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| Image: PremierLeague.com |
Yaya Touré (9', 24'), Vincent Kompany (59')
Monday 10 August 2015
8:00pm BST Kick-off
Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England.
Referee: Mike Dean
Yaya Toure scored a double while captain Vincent Kompany added a third as Manchester City laid out their intentions for the title, ripping apart West Bromwich Albion to conclude the Premier League opening weekend.
Yaya Touré's eighth minute strike took a deflection and rolled past a statinary Myhill to open the scoring after Manuel Pellegrini's men controlled the early goings of the match at ease at the Hawthorns.
While that goalscorer could be disputed, the Ivorian made sure no speculation would come from his strike fifteen minutes later—firing it into the top right corner from outside the area after being set up by Wilfried Bony.
A one-sided first-half would not be the end of the punishment to the home side, as Vincent Kompany found goal in the second with a tremendous header right before an hour of play.
Baggies supporters were keen in full voice on a warm evening in the Midlands as they chorused around kick-off. Manchester City got the action going with hopes of reclaiming the Premier League title this season, and the way they conducted themselves in the early minutes showed they were worthy.
After both sides bypassed the usual 'feeling-out’ process, Manuel Pellegrini’s assembly eventually shifted the odds in their favor as they gained ground ever-so-closer to the final third. Patient, precise and potent, they were forcing the striped-clad Albion to regain shape rapidly.
David Silva was pulling the strings for his side, as the Citizens crammed numbers on the right which made life very anxious for their opposing defenders. Had there been a couple more players just a few inches taller, Bacary Sagna’s early cross would’ve been met—regardless, even well from top gear, the sky blues were bossing the game.
Barring one or two counter attacks which fizzled out, all eyes were on West Brom’s half, Tony Pulis’ men were being swarmed and had no option but to pile the numbers behind and hope for the best.
Hostile receptions to City’s new £49 million winger Raheem Sterling may have impeded the Englishman’s progression early on, but he, like his teammates were in progressive comfort by the watch. His low-cross in was beaten away but that would only be the start of a plethora of threating moments to withstand for the hosts.
Patience is a virtue—and it appears Manchester City were embracing that to it’s entirety. Despite endless possession around the edge of the box, they had yet to find the breakthrough. 8 minutes was a long time to survive for the Baggies considering how near their counterparts had got.
Eventually, the opening would come. Although far from the cleanest of goals or neatest finishes, David Silva dragged his shot wide, but an instant regain of possession allowed the ball to be rolled on to Yaya Touré who sliced at it from the edge of the box, slowing down en route to goal thanks to a deflection from a defender, leaving the stagnated keeper helpless to stop—and spectators still speculating the goalscorer.
Then came the reason why the home side didn’t want too many numbers forward, since a lapse in concentration prompted City to wreak havoc in the area. Sterling’s low pass went to defenders, but under pressure, possession was squandered to Bony and his shot was stopped.
Audible opportunities had come few and far between for West Brom supporters with the lack of positive moments and abundance of heart-in-your-mouth suspension when City threatened. But, they were back at full-voice when they surged through the middle of the park and got a real chance to test the legs of their opponents. It ended with Joe Hart clutching onto a cross from the right.
Yet again, they’d be caught out. Yaya Touré again the goalscorer, but this time no debate was needed. He received it back of his compatriot Bony, teed up a couple yards outside the box to fire into the top right corner to solidify the domination of the visitors.
Some sloppiness in midfield gave West Brom a little more time to use the Nike Ordem that will accompany them throughout the season, but productivity was minimal, since they just couldn’t involve themselves in the game.
Raheem Sterling came close to a dream start when he raced through on goal, but Boaz Myhill was able to stop. Moments later on the other end, another controversial Englishman would this time put the ball in the back of the net, but it was offside.
Mike Dean's whistle gave a much-needed interval to an exhausted, outplayed and dominant West Bromwich Albion, while it appeared that the Citizens hadn’t even got started yet—a resounding, extremely one-sided first half.
With some more pressure on the ball and forcing higher up, Tony Pulis had deployed his men to stop a complete whitewash and in the process they drew a cluster of fouls from City. Raheem Sterling's presence increased down the left but the angle closed down to shoot.
One of the many free-kicks given up by Manchester City in dangerous territory brushed past the bar with another close effort from Rickie Lambert. The visitors had no need to turn the burners on meaning West Brom had more possession. A close offside call went in favour of Berahino but Hart snuffed out the danger.
That didn't seem to faze them at all, though. David Silva again got the better of the bewildered Bromwich backline as he weaved his way to the right post, only for the ball across to go unanswered.
Things soon turned into frustration in calls for Mike Dean's inconsistent refereeing, not awarding a booking to Silva for a later foul but getting a name in the book for a similar challenge on the other side.
While they may have been at cruising pace Manchester City still dealt their own chances. From a corner would come the third goal by way of the skipper, as Vincent Kompany scored a wonderful header. He met the cross early in front of the left post, but directed his head to take it out of reach rom Myhill and right into the corner of goal.
Sergio Agüero soon came on to get a few minutes under his belt with the game all but over. The frequency of West Brom chances did increase, but the ever-aware Joe Hart remained a stable and reliable source in between the sticks.
At this stage in the game, at a much slower and relaxed pace, the Citizens were rolling the ball around even though questionable fouls from the Baggies would suggest anything but a calm environment. David Silva again was fouled, this time by Yacob and the resultant David Silva free-kick came to nothing.
After more subdued responses from West Brom, Silva would open up a shot for Aguero which was blocked. Even on the approach to stoppage time City were in total control, but may have deserved a penalty as David Silva was yet again taken down.
