David Silva injured as Man City keeps title hope alive

David Silva was stretchered off as
Manchester City's 3-1 crucial Barclays
Premier League win over struggling West
Brom threatened to come at a price.
Silva fell to the ground after a tangle
involving Morgan Amalfitano and Billy Jones
in the 67th minute, and after treatment
was taken straight down the tunnel with
his right leg in a brace.
Two goals in the first 10 minutes had
paved the way for City to keep the
pressure on leaders Liverpool and avoid
any repeat of their shock home draw with
rock-bottom Sunderland last Wednesday.
Pablo Zabaleta got the home side off to a
flying start and Sergio Aguero quickly
added a second. Despite a superb strike
from Graham Dorrans which briefly
reduced the deficit, a close-range effort
from Martin Demichelis effectively
wrapped up a win which leaves City six
points behind the leaders with a game in
hand.
The Baggies, who stay hovering just three
points above the drop zone after this
latest setback, showed plenty of promise
on the break but were let down by some
dismal defending and were ultimately
fortunate not to find themselves on the
end of a heavier defeat.
There was a degree of fortune about City's
third minute opener as Baggies keeper Ben
Foster saved superbly from Aguero but
could only flap the ball straight at Zabaleta,
who headed back into the net.
Aguero blazed over the bar before Albion
offered a reminder of their sporadic
counter-attacking threat when a swift
move ended in Matej Vydra bundling the
ball into the net only to be ruled offside.
Edin Dzeko was denied by a crucial Jonas
Olsson block in the box before Aguero
found space 20 yards out to drill a low
effort across Foster and into the corner of
the net to double City's advantage.
City looked set to take full advantage of an
opportunity to boost their goal difference,
but the visitors proved adept at exploiting
the open spaces afforded them and after
Stephane Sessegnon shot just over the bar,
Dorrans got his side on the board with a
superb strike.
The Baggies midfielder was played in by
Vydra down the right flank and after two
expert flicks on the edge of the box, he
drilled a fine effort home to Joe Hart's left.
Suddenly some nerves became evident in
the City back-line with Hart spilling a Chris
Brunt free-kick before referee Phil Dowd
flagged for offside, but City's third goal on
36 minutes brought an end to the Albion
revival.
Samir Nasri sent in a corner from the City
left and the ball evaded everyone in the
box before falling at the feet of Demichelis,
who could hardly believe his luck as he
bundled home from six yards.
Albion continued to have their chances
with Amalfitano setting up Sessegnon,
whose close-range effort looked goal-
bound until it struck the leg of Kompany
and deflected on to the roof of the net.
In a much more low-key second half Foster
got in bravely at the feet of Dzeko to deny
City a fourth, before the departure of Silva
- moments after an uncomfortable-looking
Aguero had been replaced by Stevan
Jovetic - caused consternation in the City
ranks.
Albion continued to chase what looked an
increasingly lost cause, Amalfitano bringing
a fine save out of Hart while substitute
Victor Anichebe briefly caused havoc in the
City box before Foster cleared.
Another Baggies substitute Saido Berahino
had a penalty shout rejected by Dowd
before Dzeko curled his late effort inches
wide after a neat lay-off from Jovetic.
City substitute James Milner had the last
chance of the match when he drilled a low
injury-time effort which was well saved by
the impressive Foster in the visitors' goal.