An injury-time Roman Bednar goal handed West Brom a 2-1 win over Man City at The Hawthorns.
Last-gasp Hawthorns defeat adds to speculation at City
An injury-time Roman Bednar goal saw West Brom increase the pressure on Mark Hughes by defeating his Manchester City side 2-1 at The Hawthorns.
Speculation has suggested that City boss Hughes is clinging to his job, with billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan demanding success, and the defeat in the Midlands would only appear to increase the rumours.
Baggies striker Luke Moore scored the opener in the 69th minute, taking advantage of wretched defending from Michael Ball to fire past Joe Hart, and it seemed City were destined to remain in the Premier League relegation zone.
City, though, looked to have pinched a point in the 86th minute when a stunning Felipe Caicedo backheel ricocheted off the post and over the line after clipping West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson.
However, there was a sting in the tail for City and Hughes as West Brom grabbed the points when Bednar headed past Hart in the second minute of added time.
Albion still prop up the table going into the Christmas period and will have to repeat their 'Great Escape' act of four years ago to survive.
But time is running out for Hughes with City having now gone six games without a win in all competitions.
Albion boss Tony Mowbray made two changes with Bednar and midfielder Kim Do-Heon coming into the starting line-up in place of winger Chris Brunt and Borja Valero.
The home side suffered a late setback when midfielder Felipe Teixeira was injured during the pre-match warm-up and replaced on the bench by Pele.
Hughes also made two changes from the side beaten at home by Everton last weekend with Robinho (ankle) and the dropped Elano making way for Darius Vassell and Gelson Fernandes.
Threat
City were the more threatening in the early stages and Vincent Kompany had the first attempt on target after a slip by Kim, but his low 20-yarder was comfortably dealt with by Carson.
Vassell teed up Shaun Wright-Phillips and his shot contained plenty of power but was deflected off Paul Robinson for a corner.
The home side then enjoyed a spell of pressure and James Morrison was almost played in by Bednar, but his first touch was heavy and his eventual shot was blocked.
Albion came close to breaking the deadlock after 30 minutes after Robinson had made a quick break forward to support the attack.
His pass found Bednar who unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box which crashed against the post before coming back and hitting Hart and bouncing to safety.
Bednar again went close when a glancing goal-bound header from a Jonathan Greening corner was cleared by Pablo Zabaleta.
At the other end Carson was well positioned to grasp hold of a rising drive from Fernandes after a determined run by Vassell had created the opportunity.
Bednar was again in the thick of the action in heading a Greening free-kick over the bar but both sides lacked quality and too often the final ball was overhit in the opening 45 minutes.
Carson clung onto a low 25-yard shot from Ball before Robinson became the first player booked after 51 minutes for a lunge at Wright-Phillips.
The visitors were now on top and Zabaleta squared his pass back to Wright-Phillips whose first-time effort contained plenty of power but flew straight at Carson.
Audacious
City were forced into a change after 56 minutes when Benjani pulled up sharply and was replaced by Caicedo.
He quickly got involved in the game, forcing Carson to save low away to his right after a powerful run.
Bednar had half a chance after the otherwise impressive Dunne miscontrolled a pass from Richards but he summed up the afternoon by screwing his shot wide.
Mowbray handed a debut to Graham Dorrans after 63 minutes as he replaced Kim.
The Albion fans continued to show their support for Mowbray and after 68 minutes their faith was reward when Moore scored the opener.
Morrison threaded a pass through to the former England Under-21 player who kept his cool before sliding the ball past Hart.
It was his 23rd appearance since moving from Aston Villa in January, initially on loan before completing a £3.5million switch in the summer.
Moore was taken off after 73 minutes and replaced by Craig Beattie, but with six minutes left Caicedo levelled matters with an audacious backheel which took a deflection and struck the post and Carson before crossing the line.
But in injury time Bednar headed the winner from a Zuiverloon right-wing cross.
| West Bromwich Albion |
Team Statistics |
Manchester City |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 5 |
Corners |
7 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 8 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73.7 |
Passing Success |
77 |
| 23 |
Tackles |
37 |
| 82.6 |
Tackles Success |
81.1 |
| 47.2 |
Possession |
52.8 |
| 52.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.1 |
|
