Robinho back on target for City
Robinho has scored 13 goals this season
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Sunday, 19, Apr 2009 09:08
Robinho scored his first goal since December as Manchester City beat West Bromwich Albion 4-2 at Eastlands.
The Brazilian and Nedum Onuoha put City 2-0 up before Chris Brunt's brace pegged them back. But Elano's penalty and Daniel Sturridge's late goal sealed victory to move them into tenth place in the table while the Baggies remain rock-bottom.
Robinho, who has been criticised for his form in recent months, showed his talent from the start with a low shot was kept out by Scott Carson.
But Carson could no nothing to stop Robinho getting on the scoresheet for the first time this year when the Brazilian lashed in a volley from ten yards after Stephen Ireland's clipped pass.
Tony Mowbray's men were desperately unlucky not to score an immediate equaliser with Onuoha deflecting the ball over his own bar, while Abdoulaye Meite headed wide from just three yards out.
And it was Onuoha who doubled City's lead in controversial circumstances on 21 minutes when the defender headed into the net, with Carson claiming he had been fouled in the build-up.
The visitors' luck continued to desert them with Robert Koren's header cleared off the line by Felipe Caicedo. But they got a goal back on 37 minutes when Marc-Antoine Fortune laid the ball off to Brunt who stroked a shot from the edge of the box into the corner.
Caceido came close to scoring City's third goal on the stroke of half-time but his long-range effort was beaten away by Carson.
West Brom dominated the second-half with Morrison's strike from 25 yards saved by Shay Given while Koren came close to heading in the equaliser.
But their possession was rewarded on 54 minutes when Brunt curled in a low free-kick past the despairing Given.
City regained the lead two minutes though when Elano won a penalty after being hauled down by Jonas Olsson, and the Brazilian stepped up to slot in the spot-kick to make it 3-2.
The Baggies came agonisingly close to snatching an equaliser in the closing stages with Brunt's ferocious effort parried by Given, while the Irishman then saved at his near post to deny Fortune.
And Mark Hughes' men sealed victory when Sturridge tapped in on 94 minutes to continue their impressive home form, and effectively condemn the Baggies to the drop.