MANCHESTER CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21st March, 2015, 12:45pm
Etihad Stadium

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 147th league and cup meeting between the two clubs. City currently have the edge in terms of victories with 63 compared to Albion's 54.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2009 when a Danny Shittu own goal gave the Baggies a point from a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers at The Hawthorns. The club's last league win on March 21 came in 1992 when Albion beat Reading 2-0 at home in a Third Division clash, Gary Strodder and Paul Raven the goalscorers.

City's last game on this date came in 2012 when they recorded a 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Albion have failed to win any of the last ten league meetings between the clubs, losing nine and drawing one.

The Baggies are without an away win in nine league games (D5, L4).

Albion have scored just nine away goals all season with only Aston Villa, with eight, having scored fewer.

The game will be Manuel Pellegrini's 100th as Manchester City manager.

Albion's last six games: Stoke City (H) 1-0; Aston Villa (A, FAC) 0-2; Aston Villa (A) 1-2; Southampton (H) 1-0; Sunderland (A) 0-0; West Ham United (H, FAC) 4-0.

Manchester City's last six games: Barcelona (A, CL) 0-1; Burnley (A) 0-1; Leicester City (H) 2-0; Liverpool (A) 1-2; Barcelona (H, CL) 1-2, Newcastle United (H) 5-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis will be without the midfield duo of Chris Brunt and Claudio Yacob who are both suspended. Pulis will also be missing Ben Foster who picked up a knee injury in last week's victory over Stoke and Jonas Olsson (calf).

Saido Berahino, Brown Ideye and Callum McManaman continue to struggle with injuries and may be rested with Victor Anichebe returning to the squad following a successful comeback for the club's under-21 side on Monday.

Manchester City

City will be without Yaya Toure, who suffered an Achilles injury in the midweek Champions League defeat to Barcelona.

James Milner is doubtful with a knee injury whilst Aleksandar Kolarov is struggling with a muscle problem.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 10/1, Manchester City Win: 1/3, Draw: 7/2.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 11/1, Ideye 12/1, Anichebe 14/1, McManaman 20/1, Sessegnon 20/1, Gardner 25/1, Morrison 25/1, Brunt 33/1, Dawson 33/1, Fletcher 40/1, McAuley 40/1, Lescott 40/1, Mulumbu 40/1.

Manchester City: Aguero 3/1, Dzeko 7/2, Bony 7/2, Jovetic 9/2, Silva 11/2, Nasri 13/2, Lampard 7/1, Milner 10/1, Navas 11/1, Fernandinho 16/1, Kolarov 20/1, Kompany 20/1, Reges 25/1, Demichelis 25/1, Mangala 28/1, Sagna 33/1, Boyata 33/1, Zabaleta 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 14/1.

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REFEREE

Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Swarbrick has officiated two Albion games so far this season - the 1-0 win over Hull City at The Hawthorns in January and the 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland on the opening day of the season.

He refereed two Albion games during 2013/14 - the 3-3 draw at home to Spurs in April and the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns in November.

The Lancashire official has taken charge of one City game so far this season - the 2-1 win over Swansea at the Etihad Stadium in November.

Swarbrick has issued 114 yellow cards and three red in the 28 games he has officiated this season.

Albion have won nine out of 13 games Swarbrick has officiated.

A full run-down of Swarbrick's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available to purchase on the gate up until kick-off priced at £44 adults, £38 seniors (over 65s)/under-21s and £27 under-16s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny intervals, 8°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

(Click on game to view)

LAST MEETING AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM

Manchester City 3-1 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Monday 21st April 2014, 8:00pm

Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy; Nasri, Garcia, Fernandinho, Silva (Milner 70); Dzeko (Kolarov 90), Aguero (Jovetic 63). Subs not used: Pantilimon gk), Lescott, Richards, Negredo.

Goalscorers: Zabaleta 3, Aguero 10, Demichelis 36

Booked: Demichelis 22 (foul)

Albion: Foster; Dawson, Olsson, Ridgewell; Jones, Amalfitano, Mulumbu (Morrison 84), Dorrans, Brunt (c); Sessegnon (Berahino 76), Vydra (Anichebe 60). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Yacob, Lugano, Reid.

