MX23RW : Monday, December 21 00:15:28| >> :60:1810:1810:
Dec 15, 2020 at 8pm UK at Etihad Stadium
Man CityManchester City
1-1
West BromWest Bromwich Albion
Gundogan (30')
Cancelo (45+2'), Ake (90+4')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dias (43' og.)
Gallagher (40'), Peltier (90'), Gibbs (90+2')

Slaven Bilic: 'Man City draw more than a point'

Slaven Bilic: 'Man City draw more than a point'
© Reuters
The result ended a run of 13 straight league defeats for West Brom against City.

Slaven Bilic insisted West Brom's draw at Manchester City showed his message is still getting through to players as speculation over his future continued despite the result.

The 52-year-old has been tipped to be the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season, with reports emerging even after the final whistle at the Etihad that the move could come on Wednesday.

Asked if the result showed West Brom were still playing for him, Bilic said: "I do not like that cliche.

"The players are playing for themselves but they are listening to our game plan and it's really good to see your players fighting like this.

"We are having this kind of atmosphere, this working atmosphere, throughout the whole season and it didn't drop.

"Sometimes you win games, sometimes you lose them, sometimes you play better and sometimes worse, but we never had a problem with attitude."

The result ended a run of 13 straight league defeats for West Brom against City, though they needed two huge saves from Sam Johnstone in stoppage time to keep out Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling.

Gundogan had put City ahead 30 minutes in though it was, remarkably, the hosts' first clear sight of goal as West Brom defended well, and got their reward as an own goal from Ruben Dias levelled the scores before the break.

"I asked the guys to believe," Bilic said. "I told them to enjoy it, to play with a smile on their face but that starts with hard work.

"It was not a bonus game because every game is an opportunity. I told them to treat it as a privilege because this time last year we were in the Championship."

Bilic spoke of using the game as a platform to build on, saying: "It is more than a point. We have to use this to get the know-how for what we have to do in every game."

It remains to be seen if he will get the opportunity to do so when West Brom host Aston Villa at the weekend.

ID:426696:cQx

Click here for more stories about Slaven Bilic

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

How you voted: Man City vs West Brom

Manchester City
90.1%
Draw
4.6%
West Bromwich Albion
5.3%
282
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Pedro Neto celebrates scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Chelsea in the Premier League on December 15, 2020
Read Next:
PL roundup: Man City held by West Brom, Wolves nick win over Chelsea
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1494136191731
2Leicester CityLeicester149052617927
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd138232821726
4Everton148242519626
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1474325141125
6Southampton147342519624
7Manchester CityMan City136521912723
8Chelsea1364326141222
9Aston Villa1271424131122
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham136342116521
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves136251317-420
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle135351722-518
13Crystal Palace145361925-618
14Leeds UnitedLeeds145272430-617
15Arsenal144281218-614
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton142661622-612
17Fulham142481323-1010
18Burnley12246618-1210
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom141491029-197
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd140212825-172

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!