Impressive Baggies push City all the way at Etihad Stadium
- Super Sessegnon strike opens scoring (6)
- Aguero penalty levels matters (19)
- Nasri slots home second-half winner (66)
- Baggies create chances to deservedly level
- Albion Star Man: Sandro
ALBION will be kicking themselves after once again leaving the Etihad Stadium empty-handed.
The Baggies, yet to win at Manchester City’s Eastlands, gave their hosts any number of scares in an action-packed contest.
But in the end, a penalty from Sergio Aguero and second-half strike by Samir Nasri were enough to defeat a brilliant early goal by Stephane Sessegnon that set the tone for a fine performance from the Baggies.
Sessegnon stunned England keeper Joe Hart in the sixth minute with a ferocious 20-yard drive at the end of an Albion counter attack which he had started and Darren Fletcher and James McClean continued.
But Sessegnon was then unfortunate in conceding a soft penalty for a challenge on Alexsandar Kolarov as the City full back charged into the area. Aguero duly put away after 17 minutes.
Albion lost Salomon Rondon to injury shortly afterwards but the reshuffle which followed, as Craig Gardner came into the game, didn’t prevent the Baggies continuing to give as good as they got.
A key moment arrived in the 57th minute when City looked very fortunate to escape conceding a penalty as Sandro, who had a superb game in midfield in place of Claudio Yacob, was bundled over by Eliaquim Mangala.
To the Baggies dismay, no award was given and instead City took the lead when substitute Kevin De Bruyne helped force a series of kind bounces which led to Nasri prodding home at the far post.
Albion’s response, however, was superb and Saido Berahino will be frustrated that he couldn’t take a couple of clear opportunities after some slick football had opened up City.
And the match would finish with 16-year-old Jonathan Leko again on the pitch tasting the big time and helping build up pressure which led to McClean coming within inches of an equaliser with the last kick of the game.
MANCHESTER CITY: Hart; Zabaletta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Navas, Fernando, Delph (Toure 60), Nasri; Aguero (Clichy 89), Bony (De Bruyne 60).
SUBS: Caballero, Feranandinho, Demichelis, Iheanacho.
BOOKINGS:
ALBION: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Chester; Sessegnon (Leko 80), Fletcher, Sandro, McClean; Berahino, Rondon (Gardner 21).
SUBS: Myhill, Olsson, Yacob, McManaman, Anichebe.
BOOKINGS: Gardner (foul 33);
Referee: Michael Jones (Chester)