WITH SATURDAY’S FA Cup final against Wigan on his mind, City manager Roberto Mancini made eight changes as Sergio Aguero and David Silva dropped to the bench, while Yaya Toure was left of the squad altogether.
West Brom also shuffled their pack, with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and defender Gabriel Tamas headlining their four inclusions, while striker Shane Long started as a substitute.
The visitors were toying with a three-man defence in a bid to give them extra bodies in midfield, and they started superbly, with Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku having three efforts on goal in the first six minutes.
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His pace and power looked like causing big problems in front of a subdued Etihad Stadium crowd, who had precious little to get excited about in the first 20 minutes.
That changed quickly though, with Carlos Tevez and James Milner narrowly missing the target, while Jack Rodwell missed an open goal.
Tevez then thrashed an effort into the crossbar from 20 yards before City’s goal finally came, with Bosnian Dzeko the scorer.
Tevez was the provider, latching onto a through-ball down the right before lifting a terrific cross into the box that Dzeko slotted into the right-hand corner, via Myhill’s right hand.
The chances kept coming for City as Rodwell went close on two occasions, while Milner saw a superb 25-yard effort swerve into the post and bounce away to safety, with Mancini’s men unlucky not to lead by more than one after recovering from a slow start to dominate the opening half.
Dzeko’s goal:
Dzeko volley hands Man City victory over the Baggies
WITH SATURDAY’S FA Cup final against Wigan on his mind, City manager Roberto Mancini made eight changes as Sergio Aguero and David Silva dropped to the bench, while Yaya Toure was left of the squad altogether.
West Brom also shuffled their pack, with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and defender Gabriel Tamas headlining their four inclusions, while striker Shane Long started as a substitute.
The visitors were toying with a three-man defence in a bid to give them extra bodies in midfield, and they started superbly, with Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku having three efforts on goal in the first six minutes.
His pace and power looked like causing big problems in front of a subdued Etihad Stadium crowd, who had precious little to get excited about in the first 20 minutes.
That changed quickly though, with Carlos Tevez and James Milner narrowly missing the target, while Jack Rodwell missed an open goal.
Tevez then thrashed an effort into the crossbar from 20 yards before City’s goal finally came, with Bosnian Dzeko the scorer.
Tevez was the provider, latching onto a through-ball down the right before lifting a terrific cross into the box that Dzeko slotted into the right-hand corner, via Myhill’s right hand.
The chances kept coming for City as Rodwell went close on two occasions, while Milner saw a superb 25-yard effort swerve into the post and bounce away to safety, with Mancini’s men unlucky not to lead by more than one after recovering from a slow start to dominate the opening half.
Dzeko’s goal:
YouTube credit: Armin Villa
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