Manchester City strolled to an easy 3-0 victory over West Brom after Gareth McAuley was sent off in the first two minutes in a case of mistaken identity.
Craig Dawson tripped Wilfried Bony outside the box when Neil Swarbrick whistled, and McAuley then followed up in the box with a fair challenge. Swarbrick sent off McAuley, though, and the game was essentially settled.
Bony grabbed his first goal for City when Fernando’s deflected shot fell to him, and he placed his effort in the top near corner. Towards the end of the half, Fernando seized on Jonas Olsson’s poor clearance to stab in at the near post.
In the second half, City continued to create chances, with David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Bony all going close. Saido Berahino gave City a scare when he thumped a header at the bar from two yards out.
But Silva got City’s third when he flicked a Jovetic shot past the keeper, with City moving to within three points of Chelsea having played a game more.