Gary Owen expects Albion to battle at City
Former Albion and Manchester City midfielder Gary Owen is preparing for a tale of two managers at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
While Baggies boss Tony Pulis has got his side moving forwards, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is under pressure.
And Owen has warned the Premier League champions to expect a war of attrition against Pulis's men at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
The 56-year-old, who made his name with City before moving to The Hawthorns, believes Pulis's side will make life hard for their under-fire hosts.
The Baggies have failed to win in seven games at the Etihad Stadium and head north tomorrow to take on a City side still smarting from Champions League elimination and Premier League setbacks that look set to see the trophy heading to Chelsea.
However, Owen expects the visitors to make life tough for City under Tony Pulis.
He said: "I saw a team in Albion who looked lost earlier in the season, but then Tony Pulis came in and things changed.
"Any side that Pulis manages is hard to beat and that that has always been the way whenever they have come to City.
"They have always been hard to play against and I would expect Albion to be the same at the weekend.
"I know everybody will turn up expecting City to win and they will be favourites, but they won't find it easy against Albion."
While Pulis has turned the Baggies around and moved them within touching distance of Premier League safety, Pellegrini finds his position being questioned less than a year after he delivered the top-flight crown.
With Barcelona ending his side's Champions League campaign at the last-16 stage and Chelsea now closing in on the top domestic honour, the Chilean looks set to end the season without a trophy.
And Owen, who is a regular at the Etihad Stadium, claims the year of under-achievement has left Pellegrini's position precarious.
Owen said: "How can you say he is secure when you have owners who want progression each season?
"It will all depend how the owners view it. Only they know what the future is.
"But do they view progression as winning two trophies one year and no trophies the next?
"I would be surprised. They want to win something every year and this year it doesn't look like we're going to.
"It is frustrating because last time we won the title we handed it to Manchester United the following season, when they won the league by 15 points.
"And this year we look like handing it to Chelsea because they are well ahead at the moment.
"Everyone will have been disappointed with the result in Barcelona, but when they players analyse that game they will know they could have lost 9-0 – and I'm not exaggerating.
"Joe Hart made 10 world-class saves. It was probably the best goalkeeping performance I have ever seen.
"Now we have another important game against Albion, because while there is still a mathematical chance to catch Chelsea we have to keep going.
"And we also have to keep that group of teams who are breathing down our neck at bay.
"Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are all winning games, at the moment, and if we can't win the league then we have to make sure we finish second."
