West Bromwich Albion tactics
Tony Pulis mentioned in his pre-match interview that he made an atypical decision to start with two up top in a 4-4-2 formation looking to see how Saido Berahino and Rickie Lambert would fare against City’s defenders in the opening 20 minutes.
The Baggies boss still expected City to monopolise the ball so the plan was defend with two flat lines of four behind the strikers while minimising the lack of numbers in midfield by reducing the space between the lines.
Lambert and Berahino led the pressing from the halfway line while James McClean and James Morrison protected the full-backs as wide midfielders.
In central midfield, Darren Fletcher and Craig Gardner double-pivoted in front of the central defenders to deal with Manchester City’s attacking midfielders.
The back-four completed the defensive unit by forming a compact line in front of the 18-yard box.
When in possession, Berahino and Lambert provided targets for direct balls while McClean made runs towards the by-line looking to supply crosses to the strikers from the left flank. Morrison made diagonal runs inside to join Gardner in supporting the strikers through the middle.
Manchester City tactics
Manuel Pellegrini could not risk the Argentinian trio of Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis after their Copa America exploits but he still had enough quality in his starting XI. The Chilean detailed his side to dominate play and keep the opposition on the back foot as usual.
They started in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Fernandinho as the sitting midfielder. Yaya Toure had the freedom to push on and link up play centrally. The full-backs – Aleksandar Kolarov and Bacary Sagna – pushed into the offensive half to stretch the West Brom defensive unit and supply crosses for Wilfried Bony.
Raheem Sterling started as a left attacking midfielder drifting inside to roam more centrally while also providing a threat in behind with his pace. Jesus Navas kept the width down the right flank looking to provide service into the box and link up with an overlapping Sagna.
When out of possession the Citizens had to try to get the ball back quickly with Bony leading the pressing in the offensive half. Silva defended from just behind the Ivorian forward while Navas and Sterling worked from the sides of midfield. Toure dropped to join Fernandinho in protecting the defenders while the full-backs dropped back to the defensive line to complete the defensive formation.
Key tactical changes
Albion set up very well in their defensive unit with less than 10 yards between the lines and a compact back-four in front of the keeper. The problem for Pulis’ men from the start was that City easily gained territory because the Baggies dropped too deep and were not too eager to engage Pellegrini’s men, even in the dangerous defensive-third.
That allowed City to stroke the ball around comfortably, with players like Silva and Toure frequently getting the ball around the penalty box with space to shoot. The Citizens duly took the opportunity and led 2-0 by the 30th minute.
Pulis had to do something because his side not only looked likely to concede more but they hardly showed any offensive threat. The Baggies boss switched to a 4-5-1 formation with Berahino dropping into a wide midfield position while Morrison tucked into central midfield.
That at least forced City to earn the territory they got afterwards. Offensively, West Brom started retaining the ball better and creating a couple of half-chances. Still the hosts lacked enough attacking threat to reduce the deficit.
Pulis tried to get something out of the game in the last quarter with Victor Anichebe as the centre forward providing a target for crosses up top. Claudio Yacob slotted in at the base of midfield to limit the influence of Silva, who was unplayable on the night.
That also allowed both Fletcher and Gardner the freedom to support Anichebe while Callum McManaman and Morrison tried to get service into the box from wide attacking midfield positions.
City dropped deeper in that last period as Pellegrini was content with protecting his side’s 3-0 lead. Martin Demichelis joined Fernandinho as the holding midfielders to add more protection to the defenders while Aguero and Samir Nasri had some minutes in more advanced positions to improve their match sharpness ahead of the welcome of Chelsea.
The shape of the game changed in that last 15 minutes with West Brom enjoying more possession as well as committing more bodies into Manchester City’s half. Still, City were good enough defensively to comfortably hold on to their clean sheet.
