Manchester City 3 - 0 West Bromwich(WBA): Ref blunder overshadows City win

Posted Sunday, March 22, 2015 by PA

A blunder by referee Neil Swarbrick in sending off the wrong player overshadowed Manchester City's return to winning ways against West Brom.

Swarbrick incorrectly dismissed West Brom's Gareth McAuley for a foul by team-mate Craig Dawson on Wilfried Bony in the second minute of City's comfortable 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

City took full advantage of more than 88 minutes of numerical supremacy, easing to victory with goals from January signing Bony - his first for the club - Fernando and David Silva.

The result was just what City - and under-fire manager Manuel Pellegrini - needed after a harrowing week in which their title defence was ravaged by relegation battlers Burnley and they were dumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona.

But regardless of the outcome, Swarbrick ensured the headlines would be all about him as he mistakenly gave McAuley his marching orders. He quickly apologised for the mistake after the game, via a statement from Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, the body responsible for refereeing appointments.

Nevertheless, it was a second apparent case of mistaken identity in the top flight in three weeks and the third in a year, after other incidents involving Sunderland and Arsenal and came on a day when there was another red-card mix-up in the Sky Bet Championship.

At Huddersfield, Richard Clark sent off Cauley Woodrow only to later change his mind and dismiss Shaun Hutchinson after chaotic scenes in which Woodrow initially refused to leave the field in protest and had to be dragged away by team-mates.

Back at Eastlands, Dawson committed the initial offence as he bundled Bony over just outside the box after the striker had broken clear. Confusion followed as Bony attempted to play on and was knocked over again, this time by McAuley in the area.

But with Swarbrick having already blown for a free-kick outside the box, it was clear Dawson should have been the recipient of any red card, a fact now acknowledged by the official and PGMOL.

City did not dwell on the issue and took full advantage of the situation.

They had the game all but wrapped up before the interval with Bony capitalising on their dominance to open the scoring after 27 minutes and Fernando doubling the lead after 40.

The only surprise was that it took so long to score. That owed much to West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill who, playing in place of the injured Ben Foster, saved well from Silva, Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero.

Frank Lampard, making his first start since January 4, was also wayward with three attempts from good positions.

The opener finally came after a Fernando shot was blocked by Jonas Olsson and spun in the direction of Bony, who hooked the ball down on the turn and lifted into the roof of the net.

Olsson also played an unwitting role in the second goal, getting in Myhill's way after James Morrison fluffed a chance to clear a corner. The ball broke to Fernando and he stabbed home from six yards.

Statistics at half-time indicated 80 per cent possession to City with 24 shots, while West Brom had not mustered a single effort on goal.

The second half began in much the same manner as Myhill twice denied Aguero and kept out another good effort from Silva. The woodwork also twice came to the Baggies' rescue as Aguero rattled a post and Bony struck the crossbar from the rebound.

Substitute Stevan Jovetic also curled an effort just wide before West Brom finally showed some attacking intent to win a corner. Olsson nodded on the resulting cross and Saido Berahino headed against the bar before former City player Joleon Lescott put the rebound over.

But any thoughts West Brom might still be able to breathe life into the game were dispelled 14 minutes from time as Silva diverted home a Jovetic shot after good build-up play.

It completed the most routine of victories but there could still be repercussions from the game. To City's relief, after much questioning of their fortitude lately, they will have nothing to do with them.