EPL: Man City vs West Brom, 20:00

LuckyLloyd

http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/367173/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is a doubt for the Barclays Premier League clash with West Brom due to an ankle problem.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed winger Jesus Navas - who, like Silva, missed Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland - has also been struggling with an ankle issue, and Monday's game will come too soon for midfielder Yaya Toure to return after his leg injury.

Defender Matija Nastasic, out of action since February because of a knee complaint, remains unavailable.

City go into Monday's contest off the back of a 2-2 home draw with rock-bottom Sunderland, which followed a 3-2 loss at league leaders Liverpool, now nine points clear of City, albeit with the Reds having only three more games to go and Pellegrini's men five.

Reflecting on the shock Sunderland result, Pellegrini has reiterated that relegation-threatened clubs like the Wearside outfit and 16th-placed West Brom make for particularly tricky opponents.

Baggies boss Pepe Mel, meanwhile, has made it clear he and his players have taken great encouragement from the Black Cats' exploits at the Etihad Stadium ahead of their own trip to the ground.

But Pellegrini has also stressed that each assignment in the Premier League is different, and is eager to see his side bounce back from the disappointment of that previous outing.

He said: "I think all the games are different.

"It would be very easy to just focus on what has happened in other games.

"The performance in every game is very important and I hope we are going to improve our performance against West Brom."

West Brom defender Jonas Olsson and midfielder James Morrison are doubtful for the clash.

Olsson, who came off in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Tottenham because of an Achilles problem, and Morrison, absent from that game due to an ankle complaint, have both missed training this week and will be assessed over the weekend.

On-loan winger Scott Sinclair will definitely sit the match out as it is against his parent club.

The Baggies are currently three points clear of the relegation zone in 16th place with five games left to play, two more matches than each of the three sides directly below them.

When asked ahead of the City encounter if he was one for scrutinising the standings and trying to work out various permutations, boss Mel said: "Yes.

"And I imagine another 10 or 12 managers are possibly doing the same - both those at the top and the bottom of the league.

"But what we really need to worry about most is ourselves."

West Brom head into the contest in fairly decent form, having won twice and lost only once in their last five games.

They have 33 points from their 33 matches and while a shock victory at City would certainly represent a major step towards survival for the midlands club, Mel would not be ready to relax.

Asked if he felt one more win would be enough to guarantee West Brom's safety, the Spaniard - who has been in charge since January - said: "No, I don't think so.

"I really do like the Premier League - because every week things change."

City possibly missing all of Toure, Silva and Navas and have one point from their last six. West Brom have taken five points from their last nine.

It would be super sweet if another favour could be paid towards the march for justice but I'm not seeing it. City were 3 - 0 up in the reverse fixture before conceding a couple of late consolations. I think they'll be very professional tonight following the Sunderland slip up.

Skylinehead

Justice?

Washington Irving

Skylinehead wrote: »

Justice?

Justice.

blueser

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/367173/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739



City possibly missing all of Toure, Silva and Navas and have one point from their last six. West Brom have taken five points from their last nine.

It would be super sweet if another favour could be paid towards the march for justice but I'm not seeing it. City were 3 - 0 up in the reverse fixture before conceding a couple of late consolations. I think they'll be very professional tonight following the Sunderland slip up.

Sorry?

Washington Irving

It appears people are not familiar with Lloyd's favourite word: Justice.

Genuinely forgot this match was on.

5-0 City

Turtyturd

Lloyd justifying my hate for Liverpool fans right here.

gosplan

blueser wrote: »

Sorry?

Yeah,

When a team wins the PL, it's basically the result of an annual sporting event.

When Liverpool win it, it's about meaning, justice, poetry and fate.

God help us all.

LuckyLloyd

Washington Irving wrote: »

It appears people are not familiar with Lloyd's favourite word: Justice.

I should have capitalized it!

Darkglasses

Let's keep it about the match...

Terrified of another slip up. Not even making a prediction.

blueser

Darkglasses wrote: »

Let's keep it about the match...

Terrified of another slip up. Not even making a prediction.

Yeah; that'd be nice. Any chance of passing that on to the relevant party?

Finical

City win by 3+ goals.

smileyj1987

Washington Irving wrote: »

It appears people are not familiar with Lloyd's favourite word: Justice.

I reckon a username change is in order . LuckyJusticeLLoyd .

Washington Irving

West Brom massive underdogs. If they manage to get something from this I'll buy a jersey and frame it on the wall next to my signed PaullyD Sunderland one.

Super-Rush

Come on new couch.

Seriously though City should win but who the feck knows what could happen.

Turtyturd

A City loss tonight hands it back to Chelsea, out of the two of them I would rather see City win it, so c'mon City.

blueser

That's a decent looking side we have out tonight;



Pity about Yaya not being available, but there you go.

Washington Irving

West Brom can't afford no fancy graphic:


Foster, Dawson, Olsson, Ridgewell, Jones, Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brunt (c), Sessegnon, Vydra.


Subs: Myhill (gk), Morrison, Anichebe, Yacob, Lugano, Berahino, Reid.

SEPT 23 1989

Neville sticking the knife in

highgiant1985

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Neville sticking the knife in

I don't have sky what was he saying?

Darkglasses

Need a better performance from Javi, he was awful last time out.

NukaCola

Man City to walk it by 4

Professional Griefer

12 nil wba

Utopia Parkway

Cannot see City slipping up for the 3rd game in a row. Comfortable win tonight.

blueser

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Cannot see City slipping up for the 3rd game in a row. Comfortable win tonight.

I'll take a 2-0 win right now, thanks very much. Can't see us banging in 5 or 6; too much riding on simply having to win for us to play with the same flair we were showing pre-Christmas.

~Rebel~

Perfect game for City after their last two - expect them to run out comfortable winners by at least 3 goals. 2 for Aguero, and Negredo to get one off the bench to break his streak.

messinkiapina

A stroll in the park for City. They'll win by 3 goals+

5starpool

4-0 easy home win here. I can't see City slipping up in this game of all the ones left for them.

SEPT 23 1989

c'mon city

messinkiapina

All over already.

SEPT 23 1989

o yes:)

Darkglasses

Go on Zaba!!!

Need two more before my nerves settle though

Paully D

messinkiapina wrote: »

All over already.

Plenty of us said the same on Wednesday.

blueser

Nice one Zabba!

Washington Irving

That's that.

Darkglasses

Good gravy...my nerves

Utopia Parkway

Not offside IMO.

GavRedKing

Cmon ta f**k city keep it interesting in the last 3 games anyway.

Turtyturd

Congratulations on winning the league Man City.

Morzadec

Wow superb call from the eagle eyed assistant. Was very close but the right call was made. Thought he was onside in real time

Mushy

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Not offside IMO.

He was. Foot was behind last defender. He then just crossed it for the tap in.

Utopia Parkway

Mushy wrote: »

He was. Foot was behind last defender. He then just crossed it for the tap in.

Don't agree.

Morzadec

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Not offside IMO.

He was - right leg ahead of the defenders back foot

barone

not a hope man city will not get 3 points here,not a hope,none.

Mushy

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Don't agree.

Did you see the line thing from Sky?

Morzadec

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Don't agree.

You don't agree that the leg was ahead or you don't agree that that should be called as offside?

Darkglasses

Ah that's a tasty one

Professional Griefer

Super strike

blueser

Brilliant by Kun. God, if we'd had him fit for the whole season!

Mushy

Love Aguero!

SEPT 23 1989

this is more like it