West Brom vs Manchester City- Barclays Premier League Match Preview

Alan Irvine, their previous manager, was shown the door following a series of poor performances on the bounce, but Pulis’ experience led them to safety and the management will be hoping for a better start to the season this time around.

City captain Vicent Kompany put the result beyond doubt by latching onto a David Silva corner and scoring with his shoulder on 59 minutes.

Toure was influential in City’s first two goals, first producing a shot which was flicked by Silva and then deflected off defender Craig Dawson on its way in, and the second a fine finish before the 25-minute mark.

The 20-year-old started in support of Wilfried Bony, with Sergio Aguero on the bench, while Albion handed debuts to Rickie Lambert, James Chester and James McClean.

With Pellegrini entering the final year of his deal the questions and speculation regarding Guardiola would only have intensified during the season, particularly if City hit a sticky spell; a distraction the club neither want nor need.

‘Sterling has the ability to change a game and you could see that even though we didn’t play so well against Stuttgart, he still made two goals late on – and that’s when he’s not fully match fit or at his sharpest. Will the Citizens meet expectations, or will they underwhelm against a stout West Brom side?

Here we assess whether Raheem Sterling began to repay any of his £49million transfer fee in the 3-0 City win at The Hawthorns.

Whatever Pulis said at half-time roused West Brom, though, and there was immediately more objective to their game upon resumption.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini came out in support of the winger last week, following criticisms of the way he acted during the off-season. He is very quick, has great technique and I think he will be a very important player for us’. “Playing away is not the same to starting at home but we are confident we are going to have a good game”. “If you’d seen the faces in training last week, I knew the team was going to be ready for this game”. I want to play against the best teams and do well’. Until November I was having a good season but it didn’t matter because we didn’t win anything. Pulis adds “I’ve always worked with the material I am given and that’s always been my philosophy, to try to squeeze everything out of everybody”.

“We looked unsafe when we had the ball”.

Fernandinho is not only sure they can win the title back, but also go for glory in the Champions League.