West Bromwich : A brace by Ilkay Gundogan in the first half sent Manchester City top of the Premier League in a 5-0 emphatic win over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Wednesday (27 January).
The visitors took no time, as an early pressure was turned into a goal from Gundogan giving City the lead. The ball was settled over the top of the West Brom defence, turned and fired home from just outside the penalty area on 6 minutes.
City dominated and added two more goals before the first half break, with Joao Cancelo scoring on 20 minutes and Gundogan completing his brace on the half-hour mark on 30 minutes, and took his goal tally on the season to a personal Premier League best of seven.
Riyad Mahrez added another goal in first-half stoppage time, as he beat West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone at the far post for a 4-0 lead at the break. The goals kept coming in the second half as Man City got their fifth when Mahrez squared the ball across, for the easiest of tap ins for Raheem Sterling on 57 minutes.
As the match finished with a 5-0 scoreline in favour of Pep Guardiola’s team, it marked their 11 straight in all competitions.
“The team, every game is there,” said Guardiola, who was without key players like midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Sergio Aguero.
“The way we play, everyone is involved in the attack and the play and creating chances and trying to score — it doesn’t matter, it is important to arrive in the box and create chances.
“Ilkay has the scent — when he plays close to the box he has the scent to makes good runs and with quality on the ball he is always there.”
“I’m here for the fight. We did everything we possibly could and I think if you look back at this, as a team, we’ll realise that isn’t good enough,” said West Brom winger Robert Snodgrass.
“We’re not going to try and blame everyone else. We’re going to take it on the chin and dust ourselves down. [There’s] no hiding place in the Premier League, these top boys punish you.”
