West Brom 0, Manchester City 2: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Nov 8 2010 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

SO NOW comes the response.

Roberto Di Matteo lost out in the battle of the Robertos as Manchester City ended Albion’s ten-month unbeaten run at The Hawthorns.

Last season the Baggies were quick to react to adversity. They’ve done so already this season, following the defeat at Chelsea.

The hard work of September and October must not be allowed to unravel during the coming weeks, starting with Wednesday’s game at West Ham.

The damage was done thanks to Mario Balotelli’s first-half double, although the petulant Italian was to show another side to his game when he was dismissed for kicking Youssouf Mulumbu during the second half.

And Albion’s midfielder saw red himself when he was given a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Carlos Tevez in the dying moments. He was lucky – it could easily have been a straight red.

The Baggies’ defeat perhaps needs some perspective. From the outside, a battling display against a £125 million-valued Manchester City team is not ordinarily going to be enough.

Yet recent weeks had changed the complexity and dynamics of this fixture. Albion were running well and City had lost their last three games.

On that logic some caution would have been advisable, knowing that City’s poor form is bound to end at some point.

When the fixtures came out, this would have been viewed as one of those ‘bonus’ games.

And end it did. Though Albion didn’t help themselves with a disjointed first-half show – as poorly as they’ve performed since the opening day. Di Matteo made a surprise decision with his team selection. Nicky Shorey was moved over to right-back with Marek Cech coming in at left-back.

That didn’t help matters, with Albion lacking cohesion down the left and left-footed duo Shorey and Chris Brunt continually drifting inside on the other wing.

The movement of Tevez and David Silva was also problematic for Albion – with the midfield and defensive units struggling to read their runs.

But it didn’t take long for Albion to force City on to the back foot. An excellent ball through the centre from Mulumbu was destined for the feet of Brunt only for Yaya Toure to get a foot to the ball and send it out for a corner.

Balotelli, meanwhile, was to open the scoring in the 21st minute. It was all too easy for the visitors.