MANCHESTER CITY were held at home by a battling West Brom as the Baggies picked up a priceless away point at the Etihad.
- Final score: Man City 1-1 West Brom
Follow all the reaction with our live blog below…
THAT’S ALL FROM MANCHESTER
Manchester City were left frustrated by a passionate West Brom in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.
City struggled at times to break the Baggies’ defence as they were defending deep throughout the match.
Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring after 30 minutes with a wonderful finish following a beautiful pass by Raheem Sterling.
The Citizens looked set to go back to the dressing room with the lead but disaster struck as West Brom equalised when Semi Ajayi’s shot deflected on Ruben Dias and ended up behind Ederson’s net two minutes before half-time.
City had plenty of chances to win the game in the second half with Gundogan, Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero but were all denied by an incredible Sam Johnstone.
Johnstone made six important saves and gave West Brom a golden point that could pay dividends in their bid to avoid relegation.
Goodnight
BIL SMILE
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic praised his players for this important result.
Bilic also named Sam Johnstone as a major factor behind that draw as he described him as a “big asset”
The West Brom boss said: “I’m really proud of the boys.
“Before the game we asked them to believe, to work hard for each other, to try to frustrate City and wait for our chance to penetrate and create chances- and we did everything.
“We defended as a unit, individually, and we also counted on Sam Johnstone who is our big asset, but that is what you need if you are to come to the Etihad and get anything out of the game.
“We’ve played some really good stuff against the big teams – Chelsea, Tottenham Manchester United – but were disappointed coming away empty handed. It was important today not only to put in a good performance but to be rewarded with a point.”
PEP TALK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola identified goals as the one thing that was missing from his team tonight against West Brom.
But a frustrated Guardiola also admitted that his team couldn’t afford to drop points against the Baggies.
The City manager said: “[The only thing missing was] scoring goals, we created enough to win the game, we did everything but, in the end, you have to put the ball in, and we are struggling.
“If you want to be there [at the top of the league], no disrespect to West Brom, you have to win these games. Sometimes you drop points fairly but the other ones you have to win games to be there.
“The top of the league is not far away but you have to win games at home against West Brom if you are to be there at the end.
“We are in early December and there are a lot of games to play. We have to continue. This situation is weird for everyone.
“In the end we played to win the game, we deserved to win the game, but we didn’t win it. Football is judged on the end result.”
NOT GUND ENOUGH
Ilkay Gundogan is adamant that Manchester City deserved better but also knows his team-mates have to put tonight’s result behind them despite the fixture congestion..
Gundogan said: “I think we deserved better.
“It is disappointing for us to get just one point. These kind of games we need to win. This why we are not happy.
“We’ve had great years and played great football in the past, so obviously we have set the level quite high. The expectations only go up.
“All over Europe, all of the big teams are struggling with the tight [schedule of] fixtures. We are human beings, we are not machines or robots.
“We cannot complain, we need to look forward.”
SAINT JOHN
Sam Johnstone put together a man-of-the-match performance but insists it was a team effort and sang Slaven Bilic’s praises.
Johnstone said: “The boys dug in, we fought for 94 minutes.
“The lads ran their socks off and I was there to make a few saves when it was needed. The free-kick, that was a good save because it was quick and there were a few bodies [in front of me].
“Their quality is unbelievable so it’s just about trying to get into good positions early. The lads fought hard and I didn’t want to let them down. This is a massive result. We fought, we headed, we tackled.
“The manager is great. We all fight for him, for each other, for the club. The boys love him.
“We knew getting promoted, it would be tough. If we keep playing like that, hopefully luck goes our way.”
WILD BIL
Tonight marked Slaven Bilic’s 100th Premier League game as manager.
Bilic took West Brom back to the top flight but also spent two years at West Ham.
And what better way to mark such a special occasion than getting a result at the Etihad?
That game might prove to be critical in the Baggies’ relegation battle
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
MADE OF STON
West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone stood out against Manchester City with six incredible saves.
Johnstone denied Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan who picked up a header at a very close range.
