Manchester City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion

Martin Demichelis

Manchester City moved within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a routine victory over West Brom.

Pablo Zabaleta headed the home side in front after two minutes before Sergio Aguero drove in from 20 yards.

Graham Dorrans pulled one back for the Baggies with a fine effort from the edge of the area before Martin Demichelis stabbed in from a corner.

City winger David Silva was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the second half.

Pepe Mel's West Brom are three points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining after a defeat that saw City take their goal tally to 145 for the season.

Third-placed City, who have game in hand, are still reliant on Liverpool slipping up following their 3-2 defeat at Anfield and a 2-2 draw with Sunderland last week and could be nine points behind the Reds again by the time they kick off against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

But this was a performance that suggested Manuel Pellegrini's side believe there is still some life left in the title race.

In his third appearance since returning from a hamstring injury, Aguero looked sharp and ended a five-match run without a goal with his 27th of the season in his 63-minute run-out.

But there was concern as Silva, who has been struggling with an ankle problem, left the field on a stretcher following a challenge from Morgan Amalfitano midway through the second half.

After the lack of fluidity of their previous two performances, City took little time to show they had rediscovered some of their attacking bite.

Samir Nasri's cross was headed away by Liam Ridgewell and after Ben Foster got a hand to Aguero's shot, Zabaleta turned it in with a diving header for his first goal since January 2013.

West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon had an effort ruled out for offside but Aguero added a second after just nine minutes when he thumped in from just outside the area.

Dorrans pulled one back with a strike of real quality, lifting the ball over Gael Clichy and thumping in a half volley after the Baggies punished City's confusion over a free-kick with a swift break.

But nine minutes before half-time City got a third when Nasri's corner was flicked on by Vincent Kompany and side-footed in from close range by Demichelis.

Craig Dawson blocked a Zabaleta shot and also turned a Nasri shot past the post after City cut through the visitors with a slick move.

After Silva was forced off, Hart made a scrambling save to push away a drive from Amalfitano before Stevan Jovetic thumped wide from distance at the other end.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:

"David Silva was playing the games before with the problem in his ankle and that's why he couldn't play against Sunderland but we'll see on Tuesday with the doctor what injury he has.

"If Liverpool win 14 games in a row they deserve to be champions but our duty is to obligate them to win all their games. We'll see what they do but our duty is to win all our games.

"In the second half we tried to keep the result but the team played the way we have the whole year."

West Brom head coach Pepe Mel:

"We were against the best squad in the Premier League and going behind in the third minute made it difficult but we went on to have a good 70 minutes

"West Ham is a cup final for us, the game of the year. What we've got to do is focus on beating West Ham, if not it will be much more difficult.

"We've been playing under pressure all year and we're getting towards the end and we're going to achieve our objective."