Manchester City -1 West Brom - 1: Richard Dunne's calamitous late own goal gifted 10-man West Brom a totally unexpected point at Eastlands yesterday evening as Manchester City's capacity for shooting themselves in the foot reached new levels.
And the West Brom fans finally lost patience with Bryan Robson, chanting for his head after watching their team fail to create a single chance after having Thomas Gaardsoe sent off for a professional foul after 16 minutes.
But unbelievably, the visiting fans' jeers turned to cheers six minutes from time when, under no pressure, Dunne allowed Paul Robinson's long ball to bounce up and strike him on the shin.
The Irishman could only watch in stunned disbelief as the ball then rocketed low past stranded goalkeeper David James, who had advanced to the edge of the area to deal with the non-existent danger, and roll into the net.
Not surprisingly, the goal silenced the moans of the irate Baggies fans and instead led to boos at the final whistle for City boss Kevin Keegan and his team, who looked certain to collect maximum points thanks to Nicolas Anelka's first half opener.
Anelka ended a two-month goal drought with his 32nd minute free-kick - and his contribution emphasised the observation Keegan made in the match programme, in which he said any decision to sell the French striker next month would be "suicidal".
Time and again over the last 18 months, City have found it impossible to break down opponents whose only ambition is to defend.
West Brom were doing that long before Gaardsoe's afternoon was brought to a premature end and the Dane's dismissal was unlikely to alter that philosophy.
Yet, despite almost total dominance of possession, the Blues managed just a single worthwhile effort before Anelka scored, and it was the Frenchman who was responsible - testing Russell Hoult's reflexes with a powerful low drive the Baggies goalkeeper turned away for a corner.
MANCHESTER CITY: James, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Jordan (Onuoha 45), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski, Fowler, Anelka. Subs Not Used: Macken, Waterreus, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Flood. Goals: Anelka 32.
WEST BROM: Hoult, Scimeca (Albrechtsen 64), Gaardsoe, Purse, Robinson, Greening (Earnshaw 82), Johnson, Clement, Wallwork, Gera (Hulse 76), Horsfield. Subs Not Used: Koumas, Kuszczak. Sent Off: Gaardsoe (17). Goals: Dunne 85 og.
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