Goalscorer: Dorrans 16

Booked: Dawson 19 (foul)

Attendance: 46,564

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

David Silva was stretchered off as Manchester City's 3-1 crucial Barclays Premier League win over struggling West Brom threatened to come at a price. Silva fell to the ground after a tangle involving Morgan Amalfitano and Billy Jones in the 67th minute, and after treatment was taken straight down the tunnel with his right leg in a brace. Two goals in the first 10 minutes had paved the way for City to keep the pressure on leaders Liverpool and avoid any repeat of their shock home draw with rock-bottom Sunderland last Wednesday. Pablo Zabaleta got the home side off to a flying start and Sergio Aguero quickly added a second. Despite a superb strike from Graham Dorrans which briefly reduced the deficit, a close-range effort from Martin Demichelis effectively wrapped up a win which leaves City six points behind the leaders with a game in hand. The Baggies, who stay hovering just three points above the drop zone after this latest setback, showed plenty of promise on the break but were let down by some dismal defending and were ultimately fortunate not to find themselves on the end of a heavier defeat.

There was a degree of fortune about City's third minute opener as Baggies keeper Ben Foster saved superbly from Aguero but could only flap the ball straight at Zabaleta, who headed back into the net. Aguero blazed over the bar before Albion offered a reminder of their sporadic counter-attacking threat when a swift move ended in Matej Vydra bundling the ball into the net only to be ruled offside. Edin Dzeko was denied by a crucial Jonas Olsson block in the box before Aguero found space 20 yards out to drill a low effort across Foster and into the corner of the net to double City's advantage. City looked set to take full advantage of an opportunity to boost their goal difference, but the visitors proved adept at exploiting the open spaces afforded them and after Stephane Sessegnon shot just over the bar, Dorrans got his side on the board with a superb strike. The Baggies midfielder was played in by Vydra down the right flank and after two expert flicks on the edge of the box, he drilled a fine effort home to Joe Hart's left. Suddenly some nerves became evident in the City back-line with Hart spilling a Chris Brunt free-kick before referee Phil Dowd flagged for offside, but City's third goal on 36 minutes brought an end to the Albion revival. Samir Nasri sent in a corner from the City left and the ball evaded everyone in the box before falling at the feet of Demichelis, who could hardly believe his luck as he bundled home from six yards. Albion continued to have their chances with Amalfitano setting up Sessegnon, whose close-range effort looked goal-bound until it struck the leg of Kompany and deflected on to the roof of the net.

In a much more low-key second half Foster got in bravely at the feet of Dzeko to deny City a fourth, before the departure of Silva - moments after an uncomfortable-looking Aguero had been replaced by Stevan Jovetic - caused consternation in the City ranks. Albion continued to chase what looked an increasingly lost cause, Amalfitano bringing a fine save out of Hart while substitute Victor Anichebe briefly caused havoc in the City box before Foster cleared. Another Baggies substitute Saido Berahino had a penalty shout rejected by Dowd before Dzeko curled his late effort inches wide after a neat lay-off from Jovetic. City substitute James Milner had the last chance of the match when he drilled a low injury-time effort which was well saved by the impressive Foster in the visitors' goal.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Albion defender Joleon Lescott spent a hugely successful five years with City before joining the Baggies last summer.

Baggies' striker Georgios Samaras played for City between 2006 and 2008 but his time in Manchester was largely viewed as disappointing, the Greek star scoring just 12 goals in 65 appearances. Samaras is currently on loan at Saudi side Al-Hilal.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Nicolas Anelka, Peter Barnes, Paul Beesley, Tommy Broad, Chris Buckley, Jimmy Cookson, Gerry Creaney, David Cross, Arthur Crump, John Deehan, Andy Dibble, George Dorsett, Joe Dorsett, Frank Dyer, Marton Fulop, Tony Grant, Tony Grealish, Ron Green, Henry Hancock, Asa Hartford, Robert Hopkins, Alf Horne, Frank James, Derek Kevan, Steve Mackenzie, Ken McNaught, Ishmael Miller, Gary Owen, Derek Panter, Bruce Rankin, Nicky Reid, Uwe Rosler, Barry Siddall, Scott Sinclair, Jason van Blerk and Imre Varadi.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS MANCHESTER CITY