West Brom 0 - Manchester City 2

Balotteli and Mulumbu see red, horse whinnies

Points Awards

• Disappointing player (3): Y. Mulumbu
• Miss by mile (1): C. Brunt
• Missed chance (1): J. Boateng
• Assist (1): G. Tamaş
• Losing Team (1 each): M. Čech, I. Miller, C. Brunt, G. Barnes, J. Thomas, S. Carson, Y. Mulumbu, G. Tamaş, S. Cox, P. Ibáñez, N. Shorey, P. Odemwingie, M. Fortuné, and P. Scharner
• 2nd Yellow (2): Y. Mulumbu
• Yellow Card (1): Y. Mulumbu
• Red Card (4): M. Balotelli
• Yellow Card (1): M. Balotelli
• Yellow Card (1): P. Ibáñez
• Yellow Card (1): C. Brunt
• Yellow Card (1): N. Jong
• Yellow Card (1): G. Barry
• Yellow Card (1): P. Zabaleta

In a competition to see who gets to be the arse-end of the pantomime horse, Mario Balotelli and Youssuf Mulumbu would end up creating the world’s first four-buttocked equine. Two moments of glorious stupidity – followed by two red cards – helped liven up a game that was pretty much over as a footballing spectacle midway through the first half.

Balotteli, scorer of City’s two goals in the 20th and 26th minute, picked up a straight red midway through the second half after tangling with Mulumbu and putting the boot in as the West Brom midfielder lay prone on the grass. It looked far worse than it was, but the decision wasn’t a difficult one for referee Lee Probert. Nor was it difficult for him to book a ranting and raving Mulumbu, who in the aftermath of the incident completely lost his head (clue – it’s at the front-end of the pantomime horse, keeping the ears upright).

That loss of temper proved costly. In the 82nd minute, Mulumbu took out Carlos Tevez as he turned in the middle of the pitch, an utterly pointless challenge that earned him a second yellow, an early bath and presumably, a chance to share the soap with new-found buddy Balotteli.

City’s Pablo Zabaleta also tried to reserve his spot in the tub, throwing the ball furiously into the turf after being fouled in a temper tantrum that on another day might have earned him his second yellow of the afternoon. Sadly, this time round referee Probert felt lenient.

Amid all the card-based entertainment, West Brom’s Gabriel Tamas picked up a point for an assist after being beaten twice by Balotelli for his second. Jerome Boateng also got one for a missed chance when he was through one-on-one in the 53rd minute, the keeper safely gathering, and West Brom’s Chris Brunt put one into Row Z in the 79th minute.

Most disappointing player? On any other day it would go to Balotelli, but Mulumbu’s double indiscretion earns him the three points.
By Keith Rodgers

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