Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City 3 West Brom 0: Baggies in a spot of bother as Carlos Tevez bags a hat-trick
Carlos Tevez celebrated his 27thbirthday by keeping Manchester City on course for a Champions Leaguespot with a first-half hat-trick against West Brom.[LNB] It was the Argentina striker's third treble of his City career and took his tally for the season to 20 goals. [LNB]He was given a standing ovation whenhe came off four minutes from time. It was just the result managerRoberto Mancini was looking for as it came on the day a minute'sapplause was held in memory of former favourite Neil Young, who diedrecently after a long battle against cancer. [LNB] Two much: Carlos Tevez scores his second goal from the penalty spot[LNB]City almost took the lead in the fourth minute when West Brom defender Paul Scharner failed to cut out a cross from Aleksandar Kolarov. [LNB]Tevez was perfectly positioned and got in a first-time shot that beat goalkeeper Boaz Myhill but he saw it come back off the post.[LNB]Happy returns, daddy: Tevez given balloons before kick-off from his children[LNB]Albion responded in the 12th minute. Chris Brunt delivered a well-struck free-kick on the edge of the area but goalkeeper Joe Hart diverted his effort to safety. [LNB]A minute later Hart was again forced into action, tipping a looping header from Jonas Olsson over the bar. [LNB]City made the breakthrough in the 17th minute with Steven Reid punished for barging Kolarov. Tevez sent Myhill the wrong way from the penalty spot. [LNB]Tevez extended their lead in the22nd minute after skipping into the area following a one-two with DavidSilva before finding the corner with his effort. [LNB]WestBrom continued to be pegged back and Olsson did well to block Silva'spath to goal in the 31st minute after he had linked up with Yaya Toure.[LNB]A minute later Myhill reacted superbly to get the slightest touch to a Kolarov thunderbolt and touch it onto the bar. [LNB]Citycontinued to turn the screw and Silva made space for himself in thearea only to see his shot beaten away by the goalkeeper. [LNB]Tevez completed his hat-trick in the 36th minute with his second penalty of the game.[LNB] Jerome Thomas, for reasons only known to himself, handled in the area and referee Martin Atkinson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. [LNB] Tevez stepped up and this time sent his effort high over Myhill to make it 3-0 to City. The skipper came close to adding a fourth in the 42nd minute after being set up by Silva but the ball went the wrong side of the post. [LNB]However, West Brom almost pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half when Peter Odemwingie scampered forward only to see his effort turned away at the post by Hart. [LNB]Then Marc-Antoine Fortune squandered a good opportunity for the visitors, finding the side-netting from a good position. [LNB]West Brom again pushed forward and Hart had to be alert in the 71st minute to turn away a free-kick from Nicky Shorey 20 yards out. [LNB] Enjoy the trip: City's Aleksandar Kolarov is brought down by Steven Reid[LNB]Tevez should have scored his fourth of the game eight minutes later when he was set up by Gareth Barry. [LNB]Given how prolific he had been in the match there were gasps of astonishment around the ground when he spooned the ball over the bar from six yards. [LNB]Substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips was then denied by Myhill on the stroke of full-time as City secured their first win in four games. [LNB]West Brom, however, remained in deep trouble and locked in a relegation battle after further defensive slip-ups.[LNB] Mancini admits City could be forced to play a 'boring' brand of footballWest Bromwich boss Di Matteo plots an upset at Manchester CityAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinionAll the latest West Bromwich Albion news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Carlos Tevez, David Silva
