Club News

Albion v Man City match highlights

Matheus Pereira

Albion were beaten 5-0 by Manchester City at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening.

The Citizens, who went top of the Premier League with the victory, were ruthless in the first half - as Ilkay Gundogan (2), Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez all struck to give them a 4-0 lead at the interval.

Raheem Sterling grabbed a fifth just ahead of the hour mark to seal the scoreline, as Sam Allardyce’s squad now quickly turn their attentions to Fulham this coming Saturday.

In a frantic opening couple of minutes both teams came close to taking the lead, with Semi Ajayi having a powerful shot saved by Ederson before the away side broke and Sam Johnstone superbly denied Phil Foden.

And the game’s first goal arrived soon after as a long spell of City possession eventually resulted in Gundogan curling home from the edge of the area.

Pep Guardiola’s visitors then extended their advantage in controversial style - a raised flag from the assistant referee causing confusion in the same move as Cancelo finished into the top corner. VAR reviewed the incident and ruled there was no offside, so the goal was given.

On the half-hour mark City netted their third when Gundogan’s clever low effort wrong-footed Johnstone, and they made it four in first-half stoppage time through Mahrez’s individual effort.

Albion managed to limit their opponents to fewer opportunities after the break, thanks in part to the introduction of Kyle Bartley and a change in shape.

It was England international Sterling who scored the fifth and final of the night midway through the second period, tapping home Mahrez’s pullback.

Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Gibbs; Snodgrass (Phillips 59), Sawyers, Livermore, Grant (Robson-Kanu 64); Pereira; Robinson (Bartley 45).

Substitutes: Button, Ivanović, Peltier, Townsend, Gallagher, Edwards.