SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2014 City down Albion to keep pressure on leaders

WEST BROMWICH: Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier West Brom 1 League leaders Chelsea with a convincing 3-1 vic- tory at West Bromwich Albion yesterday. Man City 3 Fernando, Yaya Toure and David Silva were on the scoresheet as Manuel Pellegrini’s second-placed side pro- vided an emphatic response to Chelsea’s win against West Ham earlier in the day. It was a seventh successive win for the champions as they continued their excellent recent form and provided further evidence they remain firmly in the title race with just three points separating them from Chelsea. They will have few easi- er games this campaign, however, after being gifted the initia- tive early on by a poor Baggies side and, such was City’s domi- nance, they already had the game won by the time heavy snow started to make playing conditions difficult in the sec- ond half. Alan Irvine’s side, who scored a late consolation via Brown Ideye with his first Premier League goal, have now won just one of their last eight games and that sequence combined with their disappointing level of display, leaves the head coach’s position under increasing pressure. Midfielder James Milner again led City’s attack for the Boxing Day trip in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, with the fit-again Stevan Jovetic only ready to be named among the substitutes. It made no difference, how- ever, as Pellegrini’s side raced into a two-goal lead within the opening 13 minutes. Yet the Baggies had only themselves to blame after a pair of costly errors from two of their most experienced campaign- ers. First, Ben Foster had a moment to forget in the eighth minute as he dropped what a appeared a routine Jesus Navas cross - gifting Fernando the simplest of finishes into the emp- ty net. Then five minutes later, Joleon Lescott - in his first MANCHESTER: Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat (left) heads the ball away from Manchester United’s Ashley Young as Jack appearance against the side he left for the Hawthorns in pre- Colback (right) looks on during the English Premier League soccer match. —AP season - mis-timed a challenge on Silva to hand the champi- ons a penalty. Toure made no mistake with the resulting spot- kick and, although Foster guessed the right way, the Ivory Coast midfielder’s shot was precisely dispatched inside the Rooney gives Newcastle left post to leave the goalkeeper with no chance. So poor were their opponents, City looked capable of scor- ing every time they ventured forward and it was no surprise to a Boxing Day lesson see them add a third before the interval. Fernando drove forward unopposed before slipping the Just six minutes later, United were ond invitation to double United’s lead ball out wide to Jesus Navas, he laid off neatly to Silva, on his indebted to the ever-impressive David after 36 minutes with another goal Man United 3 inside, and the unmarked Spaniard curled expertly inside the de Gea as the Spanish goalkeeper flew orchestrated by a magnificent Mata far upright. It was so straightforward for City that they were to his right to keep out a magnificent pass. twice guilty of complacency moments later as Albion were 25-yard shot from Daryl Janmaat, who After Falcao won the ball back, Phil had been set up by Newcastle’s teenage Jones found Mata, who waited for gifted two gilt-edged opportunities. Newcastle 1 debutant Adam Armstrong. Rooney to arrive and slipped through a First, a Toure challenge on Stephane Sessegnon inadver- The 17-year-old Armstrong was an perfect assist for the England captain, tently handed Craig Gardner a strike at goal only for the mid- unwitting accomplice to the opening who made no mistake with a clinical 12- fielder to fire straight at Joe Hart. goal, showing brilliant pace to beat yard finish. It did not take long for Then, just seconds later, James Morrison’s slide-rule pass MANCHESTER: Wayne Rooney scored Paddy McNair but then wasting posses- United to punish Newcastle further in sent Saido Berahino through from the left channel yet he fired twice as Manchester United rewarded sion by shooting directly at the legs of a the second half, with Rooney this time disappointingly wide. City were capable of carving their oppo- manager Louis van Gaal’s decision to United defender. the provider. nents open at will and they came agonisingly close to a fourth grant his players Christmas Day off by It proved a costly decision by the He advanced, paused, and then lifted when, after more slick combination play, Samir Nasri’s shot beating Newcastle United 3-1 yesterday. teenager as Rooney broke upfield and an inviting pass forward for Van Persie, deflected agonisingly wide.—AFP Rooney, relishing the deeper midfield squared the ball for Mata, who, in turn, who steered a header past the dive of role which he has been assigned recent- launched an accurate pass into the area Jak Alnwick. Not for the first time, a bril- ly, effectively decided the contest with for Radamel Falcao. liant Young cross was wasted as Van two lethal finishes and set up a third The Colombian forward seemed Persie and Falcao both failed to make a goal for Robin van Persie in the second poised to shoot from a tight angle, but connection. half. instead squared the ball for Rooney to Meanwhile, Rooney, seeking a hat- But although United won for the convert into a gaping goal. trick, went close with a 19-yard free-kick 18th time in their last 21 Boxing Day It was an impressive assist from that soared over the wall and dipped outings, they were obliged to survive a Falcao, who could have single-handedly onto the roof of the Newcastle goal. spirited opening quarter to the match put the game beyond Newcastle in the Van Persie also spurned a glorious from Alan Pardew’s visitors. first half, given the amount of half- chance, completely mis-kicking with an Rooney settled nerves with an excel- chances that came his way. attempted volley, while Ayoze Perez, lently worked 23rd-minute opener, but On 13 minutes, he should have done one of the few bright points on the day United had lived dangerously up to that better from Ashley Young’s left-wing for Newcastle, forced De Gea into a rare point, despite enjoying a glut of posses- cross, appearing to duck out of the way piece of action, low at the foot of his sion. of the winger’s fiercely hit centre. near post, as the game wore down. The The visitors looked dangerous on the Then, shortly after United had taken visitors’ consolation finally came, five counter-attack and United were fortu- the lead, the on-loan Monaco striker did minutes from time, after Jones needless- LONDON: Manchester City’s James Milner (right) is tackled nate to avoid conceding a penalty when connect with a cross from Young, only ly tripped Jack Colback and substitute by West Brom’s Gareth McAuley, left, during the English Juan Mata appeared to clip the heels of to glance his header just wide of the far Papiss Cisse convincingly beat De Gea Premier League soccer match at the Hawthorns, Yoan Gouffran, sending the Newcastle post. with a penalty into the top-right cor- Birmingham. —AP man clattering to the ground. Rooney, however, did not need a sec- ner.—AFP