City 3 - 0 West Brom: Di Matteo loses his job as Tevez strikes

What a day of football yesterday.  The top team lose to the team rooted to the bottom of the table; the team in second are pegged back from four goals clear; and City win.  Can't ask for much more than that really.  Although it was a bit of a peculiar game.  David Platt bemoaned City's complacency in the second half - and having strolled around with purpose in the first half (to some success), the strolling lost its focus in the second and West Brom contributed to an attacking game. 

One of the reasons Di Matteo has been sacked today may be because of their leaky defence.  They looked adventurous going forward yesterday, with lots of promise, but, especially in the first half, they always looked vulnerable at the back.  With David Silva pulling the strings, it was always going to be difficult for West Brom to contain us, and in the early stages City played some impressive football.  The two goals in five minutes really gave City some comfort and Thomas's daft handball put an end to the game as a contest after forty minutes. 

In acknowledgement of Kolarov's superior attacking abillities, the Serbian left-back was given the left-wing to play with, and his hammer of a left foot was a regular threat in the first half: picking out Tevez with an exquisite cross in the opening minutes and unleashing an improbable thunderbolt that needed to be brushed onto the bar.  We are yet to see if this is a permanent plan, but Kolarov can offer cover for Johnson in that attacking role. 

David Silva has shown all his attacking flair in recent months, but he also works extremely hard for the team.  I suspected that he got unusually stuck in yesterday and a cursory play around on the Guardian Chalkboards shows that he made more successful tackles and interceptions than any of City's midfield or forwards.  Not a bad defensive contribution from someone many thought would be too small for the Premiership's supposed brawn.  He has been superb for us lately and is the driving force of all our attacking play. 

West Brom asked questions of City's defence and of Joe Hart, but it is pleasing to come away with a clean sheet, especially as it brings to a close an unwelcome recent run of goals conceded. 

With United and Chelsea losing, and Arsenal drawing, City capitalised on an opportunity to keep ground on those at the top - and as long as we are in touching distance, the more likely it is we will be seeing Champions League football next season, which still has to be the ultimate goal.