Manchester City march on after seeing out victory against West Brom
West Bromwich Albion 2 Manchester City 3: Leroy Sane, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling were all on the mark for Pep Guardiola's side who remain unbeaten in the league
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Raheem Sterling scored with his first touch of the game as Manchester City regained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.
Sterling, who replaced Bernardo Silva in the 61st minute, scored his ninth goal of the season in all competitions as City extended their run of consecutive wins to 13.
But Sergio Aguero was kept waiting to become their outright all-time top scorer as he remained on the bench watching his team-mates re-establish their lead which had been cut to two points after Manchester United beat Tottenham 1-0 earlier in the day.
West Brom's miserable run continued as they have now won just twice in their last 19 league games and are without a league win since 19 August, and the fans had their say leaving dozens of empty seats before the final whistle.
Three goals in the first 15 minutes made it a lively start at The Hawthorns as Leroy Sane's eighth goal of the season on 10 was cancelled out by Jay Rodriguez, only for Fernandinho to restore City's lead on the quarter-hour mark.
Sterling sealed it but there was just time for substitute Matt Phillips to make it 3-2 in time added on.
Sane struck a left-footed shot of such power and precision it was a wonder it didn't break the net after he fired through the legs of Nyom into the opposite corner when David Silva found him in space on the left.
City's lead lasted just three minutes as West Brom conjured a goal that was a triumph of simplicity.
Former City midfielder Gareth Barry chipped the ball over the top which left John Stones outnumbered with Salomon Rondon and Rodriguez for company and the latter lobbed over goalkeeper Ederson for his second Premier League goal of the season.
City were ahead again when Fernandinho's low drive clipped the legs of Ahmed Hegazi before nestling in the bottom corner.
The visitors could have made it 3-1 on 26 minutes but David Silva headed over from De Bruyne's deep cross when he perhaps should have done better.
City threatened again five minutes later when Sane's wickedly dipping free kick drifted a foot over after Evans clipped Bernardo Silva.
But West Brom should have made it much harder for City with headers either side of the break.
First Rondon could only glance wide from a cross by Grzegorz Krychowiak, who then nodded straight at Ederson.
City looked to punish them and increase their lead seconds later. Kyle Walker cut in from the right and let fly but his effort flew just wide.
Kevin De Bruyne was then twice off target from long range, the first a free kick.
City brought on Sterling just after the hour and he wasted no time putting the game beyond West Brom.
Pep Guardiola's side moved the ball seemingly effortlessly from left to right, from Sane to De Bruyne, to David Silva and finally Walker for the low cross finished off by the former Liverpool winger from four yards out.
West Brom gambled by throwing an attacker on for a defender in the 68th minute when Phillips replaced Gareth McAuley.
But instead it was City who continued to threaten as De Bruyne sidefooted powerfully wide on the run on 85 minutes as City moved through the gears, before Foster denied David Silva's shot two minutes after.
Phillips gave the scoreline a somewhat flattering look in West Brom's favour when he guided the ball past Ederson after City were caught napping from Barry's long ball.
West Brom (3-5-2): Foster; Evans, McAuley (Phillips 68), Hegazi; Gibbs; Nyom, Livermore, Barry, Krychowiak (McClean 68), Gibbs; Rodriguez, Rondon (Robson-Kanu 58).
Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Yacob, Brunt, Chadli.
City (4-4-2): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; B Silva (Sterling 61), Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva; Sane, Jesus (Gundogan 82).
Subs not used: Bravo (gk), Danilo, Aguero, Mangala, Toure.
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