WBA 0 Manchester City 2: Mario Balotelli netted twice before being sent off as Manchester City secured a much-needed win at West Brom to ease the pressure on their manager Roberto Mancini. Balotelli opened the scoring after combining with City skipper Carlos Tevez and then converted David Silva's cross to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.
The Italian striker’s afternoon took a turn for the worse after the break, though, when he was red-carded following a tangle with Youssouf Mulumbu, who was also sent for an early bath after scything down Tevez late on.
With Arsenal being defeated by Newcastle, the result meant fourth-placed City drew level on points with the Gunners in the Premier League. It also meant the Blues overcame their hoodoo at The Hawthorns, where they had been beaten on their last four visits in all competitions — including a Carling Cup tie earlier in the season.
Given that and the recent struggles of Mancini’s side, the Baggies had plenty of reasons to feel confident going into the match, and it was evident in the way they got started. Chris Brunt ran on to a neat through-ball from Marc-Antoine Fortune after only a couple of minutes, with Kolo Toure making an interception which almost resulted in an own goal.
At the other end Balotelli, preferred as partner for Tevez in attack to the benched Emmanuel Adebayor, went down in the box under Marek Cech’s challenge, but referee Lee Probert waved play on. City were starting to impose themselves and Tevez’s shot ricocheted off a West Brom shirt to Pablo Zabaleta, who fired over the bar.
Balotelli tried to find Tevez with a back heel just before the quarter hour mark and when he did claim possession, the skipper saw his effort deflect wide. The link-up play was more effective in the 20th minute, though, as the visitors went ahead through Balotelli, the 20-year-old notching his first Premier League goal by sliding in to meet a cross from Tevez, who had latched on to Silva’s incisive pass.
Having made the breakthrough, Balotelli took only six minutes to strike again and put City 2-0 up. Silva was involved once more, lofting a pass to the former Inter Milan man who finished firmly despite the attentions of Gabriel Tamas. The scoreline did not flatter City and they almost increased their advantage when Tevez sent a free-kick on to the roof of Carson’s net.
Balotelli then caused uproar by bundling over Nicky Shorey, although Probert did not deem the incident worthy of a yellow card. The City striker might have been presented with a chance to complete his hat-trick just before the break but Yaya Toure’s cross was cleared away.
Having no doubt impressed watching Italy boss Cesare Prandelli with his finishing prowess, Balotelli then received his marching orders after being shown yellow and then red cards in quick succession.
The man advantage seemed to rouse the Baggies, who panicked City into hitting the ball against their own bar from a corner, before Joe Hart tipped Shorey’s free-kick over.
Having been given fresh attacking impetus by the introduction of joint top scorer Peter Odemwingie — fit again after a knee injury — and Giles Barnes and roared on by their fans, the home side kept up the tempo, with Mulumbu and Brunt shooting too high.
But it was only in terms of players that they found themselves level with eight minutes of normal time remaining as Mulumbu was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Tevez — West Brom’s third red card of the week after they were reduced to nine men at Blackpool on Monday.
Albion tried to remain on the front foot but could not find a way through as City made off with a morale-boosting three points.