Manchester City vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance53,624.
Wednesday 17 May 2017 12:24, UK
Manchester City are on the cusp of a top-four finish after they beat West Brom 3-1 on Tuesday evening.
Pep Guardiola's side needed to better the result of Arsenal to seal their place in the Champions League spots before the final game of the season on Sunday, but must now wait until the final match as the Gunners beat Sunderland 2-0 on Tuesday evening.
City scored two quick first-half goals with Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring in the 27th minute before Kevin de Bruyne added the second two minutes later with a fine curling strike.
Yaya Toure scored his first home goal of the season 12 minutes into the second half, with Hal Robson-Kanu netting a consolation for West Brom in the 87th minute but it was ultimately a comfortable win for the hosts.
City move above Liverpool into third and will now need a point away to Watford on the final day of the season to secure their top-four place - and even if they were to lose it would take a five-goal swing for fifth-place Arsenal to overhaul them.
Meanwhile the Baggies have now gone eight games without a victory and remain on 45 points with a trip to Swansea on Sunday.
The game took a while to get going in the opening exchanges with City seeing the majority of possession. Leroy Sane had a penalty call waved away by referee Craig Pawson in the 13th minute after going down under pressure from Allan Nyom before Aleksandar Kolarov forced a fine save from Ben Foster with a free-kick a minute later.
Sane was involved once again not long after as he powered into the box and took a few seconds to shape his shot, but he could only put the shot wide of the post with a rare West Brom effort coming in the 25th minute as Nacer Chadli fired a free-kick straight into the hands of Willy Caballero.
But City found their shooting boots two minutes later as Jesus opened the scoring. Sergio Aguero released De Bruyne down the left and he squared for his team-mate who knocked home from close range.
The Belgian was involved again shortly after as the hosts doubled their lead, latching onto a poor clearance from the West Brom defence before powering home from the top of the box, bending the ball past Ben Foster.
City could have added a few more before the half was over as Aguero thrashed an effort straight at the Baggies goalkeeper before Sane tried his luck with five minutes to play but despite a fine cut-back from Jesus, he could only lift the ball over the crossbar.
Guardiola's side once again dominated the game in the second half, and added a third to their tally in the 57th minute through Toure. He played a fine give-and-go with Aguero before racing through on goal and slotting home for his fifth goal of the Premier League season.
The Etihad erupted into applause as Pablo Zabaleta came on in the 62nd minute for his last appearance at home for City, but West Brom could have ruined the occasion almost immediately afterwards as Zabaleta's first clearance fell to Salomon Rondon in the box but he headed just wide.
Jesus could have nabbed his second of the evening with just over 20 minutes of the game to play as he danced his way through the middle of three West Brom shirts before unleashing a fierce drive, but Foster was equal to it, leaping to push it behind.
City continued to dominate proceedings as the game drew towards its conclusion with Aguero shooting just wide in the 74th minute before Foster was once again on hand to deny Jesus a second of the game ten minutes later, twice saving from the efforts of the young Brazilian at the near post.
But West Brom managed to pull a goal back with three minutes of normal time to play although it was merely a consolation as Nyom drove towards the touchline before pulling back for Robson-Kanu who slotted home past Caballero.
Player ratings
Man City: Caballero (6), Fernandinho (7), Kompany (7), Otamendi (7), Kolarov (7), Toure (7), De Bruyne (8), Silva (7), Sane (8), Aguero (7), Jesus (8).
Subs used: Zabaleta (7), Stones (5), Fernando (5).
West Brom: Foster (7), Nyom (6), Dawson (6), Evans (6), Wilson (5), Livermore (6), Yacob (5), Brunt (6), Chadli (6), Rondon (5).
Subs used: McClean (6), Morrison (6), Robson-Kanu (6).
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne.
