West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance22,470.
Saturday 29 October 2016 23:32, UK
Manchester City's run of six games without a win came to an end in ruthless fashion as they recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory at West Brom.
Sergio Aguero's first goals since their last success - a 3-1 win at Swansea on September 24 - had City 2-0 up at the break, with his second in particular one to savour.
After a week in which the Spanish press linked him with moves to Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, it was a timely reminder of how crucial he is to his current club and what they wish to achieve.
West Brom had chances to get back into the game midway through the second half, but could not take them and Ilkay Gundogan's late double sealed a routine victory for the away side.
Pep Guardiola's men go top of the Premier League again as a result, two goals ahead of Arsenal, with the outcome providing a much-needed boost ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie with Barcelona.
So much had been made of the fact City had endured the longest run of games without a win of Guardiola's managerial career following their midweek EFL Cup defeat at Manchester United.
Yet, if the sequence had impacted on confidence in any way, it did not show at The Hawthorns as they dictated from the start.
Nolito had the ball in the net after just 10 minutes following an intricate move, but his goal was disallowed because Aguero had strayed offside. However, the Argentina international made up for that.
His first goal was a smart finish, made to look easy following a perfectly-weighted pass from Gundogan when in truth the execution was terrific as he shot low across Ben Foster and in.
Aguero's second eight minutes later was more spectacular as West Brom failed to clear and he stepped away from Jonas Olsson to fire high into the top corner from 20 yards with real bluster.
The second half only saw City continue to apply pressure, but Nolito got in the way of shots from both David Silva and Gundogan, the second of which looked to be going in.
Having had enough of being on the back foot, Tony Pulis withdrew Darren Fletcher and Olsson for James Morrison and Jonathan Leko and the double change had a positive effect on West Brom.
Suddenly they started to make chances and Salomon Rondon was unlucky to head wide after getting to Chris Brunt's teasing long ball ahead of Claudio Bravo.
Chadli also drove over and Brunt was on target with a free kick but his attempt was tame and with that the home side grew frustrated at still being kept out.
City punished them for that as Gundogan's late brace sealed the win and boosted morale before their meeting with Barca.
His first came from a sublime lifted reverse pass from Aguero, with the Germany international finishing confidently.
Gundogan then hit the mark again as the game moved into stoppage time, Kevin De Bruyne supplying him before he converted a fine left-footed shot.
West Brom: Foster (6), Dawson (6), McAuley (7), Olsson (6), Nyom, Chadli (6), Fletcher (5), Evans (6), Brunt (6), McClean (7), Rondon (6)
Subs: Morrison (5), Leko (6), Robson Kanu (3)
Manchester City: Bravo (6), Fernando (7), Stones (7), Otamendi (6), Kolarov (6), Fernandinho (6), Gundogan (8), Silva (7), Sterling (7), Nolito (6), Aguero (9)
Subs: De Bruyne (6), Navas (4), Garcia (3)
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero
