'Crisis' averted! West Brom match report

After the Lech Poznan game I wrote that the visit to the Hawthorns was the perfect opportunity for City to show the togetherness that was alleged to be missing.  Out of, the largely media-inspired, adversity came a team performance that should, at least temporarily, stop all those who are too quick to criticise.  The resounding chants for Mancini were just another sign that the way City will beat the knockers is by coming together.

With City's woeful record against West Brom and the host's formidable home form (today they lost their ten-month unbeaten run), this was always going to be a test but City settled quickly after an open first five minutes.  Buoyed by the returns of Tevez and De Jong, in particular, and the mastery of Silva, City looked assured in possession and just needed the spark for a breakthrough.

Man of the hour, Mario Balotelli was going to be that spark.  Teetering on the brink of petulance and brilliance, Super Mario helped banish the 'they only win when Carlos Tevez scores' statistic, with two well taken goals.  He will run the line more than Tevez (even from his wide position), leaving our captain free to play his own game, and his eye for goal will hopefully play a positive role in the season to come.  Mancini had hinted he was waiting for the return of Balotelli to play the style he wanted - and a front three of Balotelli, Tevez and Silva could be an unstoppable combination.

If this was Balotelli announcing himself to the Premier League, then it included both sides to his game.  I think the red card was harsh and probably looked worse than it was but, wrongly or rightly, he will have to learn to keep his mouth to himself or referees are likely to presume the worst.  Many of the world's greatest players have managed to channel a temper into their precocious talent and, at twenty, there is time for Balotelli to mature into one of those players.

Yet, despite Balotelli grabbing the headlines, it was a solid performance from the whole team - a togetherness that also helped to weather the post-sending-off storm. Typified by a host of steamrollering runs, Yaya Toure had a much improved game in his attacking midfield role.  His marauding runs and link-up play seem to be far more impressive than the defensive side of his game - perhaps, if people keep watching him, they will stop saying City are playing with three defensive midfielders.  Kolo and Kompany returned to form after the Wolves game and with De Jong and Barry in front of them, City resembled the tough unit that saw so few goals conceded at the start of the season. 

With results going our way, it is funny what one game can do for the 'crisis' tag.  City are now only five points behind Chelsea, level with Arsenal, and in touching distance of those in second place.   As Mancini appreciates in one of his favourite sayings: 'football is strange', and the feelings of panic and negativity will inevitably now have turned to optimism for the derby on Wednesday!