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Half-Time Report: Manchester City in control over West Bromwich Albion at break

Title-chasing Manchester City take a commanding 3-1 lead into the halfway stage of their Premier League match with West Brom this evening.

Manchester City are on course to move back within six points of the top of the table, having gone into the halfway stage of their Premier League encounter against West Bromwich Albion with a 3-1 lead.

The hosts made a blistering start to the match and were ahead inside three minutes when Ben Foster could only parry Sergio Aguero's powerful strike straight to Pablo Zabaleta, who nodded in from close range.

Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion on April 21, 2014© Getty Images

It was almost 2-0 within five minutes as Youssouf Mulumbu was caught in possession, allowing Samir Nasri to slide the ball through for Aguero, who fired a half-volley over the bar.

They wouldn't have to wait much longer to double their lead, however, as Aguero picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal in the 10th minute before curling a fine effort past Foster.

The Baggies almost conjured up an immediate response when Stephane Sessegnon let fly from range, but his strike went narrowly over the top.

West Bromwich Albion's Scottish midfielder Graham Dorrans (L) scores his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match against Manchester City on April 21, 2014© Getty Images

They did get a goal back in the 16th minute as Graham Dorrans flicked the ball over Gael Clichy before hammering a fine strike past Joe Hart from inside the area.

The hosts restored their two-goal lead with just under 10 minutes left of the half as Martin Demichelis stole in at the back post to tap a corner home, having eluded his marker.

That proved to be the last piece of goalmouth action in the first half as City took a comfortable lead into the break.

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Liverpool's English midfielder Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring the opening goal from a freekick with Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield in Liverpool, nor
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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