Manchester City beat West Brom as Sergio Aguero suffers injury scare

Manchester City recovered from a goal down to beat West Brom at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri, but suffered an injury scare when the Argentine hobbled off with an ankle problem late on.

Manuel Pellegrini made five chances from the team that started against PSG on Wednesday, with Fabian Delph making his return from injury and Samir Nasri starting his first Premier League game since September - although key striker Aguero started.

Without the creativity and spark of David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, there was always a danger that City would struggle to unlock the West Brom defence, and that’s how it proved in a lacklustre first half that failed to distract the City supporters from the damp and dingy conditions.

And it was a lightning counter-attack from the visitors that opened the scoring, with Stephane Sessegnon hammering a shot into the bottom corner with Joe Hart rooted to the spot.

Sessegnon undid much of his good work with a clumsy foul on Aleksandar Kolarov 13 minutes later, allowing Aguero to level from the spot, but there was little for either side to shout about in the remainder of the first 45.

Pellegrini turned to his bench early in the second half and introduced Yaya Toure and Kevin de Bruyne to try and find a winner, and the latter was heavily involved as Nasri bagged what turned out to be the winner.

The Frenchman, who has been injured for much of the campaign, was understandably jubilant, but Pellegrini and the City fans were left praying for good news after a hobbling Aguero was forced from the field late in the game with an ankle injury.

Some of the performances by City in the league in recent months have been embarrassing, and they were close to their disinterested worst for long spells of this game. But the introduction of De Bruyne and Yaya Toure sparked them into life and having those two back to full fitness will be a major boost for the final handful of games. West Ham drawing with Arsenal has reduced the pressure on the top four spot slightly, while three points today has helped them ease clear of their neighbours ahead of tomorrow’s game between United and Spurs. It’s far from secure, but City are in the driving seat for Champions League qualification.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – There are times when Sergio Aguero must wish he wasn’t the star man in the City squad, because on days like this there’s the sense that the rest of the team are just waiting for him to win it for them. The Argentine dispatched his penalty with aplomb and was unlucky not to have a second when he inadvertently set up Nasri for the second. Aguero is key to everything City do, and as one fan put it: he’s our best striker, best midfielder AND best defender. That sums it up pretty perfectly and if he is out for Tuesday's Champions League second leg against PSG then it will be a huge blow.

Man City: Hart 5; Zabaleta 6, Otamendi 7, Mangala 6, Kolarov 7; Fernando 6, Delph 5, Navas 5, Nasri 7; Bony 5, Aguero 7. Subs: De Bruyne 7, Toure 6, Clichy 5.

West Brom: Foster 6; Chester 6, Evans 7, McAuley 6, Dawson 7; Fletcher 6, Sandro 5, Sessegnon 6, Berahino 6, McClean 5; Rondon 5 Subs: Gardner 7, Leko 6.

6’ – GOAL! Man City 0-1 West Brom: West Brom stun the Etihad with a superb goal. The Baggies spring forward on the counter-attack and open City up with a flowing move, before Sessegnon drills past a shell-shocked Joe Hart.

18’ – PENALTY – Penalty! Have the chance to draw level after a clumsy foul by Sessegnon on Kolarov in the box. Aguero will take it.

19’ – GOAL! Man City 1-1 West Brom: Sergio Aguero slots his spot-kick into the bottom corner and it's 1-1 at the Etihad.

66’ – GOAL! Man City 2-1 West Brom: Samir Nasri scores on his starting return, tucking home from close-range after Aguero had been denied. It all came from De Bruyne's run and flick down the left.

71’ – MISS – Berahino beats the offside trap with a clever one-two and tries to curl a shot around Hart and into the far corner, but he can't quite get it out from under his feet and squirts his effort wide.

79’ – CLOSE – A brilliant cross slides right across the face of the City goal and Berahino is inches away from getting a touch at the far post.

85' – INJURY– Aguero is hobbling and is surely going to have to go off. Fingers crossed it's nothing serious.

Manchester City are the sixth team to score 3,300 top flight home goals. Their first came in a 4-0 victory against Derby County in the old Division One on 9 September 1899.

City have now won twice at home after trailing this PL season. They previously defeated Newcastle 6-1 after trailing 1-0 on 3 October.

City have won their last nine Premier League meetings with West Brom.

The Baggies' only victory at Manchester City in the Premier League came on their first visit in 2003. They drew on their next two trips but have lost the last seven.

The Baggies have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games (D5, L5).