Man City v West Brom: Defeat to leave Baggies on the brink
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Manchester City’s hopes of winning back the Premier League crown faded dramatically with two dropped points against Sunderland last night.
The Citizens must win their game in hand to close the gap on Liverpool to three points and from there they are relying on the Reds – and Chelsea – to slip up if they are to reclaim the silverware.
The manner of their recent defeat to Liverpool and the draw with the Black Cats hints at a team buckling under the pressure during what is firmly considered to be “squeaky bum time”.
However, all the Sky Blues can do now is win their remaining games and hope for the best and the visit of West Brom shouldn’t pose to big a threat to such plans.
City have won 14 of their last 16 matches at the Etihad and with four wins and a draw from their last five meetings with the Baggies they go into this tie as deserved 1/5 favourites.
Prior to that run the Baggies had fared pretty well against City but their horrid away form of late means the 12/1 on an upset should be avoided at all costs.
Pepe Mel’s side have picked up maximum points just three times in 18 away games so, while six of those points have come in their last three matches, expect the Midlands club to be defence minded here.
A successful rearguard action is their best hope of avoiding defeat – with the draw available at 6/1 – but with City boasting the best goal difference in the league and strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko recently bashing the Baggies don’t hold your breath.
Aguero has netted three in four meetings with Albion, opening the scoring last time, and can be backed to fire the first goal here at 5/2.
Slightly better value though can be had from Edin Dzeko, who has three goals in as many meetings with the Black Country outfit and is available at 3/1 to bag first on Easter Monday.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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