Tony Pulis salutes battling West Brom despite Manchester City defeat

The Baggies were outplayed by Pep Guardiola's team at the Etihad Stadium and found themselves three-nil down early in the second half.

But Hal Robson-Kanu scored a consolation goal four minutes from time during a late flourish.

Albion have struggled for goals recently and Pulis believes it was an important confidence-booster going into the final game of the season against Swansea this Sunday when a top-half finish could be on the line.

"City deserved to win the game they were better than us," he admitted. "The two goals in five minutes set them up.

"The pleasing thing from our point of view is the reaction from the players at three-nil. We thought we were staring down the barrel of a hatful of goals. But Hal's goal was important for us.

"I said to them afterwards, I was impressed with the attitude, they kept going the lads, they kept having a go, even after playing on Friday night against the champions and coming up here. I was pleased with that."

The defeat dropped Albion down to ninth in the table after they had sat in eighth place for the whole of 2017.

The lowest they can finish this season is 11th, but if Leicester lose to Tottenham on Thursday they will be all-but guaranteed a top-half finish.

Albion have now won just one of their last 11 games, but Pulis doesn't think his team have been the masters of their own downfall.

"I don't think we've shot ourselves in the foot in respect of not trying and not having a go," said Pulis. "There's such a thin line between winning and losing and you've got to take your chances.

"Not this game, but other games, we've been well in it. Even against Chelsea on Friday night we had two opportunities, if we score those we go on and win the game.

"That little bit of quality we need. We've been a little bit unfortunate at the back end of the season to catch Chelsea and Man City when they both desperately need to beat us.

"That makes it even more difficult. Just look at City. Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane. They're wonderful players, they're absolutely outstanding players who can turn the game upside down just like that.

"And that's why City have spent enormous amounts of money on those players, because they win you games.

"We've got to recognise what we're facing and what we're up against."

Salomon Rondon was brought off for Robson-Kanu with an injury but Pulis reckons he'll be fit for the Swansea game on Sunday.

"Salomon looked as though he hurt his hamstring," said Pulis. "I think he'll be alright."