Image source, Reuters

David Silva strides forward as the West Brom midfield retreats. He pokes the ball forward for Sergio Aguero, who dances around the West Brom defence before shooting high over the bar from just outside the area.

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"We need to hear from the officials, because I don't understand what was going through the referee's mind. I'm sorry but that is just a horrendous decision (see 2 mins). One's got Dawson on his back, and the other has McAuley. Does the referee not have the common sense to just say to one of his officials, have I got the right man? They are all mic'd up.

"We can almost turn our seats now though. We are sat on the halfway line and I don't think we are going to have much action in the Manchester City area."

Tony Pulis was smiling from ear to ear on arrival at the Etihad Stadium but is sporting a face like thunder at the moment. This could be a long 80 or so minutes for West Brom, with Manchester City still in possession.

Gary Leung: Hoping West Brom have the same resilience that PSG had against Chelsea. Too optimistic?

Seyi Bruv: Do referees need technology to punish the right players too?

Jas Grewal: What is going on with English referees these days, just as poor as English clubs in CL.

Saido Berahino looks a lonely man as he patrols the halfway line, the rest of his team-mates back deep in the West Brom half.

Manchester City are embarking on wave after wave of attacks, the latest of which ends with David Silva's curled effort deflected wide by Jonas Olsson. How long can the Baggies keep the hosts at bay?

Chris Bevan at Etihad Stadium
BBC Sport

"There is a heated discussion going on in the West Brom technical area following that early red card but even more in the Etihad Stadium press box as we tried to work out why Gareth McAuley, rather than Craig Dawson who committed the foul, had been dismissed and was walking slowly off the pitch towards the tunnel below us. Any ideas?"

Ash Williams: A straight 1 on 1 race. Swarbrick would've seen the number of Dawson. Refs cannot justify these decisions

Andy Haywood: Is that the quickest red card in #PremierLeague history?

Jay: I can't think of any reason how the ref could have confused McAuley for Dawson

After all the confusion Frank Lampard takes the free-kick, but sends it high over the bar. West Brom are firmly on the back foot in the early stages of this already strange game.

Seany Ekon: Why does this happen in the world's most watched sport. The ref sends of the wrong player!!! How does this happen?! Kills me.

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"I can't believe that. Unless he has said something, which I presume he hasn't, that is the most ridiculous decision. Everyone here has seen it was Craig Dawson's challenge. That is almost as bad as the Jan Vertonghen offside decision.

"It was Gareth McAuley that had a bad touch, Wilfried Bony nipped in, Dawson made a challenge, but anyway there were players starting to come round, and there was no thought in my mind that that could be a red card."

Image source, Reuters

Replays show it is Craig Dawson who commits the foul just outside the area, Wilfried Bony tries to continue but runs into the lunging foot of Gareth McAuley inside the area. Surely a penalty if McAuley gets his marching orders? Not sure what has happened here.

Image source, Getty Images

What a terrible start for West Brom, but a huge boost for Manchester City. Wilfried Bony tries to bundle through on goal but is blocked by Craig Dawson. Referee decides it is denying a goal scoring opportunity and out comes the red card.

But hang on? He's sending off Gareth McAuley. Mistaken identity?

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

"West Brom will be very organised, they won't have come here to win but will make it very difficult for Manchester City. Tony Pulis gets criticised at times for playing long ball football, but when he has the players he can play a little bit more expansively, and they are now safe you feel.

"City, though, they have to show a response after those two defeats. They have to produce a performance to lift the fans, lift the club, and put that little bit more pressure on Chelsea."

Referee Neil Swarbrick gets the weekend's Premier League football under way.

"Come on boys!" roars Vincent Kompany as the two teams stroll out of the tunnel and into the Manchester sun, beaming down on the Etihad pitch.

Will this be the game that sees Manchester City reignite their title push? Time to find out.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, speaking to BT Sport: "We know every week we must win so the pressure is exactly the same. We are still second, we have to play nine games more and it just depends on what we can do to keep our position at least.

"I don't think the season here at home has been good enough."

Chris Bevan at Etihad Stadium
BBC Sport

"So, are Manchester City in crisis after two devastating defeats in less than a week? If so, then at least they have been here before, almost exactly 12 months ago, when they went out of the Champions League to Barcelona days after losing to a north-west club they were expected to sweep aside with ease (in that case Wigan in the FA Cup, rather than Burnley in the Premier League).

"Back then, City bounced back with what proved to be one of the most important wins in their journey to the title - a 2-0 victory at Hull despite playing with 10 men for 80 minutes after Vincent Kompany was sent off.

"They went on to win eight of their 11 remaining league games, losing only once in the run-in. Even a repeat of that form might not be enough for them to retain their title, but it might help to keep Manuel Pellegrini in his job."

Image source, Football

Man City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy, Jesus Navas, Fernando, Lampard, Silva, Bony, Aguero. Subs: Sagna, Milner, Dzeko, Caballero, Fernandinho, Demichelis, Jovetic.

West Brom XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Olsson, Sessegnon, Fletcher, Baird, Gardner, Morrison, Berahino. Subs: Wisdom, Anichebe, Davidson, Pocognoli, Mulumbu, Nabi, Rose.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Matthew Bennett: Boxing Day 2000 aged 12, in a freezing Craven Cottage watched Watford lose 5-0 registering their first shot in the 89th min.

Ben Smith: 2004, 800 mile return trip up to Middlesbrough. Crouch scores a late winner to give Villa three points and a sweet journey home.

Paddy Emmerson: Norwich v Liverpool 1976. 1-0 win thanks to David Fairclough. Ted MacDougall seemed to spend 90 mins off side.

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