“Very happy about the victory, the goals and the brilliant teamwork. And we are going for more! 💪 C'mon, City!”, Sergio Aguero – 29/10/2016.
Goals; ;Aguero (19', 28'), Gundogan (79', 90')
Line Up (3-2-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (6.5)
Fernando (7)
Stones (7)
Otamendi (7)
Kolorov (6)
Gundogan (8)
Fernandhino (8)
Sterling (7), (Navas (6) 77')
Silva (8), (Garcia (5.5) 83')
Nolito (6.5), (DeBruyne (6.5) 68')
Aguero (9)
Stats;Possession, 30%/70%; Shots, 9(1)/21(8); Fouls, 17/10
Referee; Lee Mason (6.5)
Line Up (3-2-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (6.5)
Fernando (7)
Stones (7)
Otamendi (7)
Kolorov (6)
Gundogan (8)
Fernandhino (8)
Sterling (7), (Navas (6) 77')
Silva (8), (Garcia (5.5) 83')
Nolito (6.5), (DeBruyne (6.5) 68')
Aguero (9)
Stats;Possession, 30%/70%; Shots, 9(1)/21(8); Fouls, 17/10
Referee; Lee Mason (6.5)
Blistering! In hopefully the first of several paybacks for resting a host of players in mid-week, "Crisis Club" City returned to top form for much of this one sided encounter at the Hawthorns.
The first half was all about the pace of City's attacks, helped by an instant return to form for Aguero who bagged a brace by half time. City had already had several chances, including an offside goal from Nolito, when Aguero latched onto Gundagans through ball to swipe home the first on 19'. His second nine minutes later was even better as he lashed the ball with dip and curve into the top right of the goal from the edge of the penalty area. "City are back" sang the faithful, and it looked as if they had never been away as the chances racked up. Nolito and Fernando both had good chances blocked before Nolito broke through on 34' only to have his effort ruled out for offside.
After the break, the Baggies did start to show signs of life, and with City having missed a couple more chances to put the game beyond them, Rondon rose to beat Bravo to the ball but thankfully put his header wide on 54'. City needed a third to calm the fan's, if not the players nerves, and on 77' Gundogan having his best game in a City shirt so far provided the answer, latching onto an Aguero chip to calmly finish past Foster, 0-3.
It was the least City deserved having created so many chances from nearly total possession for much of the game. And when Gundogan drove into the area to convert substitute DeBruynes cross on 90' the comeback was complete.
Aguero has now moved into the top 20 all time premier league top scoerers with his 149th goal for the club. City return to the top of the table overtaking Arsenal again after their earlier win away to Sunderland. A lot had been made of a win-less streak of six matches, but City could not have wished for a better warm up for the big game in mid-week verses Barcelona...if they match this form it could be a cracker #CTID
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
