Manchester City edge West Bromwich in FA Cup final warm-up

MANCHESTER, Un i t ed Kingdom: Carlos Tevez advanced a compelling case for a place in Manchester City’s FA Cup final team with an effervescent display in his side’s 1- 0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

The Argentine was one of eight players drafted into the team by manager Roberto Mancini and he created the game’s only goal in the 35th minute with a cross that was dispatched by Edin Dzeko.

Tevez will now hope to get the nod on Saturday when City tackle Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Victory took City seven points clear of Chelsea in second place, 10 points below champions Manchester United, while West Brom, who have not won in seven games, remain eighth.

West Brom manager Steve Clarke sent his team out in an unfamiliar 3- 5-2 formation, but the visitors were nonetheless the first team to settle.

On- loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku carried the early menace, shooting narrowly wide from 25 yards and then heading straight at goalkeeper Joe Hart after City failed to clear their lines from a free-kick. Gradually, however, the hosts began to assert themselves.

Jack Rodwell hooked a shot over the bar after West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill fumbled a free-kick, while Tevez shot just over and James Milner lashed wide from a Samir Nasri cross.