Manchester City are on course to move back within six points of the top of the table, having gone into the halfway stage of their Premier League encounter against West Bromwich Albion with a 3-1 lead.
The hosts made a blistering start to the match and were ahead inside three minutes when Ben Foster could only parry Sergio Aguero's powerful strike straight to Pablo Zabaleta, who nodded in from close range.
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It was almost 2-0 within five minutes as Youssouf Mulumbu was caught in possession, allowing Samir Nasri to slide the ball through for Aguero, who fired a half-volley over the bar.
They wouldn't have to wait much longer to double their lead, however, as Aguero picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal in the 10th minute before curling a fine effort past Foster.
The Baggies almost conjured up an immediate response when Stephane Sessegnon let fly from range, but his strike went narrowly over the top.
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They did get a goal back in the 16th minute as Graham Dorrans flicked the ball over Gael Clichy before hammering a fine strike past Joe Hart from inside the area.
The hosts restored their two-goal lead with just under 10 minutes left of the half as Martin Demichelis stole in at the back post to tap a corner home, having eluded his marker.
That proved to be the last piece of goalmouth action in the first half as City took a comfortable lead into the break.
Barney Corkhill
