What a week that was for Manchester City fans. Fifteen goals in all competitions without reply and top of the league. This week we go again, this time away to West Brom in the Carabao Cup. So, as I always try to do, how statistically have we done against our upcoming opponent. Along with that, I look at which personnel have we shared over the years.
Tony Pulis:
I want to start off slightly differently for this game though. Across from Pep Guardiola, in the home dug-out, will be Tony Pulis. Last season he played a weakened side in this competition and were put out on penalties by Northampton, from the third tier. In this year’s second round Pulis only made four changes from his sides previous match. That, and with the history between him and Manchester City, could mean he targets us as a potential scalp early on.
Of course, the history I am referring to is the FA Cup Final defeat his Stoke City side suffered in 2011. A single Yaya Toure goal sealed City’s first trophy since the late 70’s, but it could have been different. The same could be said a dozen years prior when City and his Gillingham side were contesting the Division Two play-off final. Two goals up with minutes to go it looked as if City would be staying in the Division. It seemed Pulis, with Gillingham, would be moving up. Two late goals from City took the tie to extra time and then penalties. Heroics all over the pitch saw us win, and a Nicky Weaver crazed run. Pulis would be fired from his job in the aftermath.
Another question is will Jonny Evans start? Linked with City very strongly in Preseason, and right up until the window closed. How does he feel about the move that never transpired? Will he be out to prove something to either manager?
Head To Head:
Historically Manchester City has had the better of the meetings. In all competitions, since the first meeting, we’ve lost just over a third. Winning 67 of the 150 games played since that first game in 1896, including the 1970 Final of this competition. In that game they had Jeff Astle and Asa Hartford, the latter moving to us.
Us with Bell, Lee and Summerbee came out victorious, lifting our second trophy in nine days. The other, of course, being the European Cup Winners Cup. Goals from Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe got us the extra time win.
Recent history is just as good, although it could be bad. City last lost away to West Brom in this very competition, almost exactly seven years ago to the day of this upcoming fixture. 22nd September 2010 West Brom beat us 2-1 after Jo had initially given City the lead.
Managers:
Ron Saunders is the only manager we’ve shared. Managing us in a very uninspiring post-Mercer and Allison era, he lasted mere months. To be fair he didn’t last much longer at West Brom. That would be his last foray into management.
Two others have played for us before going on to manage West Brom. Gary Megson is the most recent of these. Playing for us from 1989 until 1992 he made 82 appearances scoring a couple of goals in the process. Eight years after leaving, and with four other managerial jobs under his belt, he landed at West Brom. I’m sure West Brom fans remember him more fondly than most, saving them from relegation to the third tier before getting them Premiership football, twice.
Arthur Mann is the other name on that list. Played only a few times for City from 1968 to 1972 before moving on. Eventually, he would find himself in the dugout at WBA.
Related Story: Pep to rotate, blood youth, for trip to the Hawthorns.
Players:
This is actually a bigger list than I originally anticipated, so I will pick out just a few names.
Gareth Barry: Has to be mentioned if only for the fact he now has the most Premier League appearances, ever. At City, while we were transitioning he won an FA Cup and Premier League with us before now fins=ding himself at the Hawthorns.
Gary Owen: With us from youth he played over 100 times for the senior side, scoring 19 goals. Moving on to West Brom as part of the big City ‘cleaning house’ Gary made close to 200 appearances.
Peter Barnes: Again, like Gary, was with us from youth. Moving on to West Brom at the same time although he didn’t stay as long as Owen. A season here and a season there saw him eventually return to the sky blue shirt of City in 1987.
Asa Hartford: Coming the other way to the previous two, Asa was actually signed from West Brom. Medical issues had seen City capitalize on his failed move to Leeds. Like Gary, he made close to 200 appearances before moving on in 1979. Two seasons later and he was back.
Other players to have played for both are Nicolas Anelka, Andy Dibble, Joleon Lescott, Ishmael Miller, Georgios Samaras and Imre Varadi.