Dunne injury keeps him out of play

Richard Dunne was a major absentee for Manchester City as Stuart Pearce began his first full season as Blues boss against West Brom at Eastlands.

Dunne had been expected to skipper City in the absence of Sylvain Distin but his foot injury had not healed to the extent the big Irishman had hoped, leaving Pearce with a defensive hole to fill.