The ex-Manchester United man also blocked an incredible free-kick by Kevin De Bruyne.
It is hard to imagine West Brom picking up a point at the Etihad without their goalkeeper in such amazing form
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
STAT’S UNBELIEVABLE
West Brom only had 23.1 per cent of possession and just one shot on target throughout the match.
Manchester City, on the other hand, recorded a whopping 26 shots, seven on target, and still couldn’t beat West Brom.
The Baggies owe a lot to Sam Johnstone who was on fire at the Etihad with six important saves
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
SAM-THING SPECIAL
Tim Sherwood insists West Brom deserved a result with the way they defended.
Sherwood also praised Sam Johnstone who has to be man of the match.
The ex-Tottenham boss said: “They deserve it! The goalkeeper certainly deserves it!”
FT: MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
A disappointing result for Manchester City who drop two points at home against Premier League strugglers West Brom.
But what an amazing outcome for the Baggies who pick up a priceless point that will boost their hopes of climbing out of the relegation zone.
City opened the scoring after 30 minutes with a beautiful finish by Ilkay Gundogan.
But West Brom equalised two minutes before half-time when Semi Ajayi’s weak shot deflected on Ruben Dias and went to the back of Ederson’s net
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
90+4 WHAT A CHANCE!
Kevin De Bruyne again with a wonderful cross finds Raheem Sterling.
Sterling gets the header but Sam Johnstone saves a gain.
What a performance from the former Manchester United man!
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
90+3 WHAT A CHANCE!
Ilkay Gundogan fires a beautiful free-kick that leaves Sam Johnstone standing.
But the ball goes just a few inches wide and touches the outside of the net.
It looked like it went in from our angle
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
90+1 WHAT A CHANCE!
Ilkay Gundogan picks up a beautiful cross by Kevin De Bruyne.
Gundogan fires a header but Sam Johnstone makes another incredible save.
Johnstone is the man of the match as it stands
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
90 Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is protesting at fourth official Anthony Taylor who signals for another four minutes of stoppage time.
Guardiola was lucky not to get booked there…
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
88 WHAT A CHANCE!
Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling outnumber West Brom’s defence in a counter-attack.
Aguero finds some space from a good position and fires a shot which goes wide
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
87 SUBSTITUTION
Lee Peltier replaces Matt Phillips as West Brom try to protect the draw
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
86 WHAT A CHANCE!
Manchester City get a free kick which is taken by Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne fires a powerful shot but Sam Johnstone blocks it with a wonderful save in his lower angle.
That was a beautiful shot and a magnificent save
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
That’s basically been the mood at Manchester City throughout the second half.
City can’t find any space or ideas on how to beat West Brom, who are playing deep.
Slaven Bilic wants to protect the result, which would indeed be a major outcome for the visitors
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
81 Another bad ball from Joao Cancelo in the closing minutes.
Cancelo tries to play the ball on the flanks but sends it out for a free kick.
Desperation is piling up as Manchester City can’t afford to drop points against West Brom at the Etihad.
But West Brom would be all smiles if they picked up a point away against the Citizens
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
80 SUBSTITUTION
Jake Livermore makes way for Filip Krovinovic in the last 10 minutes.
Can West Brom hold on?
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
Gabriel Jesus picked up a nasty knock during the second half which led to him busting his lip.
But thankfully Jesus was able to continue after receiving treatment
GETTY IMAGES – GETTY
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
77 As mentioned earlier, Sergio Aguero loves scoring against West Brom.
Aguero has scored a whopping eight goals in a total of 11 Premier League matches against the Baggies.
In fact, the Argentina international has been involved in a total of 14 goals as he also produced six assists.
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
75 SUBSTITUTION
As predicted, Sergio Aguero takes Phil Foden’s place and Kyle Walker replaces Benjamin Mendy.
Aguero returns following an illness that made him miss the Manchester derby last week
MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 WEST BROM
73 Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been heard yelling: “Sergio, Sergio!”
That can mean only one thing, and that is that Sergio Aguero is coming in against a team he loves to score…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
