Manchester, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Manchester City kept its title hopes alive on Monday after easing to a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens have endured a difficult week which included a 3-2 loss to Liverpool last Sunday, followed by a shock 2-2 draw on home soil against bottom-of-the-table Sunderland on Wednesday.
But the hosts were determined to put on a better show at home on Monday and they got off to a quick start just three minutes into the match when a cross from Samir Nasri was knocked back into the area.
Sergio Aguero smashed one on goal that was parried by West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster, but it fell to Pablo Zabaleta, who knocked it home with a diving header.
Just seven minutes later it was 2-0 for City as Aguero whipped a curling ball just inside the far post and out of reach of a diving Foster.
But West Brom pulled one back in the 16th minute with a well-executed counter attack. Matej Vydra threaded one through for Graham Dorrans, who did well to flick it past his man and rip it into the top right corner.
The hosts restored their two-goal margin in the 36th minute, however, when defender Martin Demichelis was left unmarked following a corner kick and he tapped it home from in close.
City's defense came together in the second half, allowing West Brom just one attempt on target to come away with an important three points.
The result pulls the Citizens within six points of league-leaders Liverpool, and within one point of second-place Chelsea with one game in hand. West Brom, meanwhile, remains in 16th place, three points clear of the relegation zone.
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