In the three minutes of stoppage time, Kolarov stung the hands of Myhill with a free-kick, and the sounding of the full-time whistle gave City a rampant start. Could it be their year?
More: Coverage, analysis and reports for week one in Premier League
Yaya Touré's eighth minute strike took a deflection and rolled past a statinary Myhill to open the scoring after Manuel Pellegrini's men controlled the early goings of the match at ease at the Hawthorns.
While that goalscorer could be disputed, the Ivorian made sure no speculation would come from his strike fifteen minutes later—firing it into the top right corner from outside the area after being set up by Wilfried Bony.
A one-sided first-half would not be the end of the punishment to the home side, as Vincent Kompany found goal in the second with a tremendous header right before an hour of play.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
After both sides bypassed the usual 'feeling-out’ process, Manuel Pellegrini’s assembly eventually shifted the odds in their favor as they gained ground ever-so-closer to the final third. Patient, precise and potent, they were forcing the striped-clad Albion to regain shape rapidly.
David Silva was pulling the strings for his side, as the Citizens crammed numbers on the right which made life very anxious for their opposing defenders. Had there been a couple more players just a few inches taller, Bacary Sagna’s early cross would’ve been met—regardless, even well from top gear, the sky blues were bossing the game.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
Hostile receptions to City’s new £49 million winger Raheem Sterling may have impeded the Englishman’s progression early on, but he, like his teammates were in progressive comfort by the watch. His low-cross in was beaten away but that would only be the start of a plethora of threating moments to withstand for the hosts.
Patience is a virtue—and it appears Manchester City were embracing that to it’s entirety. Despite endless possession around the edge of the box, they had yet to find the breakthrough. 8 minutes was a long time to survive for the Baggies considering how near their counterparts had got.
Eventually, the opening would come. Although far from the cleanest of goals or neatest finishes, David Silva dragged his shot wide, but an instant regain of possession allowed the ball to be rolled on to Yaya Touré who sliced at it from the edge of the box, slowing down en route to goal thanks to a deflection from a defender, leaving the stagnated keeper helpless to stop—and spectators still speculating the goalscorer.
After dominating possession Manchester City take the lead against West Bromwich Albion. pic.twitter.com/bBMKetTbRq #WBAMCI
— TheSportMatrix (@TheSportMatrix) August 10, 2015
West Bromwich were too mistake-prone and low in resources to really materialize a threat in the rare occasions they found space to go forward. Hesitant with the lack of room nearer to goal with an organized, fresh backline, Joe Hart hadn’t even got a touch of the ball at that point.Then came the reason why the home side didn’t want too many numbers forward, since a lapse in concentration prompted City to wreak havoc in the area. Sterling’s low pass went to defenders, but under pressure, possession was squandered to Bony and his shot was stopped.
Audible opportunities had come few and far between for West Brom supporters with the lack of positive moments and abundance of heart-in-your-mouth suspension when City threatened. But, they were back at full-voice when they surged through the middle of the park and got a real chance to test the legs of their opponents. It ended with Joe Hart clutching onto a cross from the right.
 |
| Image: PremierLeague.com |
Yaya Toure soon made sure he would definitely take the credit for City's second... pic.twitter.com/MoBcuEFgdU #WBAMCI #mcfc
— TheSportMatrix (@TheSportMatrix) August 10, 2015
Rickie Lambert couldn’t please his new audience with a free-kick from 30 yards soaring over the crossbar, and again the voids in the back were exposed when Kolarov, simply untracked, ghosted down the left and cut the ball back to Wilfried Bony whose shot was deflected away from goal.Some sloppiness in midfield gave West Brom a little more time to use the Nike Ordem that will accompany them throughout the season, but productivity was minimal, since they just couldn’t involve themselves in the game.
Raheem Sterling came close to a dream start when he raced through on goal, but Boaz Myhill was able to stop. Moments later on the other end, another controversial Englishman would this time put the ball in the back of the net, but it was offside.
Mike Dean's whistle gave a much-needed interval to an exhausted, outplayed and dominant West Bromwich Albion, while it appeared that the Citizens hadn’t even got started yet—a resounding, extremely one-sided first half.
 |
| Image: GOAL UK |
One of the many free-kicks given up by Manchester City in dangerous territory brushed past the bar with another close effort from Rickie Lambert. The visitors had no need to turn the burners on meaning West Brom had more possession. A close offside call went in favour of Berahino but Hart snuffed out the danger.
That didn't seem to faze them at all, though. David Silva again got the better of the bewildered Bromwich backline as he weaved his way to the right post, only for the ball across to go unanswered.
Things soon turned into frustration in calls for Mike Dean's inconsistent refereeing, not awarding a booking to Silva for a later foul but getting a name in the book for a similar challenge on the other side.
While they may have been at cruising pace Manchester City still dealt their own chances. From a corner would come the third goal by way of the skipper, as Vincent Kompany scored a wonderful header. He met the cross early in front of the left post, but directed his head to take it out of reach rom Myhill and right into the corner of goal.
 |
| Image: PurelyFootball.com |
At this stage in the game, at a much slower and relaxed pace, the Citizens were rolling the ball around even though questionable fouls from the Baggies would suggest anything but a calm environment. David Silva again was fouled, this time by Yacob and the resultant David Silva free-kick came to nothing.
After more subdued responses from West Brom, Silva would open up a shot for Aguero which was blocked. Even on the approach to stoppage time City were in total control, but may have deserved a penalty as David Silva was yet again taken down.
In the three minutes of stoppage time, Kolarov stung the hands of Myhill with a free-kick, and the sounding of the full-time whistle gave City a rampant start. Could it be their year?
More: Coverage, analysis and reports for week one in Premier League
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