By Jemma Tappenden
January 10 2009

Albion started the game 6 points behind Manchester City, and sure to be bottom at Christmas after a Blackburn win the previous day. Mowbray made two changes to the side that fell to a 4-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, With Bednar and Kin starting in place of Chris Brunt, who dropped to the bench, and Borja Valero who missed out entirely through illness.

Albion had suffered an injury blow before a ball had even been kicked, and Filipe Teixeira - originally named as a substitute received a knock during the warm up.  His place on the sidelines was taken by Pele.

The game started with vigor and City produced a goal scoring chance as early as the second minute when Wright-Phillips fired in a corner which Ireland blazed well over the bar from close range.

In the 8th minute the Baggies entered self destruct mode as Kim lost possession to Kompany.  The Belgian International paced forward to fire at Carson from 20 yards.  Albion recorded their first effort on 15 minutes, Bednar firing at Hart from 25 yards after controlling a clever pass from Kim.

Albion had a big let off in the 21st minute, Kim again caught in possession but this time by Benjani.  Vassell played in Wright-Phillips who let rip from 15 yards.  Paul Robinson was in place to provide a vital deflection fora corner.

Albion began to control the game and Pablo Zabaleta had to provide a vital last ditch challenge to prevent Robert Koren taking on Hart.  Abdoulaye Meite shot wide from the resulting corner taken by Jonathan Greening.

Clever play from Greening and Robinson in the 31st minute provided Bednar with a golden opportunity.  The big forward easily beat Zabaleta but could only watch as his right footed effort cannoned off the post onto the back of Hart's head before going out of play.

In the 36th minute Wright-Phillips made easy work of cutting through the Albion midfield and defence to pass to Fernandes who fired straight at Carson from 16 yards.

Albion went close on 44 minutes, Olsson headed just wide from Greening's free kick.

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Manchester City

The second half got off to a nervous start, and Carson pulled off an important save in the 54th minute when a ferocious 15 yard effort from Wright-Phillips could have broken the deadlock.

On the hour mark Richard Dunne gifted Roman Bednar the ball in a dangerous position, but he shot well wide from 20 yards.  Greening returned the favour at the other end, gifting the ball to City sub Caicedo, but he provided Carson with an easy save from 25 yards.

In the 69th minute Albion got their noses in front, sub Dorrans released Morrison and he slotted through to Moore who gave Hart no chance as he stabbed the ball home for his first Baggies goal.  It could have been 2-0 moments later, but Ball did well to prevent Bednar from having a simple tap in.

Moore was replaced by Beattie in the 74th minute, and the sub had the ball in the net almost immediately.  His effort was ruled out however after Bednar was alleged to have fouled Hart in the build up.

In the 84th minute Manchester City grabbed an equaliser, Caicedo the provider with a small deflection off Brunt which wrong footed Carson.  Shell shocked Baggies looked to be getting a point until the second minute of stoppage time.

Zuiverloon pumped a diagonal ball into City's box, where a waiting Bednar foiled Micah Richards to head home Albions winner with the final action of the game.

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Manchester City

Moore (69)

Bednar (90+2)

Caicedo (84)

Attendance: 25,010