Manchester City ease to victory after refereeing blunder

Manchester City strolled to an easy 3-0 victory over West Brom after Gareth McAuley was sent off in the first two minutes in a case of mistaken identity.

Craig Dawson tripped Wilfried Bony outside the box when Neil Swarbrick whistled, and McAuley then followed up in the box with a fair challenge. Swarbrick sent off McAuley, though, and the game was essentially settled.

Bony grabbed his first goal for City when Fernando’s deflected shot fell to him, and he placed his effort in the top near corner. Towards the end of the half, Fernando seized on Jonas Olsson’s poor clearance to stab in at the near post.

In the second half, City continued to create chances, with David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Bony all going close. Saido Berahino gave City a scare when he thumped a header at the bar from two yards out.

But Silva got City’s third when he flicked a Jovetic shot past the keeper, with City moving to within three points of Chelsea having played a game more.

2’ - RED CARD! Dawson should be sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, as last man. It wasn't his fault, as he was covering for an opponent's error. But it's McAuley who's been sent off, another case of mistaken identity. He made a second challenge after the whistle went, and the referee sent him off in error.

23’ - MYHILL SAVE: Silva hits a shot from distance which leaves Myhill scrambling to his left, and he palms it away from danger, and from Silva.

27’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 West Brom. Bony scores: Navas finds Silva, and it's worked to Fernando in the box, who whacks a deflected shot into the path of Bony, and he fires into the top corner of the near post.

40’ - GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 West Brom. Fernando scores: A corner comes in from the right, it's flicked into the air, and Olsson drifts slowly towards the ball to slice it straight to Fernando, and stabs it inside the near post.

44’ - AGUERO SHOT: Aguero fizzes in a curling shot from the left, but Myhill beats it away. The ball falls to Zabaleta on the edge of the box, but his effort is straight at the keeper.

45+2’ - AGUERO SHOT: Aguero tries another shot, trying to curl in from a tight angle, but it's too close to Myhill to find a way past him.

58’ - CITY HIT THE WOODWORK TWICE: Lampard tees up Aguero, and he fires in a shot that crashes against the post. It's out to Bony, and he hits the woodwork too.

73’ - BERAHINO HEADER: From a corner on the right, Olsson fires in a header which Berahino then crashes his effort against the crossbar.

77’ - GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 West Brom - Silva scores: Clichy picks out Jovetic on the edge of the box, fires a shot at goal that flicks off Silva and in.

This was Manuel Pellegrini's 100th game in charge of Manchester City.

City had 43 shots at goal.

West Brom have won none of their eight trips to the Etihad Stadium, drawing the first two and losing the last six in a row.

The Baggies have gone 10 Premier League away games without a victory (W0 D5 L5).

City have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League home matches (W9 D3 L1).

Can City maintain their chase for second place? Manchester City have had a wobble of late as their season has lost its momentum. They were presented with an easy opponent, and an easy opportunity today, with an early sending off. It is up to the players and Manuel Pellegrini to stay motivated and not let their focus drift as the season runs out of steam, with no hope of the title left.

David Silva (Manchester City): The game was a stroll for everyone on the City team as soon as the red card was shown. West Brom understandably sat back to try to hold on, and Silva’s passing and movement across the whole pitch was essential in breaking down what could have been a tough opponent.

Manchester City: Hart 6, Zabaleta 6, Kompany 6, Mangala 6, Clichy 6, Navas 6, Fernando 7, Lampard 6, Silva 8, Bony 7, Aguero 7. Subs: Milner 6, Jovetic 6, Dzeko 6.

West Brom: Myhill 6, Dawson 5, McAuley 6, Olsson 5, Lescott 6, Baird 5, Morrison 6, Gardner 6, Fletcher 5, Sessegnon 4, Berahino 6. Subs: Mulumbu 6, Anichebe 6.