Manchester City 1-1 West Brom: Fighting Baggies thwarts City stutter | Football news

Manchester City lost more ground in the race for the Premier League title when West Brom won a crucial point with a 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

City needed an answer after their performance in the Manchester derby and took the lead in the half hour thanks to Ilkay Gundogan’s clinical attack, but the Baggies responded before the break when Semi Ajayi’s shot was diverted towards Ruben Dias (43 ).

City besieged West Brom’s goal in the second half but found Sam Johnstone in inspired form when Kevin De Bruyne took a free kick and injury time headers from Gundogan and Raheem Sterling were brilliantly kept out.

The tie leaves City sixth in the table, five points behind leaders Tottenham and Liverpool, while West Brom, ranked 19, moves to two safety points after securing an unexpected but fully deserved point.

How Baggies claimed an invaluable point

City appeared to be suffering a hangover from Saturday’s monotonous Manchester derby as they dominated possession, but were struggling to find clear starts.

His lethargic start played into the hands of a tough Baggies team, who should have taken the lead in eight minutes when the ball bounced off Karlan Grant’s path, but Ederson saved his tame effort.

City increased the pressure steadily and finally made the breakthrough in the half hour when Gundogan clinically dispatched Sterling’s cut.

Germany’s first Premier League goal in a year seemed to have ensured the hosts the advantage at halftime, but West Brom had other ideas.

City failed to clear a free kick and the Baggies recycled the game when Ajayi edged Nathan Ake and landed a shot that sent Dias wickedly deflecting as he passed over Ederson.

It was the first goal that City conceded in more than 10 hours of Premier League football and they came out of the break with the intention of restoring their lead.

City splashed West Brom’s goal but found Sam Johnstone in impenetrable form while Sterling and De Bruyne’s efforts were kept out.

Sergio Agüero’s introduction only added to mounting pressure from City, who nearly scored with three minutes remaining when De Bruyne fired a free kick into the bottom corner, but Johnstone was available again to keep City at bay. .

But the Baggies plug was not made there. As the game entered four minutes of overtime, Johnstone brilliantly thwarted Gundogan and Sterling’s headers at point blank range and it was too little, too late for City as Slaven Bilic’s team scored an invaluable point.

Opta Stats – Baggies Halts City Streak

• This result ended an eight-game winning streak at home in the Premier League against promoted teams from Manchester City, since a goalless draw against Huddersfield in May 2018.
• West Bromwich Albion ended a 13-game losing streak against Manchester City in the Premier League, scoring their first point against them since a 0-0 draw in December 2011.
• West Brom scored their first point away against Manchester City since August 2005, ending a nine-game losing streak in the league at the Etihad.
• Man City’s 26-shot run was the most they have had in a Premier League home game without a win since August 2019 against Spurs (30).
• Rúben Dias’ own goal was Manchester City’s first goal in 10 hours and 8 minutes of action in all competitions, since Giovani Lo Celso’s goal for Spurs last month.
• Manchester City’s Ruben Dias is the third different Portuguese player to score an own goal in the Premier League this season, after Helder Costa and Nelson Semedo. Only three different Portuguese players had scored own goals in the previous 27 seasons in the competition combined (José Bosingwa x2, Abel Xavier and Ricardo Rocha).
• Raheem Sterling has been involved in 148 goals in all competitions for Manchester City under coach Pep Guardiola (95 goals, 53 assists), more than any other player at the club since the Spaniard joined in 2016.

What the managers said …

Man City Manager Pep Guardiola saying Amazon prime: “[The only thing missing was] scoring goals, we created enough to win the game, we did everything but, in the end, we have to put the ball in and we are fighting. It doesn’t take smart to see that the margins are a bit different than two years ago, this year we are struggling a bit more.

“If you want to be there [at the top of the league]Without disrespecting West Brom, you have to win these games. Sometimes you lose points fairly, but the other times you have to win games to be there. The top of the league is not far off, but you have to win home games against West Brom if you want to be there at the end.

“We are at the beginning of December and there are many games to play. We have to continue. This situation is strange for everyone. In the end we played to win the game, we deserved to win the game, but we did not.” earn it. Football is judged by the final result. “

West Brom Chief Bilic slave saying Amazon prime: “I’m very proud of the guys. Before the game we asked them to believe, to work hard for each other, to try to frustrate City and wait for our chance to break through and create chances, and we did everything.

“We defended as a unit, individually, and we also had Sam Johnstone, who is our great asset, but that’s what you need if you want to come to the Etihad and get something out of the game.

“We have played some really good things against the great teams, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, but we were disappointed that we came out empty-handed. Today it was important not only to put in a good performance, but to be rewarded with a point.”

What about Man City?

Tim Sherwood on soccer special:

“You’re fighting at the bottom of the league, you need a little luck and you need the goalkeeper to have the game of his life. West Brom had both. Ajayi’s shot was also deflected just before the break was just what they needed. but they played well, they were organized, they had determination and drive and they stayed compact.

“You thought the floodgates would open when Gundogan scored, but they kept going. City had golden opportunities. They are missing Silva. I think Rodri is heavy. Foden is progressive but depends so much on De Bruyne. Aguero needs to do it. in shape ASAP. Jesus is a good player to have on the team, but he’s not the answer. “

Man of the Match – Sam Johnstone

Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea recorded 17 clearances between them, but the West Brom center-backs were eclipsed, only by the narrow, but the heroics of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Six saves of the highest level put down Manchester City’s latest attack as De Bruyne, Gundogan and Sterling were all denied a winner few thought would elude them.

The 27-year-old has returned to the Premier League this season with a point to prove, and he is showing it.

Whats Next?

Manchester City will travel to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm, while West Brom will host rivals Aston Villa on Sunday at 7:15 pm