Man City keep pressure on Chelsea after easy win

Manchester City eased to a 3-0 home victory over 10-man West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League after the visitors had the wrong player sent off in the second minute by referee Neil Swarbrick.

Swarbrick mistakenly dismissed defender Gareth McAuley for bringing down Wilfried Bony as he ran through on goal, when it was teammate Craig Dawson who committed the foul.

The extra man allowed City to dominate proceedings but it did not break through until the 27th, when Bony lifted the ball past Boaz Myhill and into the top corner.

Fernando doubled City’s lead from close range in the 40th and David Silva turned in Stevan Jovetic’s low strike on 77.

Giroud’s double

Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud scored twice in the first half and Arsenal hung on for a 2-1 win at Newcastle to stay in control of third place.

Giroud scored from two set pieces, getting his knee on the ball to deflect it into the net in the 24th. The French striker then shook off his maker to head in Cazorla’s corner in the 28th as Arsenal dominated the first half and looked like it could run up the score.

But Newcastle turned the game on its head after the break as Moussa Sissoko pulled one back in the 49th. The hosts kept pressing for an equaliser and Arsenal needed two good saves from goalkeeper David Ospina to protect its lead.

Southampton continued its push to qualify for European football with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at St. Mary’s.

Results:

Man City 3-0 West Brom

Aston Villa 0-1 Swansea

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Southampton 2-0 Burnley

Stoke 1-2 Crystal Palace

Tottenham 4-3 Leicester