It’s reffin’ hell again as THIRD wrong man sees red

ZAHA BRINGS MORE AWAY DAY JOY TO PARDEW

REF Neil Swarbrick took the gloss off Man City’s return to winning ways with another mistaken identity shocker.

Swarbrick wrongly sent off West Brom’s Gareth McAuley for a foul by team- mate Craig Dawson on Wilfried Bony in the second minute of what became a comfortable win.

City took full advantage of the extra man, easing to victory with goals from Bony – his first for the club – Fernando and David Silva.

The result was just what under- fire manager Manuel Pellegrini needed after a harrowing week in which their title defence was ravaged by Burnley and they were dumped out of Europe by Barcelona.

But Swarbrick ensured the headlines would be all about him as he incorrectly showed McAuley red.

It was the second case of mistaken identity in the top flight in three weeks – and the third in a year – after similar incidents involving PLENTY TO SHOUT ABOUT: Gomis Sunderland and Arsenal. Few could deny Swarbrick would have been right to dismiss Dawson after Bony broke clear and was bundled over just outside the box.

But confusion followed as Bony attempted to play on and was knocked over again, this time by McAuley in the area.

Fluffed

Swarbrick had already blown for a free- kick for the first offence – and not a penalty for the second – so Dawson, not McAuley, should have seen red.

City didn’t dwell on the issue and instead set about making the Baggies pay.

They had the game all but wrapped up before the break.

The only surprise was that it took so long to score. That owed much to brilliant West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill who, playing in place of the injured Ben Foster, saved well from Silva, Jesus Navas and Sergio Aguero.

The opener came after 27 minutes when a Fernando shot was blocked by Jonas Olsson and spun to Bony. He hooked it down on the turn before lifting it coolly into the roof of the net.

Olsson also played an unwitting role in the second, getting in Myhill’s way after James Morrison fluffed a chance to clear a corner, allowing Fernando to stab home from six yards.

The second half went much the same way as the first, with Myhill twice denying Aguero before the Argie rattled a post and Bony the crossbar.

The Baggies did manage one moment of danger when Saido Berahino headed against the bar.

But it was game over 14 minutes from time when Silva cleverly diverted home a Stevan Jovetic shot. WIL POWER: Wilfried Bony

celebrates after scoring his first Man City goal ( inset)

WINNER: Wilfried Zaha