not been breached for three consecutive Premier League matches, but this Albion side are always confident of finding a way through any defence, particularly at home, where they have scored 12 goals in just nine games so far this term.
The Blues registered a below-par average rating from WhoScored of 7.11 in their last away game as edged out Leicester 1-0.
Without talisman Sergio Aguero and with Stevan Jovetic and Eden Dzeko also both injured, City will be without at least some of their attacking riches at The Hawthorns.
If Albion defend as well as they did in their last home game - the 1-0 win over Villa – then they could restrict City’s chances.
At the other end, Stephane Sessegnon, who set up both goals in last week's 3-2 defeat at QPR, will carry much of the threat for the hosts.
The Benin international is enjoying his game, linking up well with the impressive Silvestre Varela who is patrolling the left, and he will look to find pockets of space between the lines to try and hurt the visitors.
With a statistically calculated strength of dribbling, he will look to carry the ball forward at pace and slip a team-mate in on goal.
The odds may be against the Baggies but, at home and at this time of year, there could well be a bit of Christmas magic in store.
*WhoScored.com is a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. Follow @WhoScored and their editor-in-chief @alitweedale on Twitter.
Interesting facts
Albion once defeated Man City 9-2 at The Hawthorns on September, 21, 1957, in the old Division One. Albion also defeated City 5-1 on home soil in the same season, triumphing in the FA Cup third-round.
Albion defender Joleon Lescott enjoyed a successful spell with Manchester City between 2009 and 2014, winning two Premier League titles.
The two Premier League fixtures last season between the two sides produced nine goals.
Albion and Manchester City faced each other on Boxing Day in the 2011/12 season. The game ended in a 0-0 stalemate at The Hawthorns.
Albion are unbeaten in their last three Boxing Day fixtures.
We said, they said
We said – Alan Irvine: "As normal we will look for any weaknesses we can find. Teams like that don't have too many but hopefully they have a few we might be able to exploit."
They said – Manuel Pellegrini: "They (Albion) are a good team, maybe not in their best moment, but I'm sure on Friday they will play a very good game."
Most recent encounters at The Hawthorns
Albion 2 City 3 (04/12/13) Premier League
Albion 1 City 2 (20/10/12) Premier League
Albion 0 City 0 (26/12/11) Premier League
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