Yet Clarke had come within moments of orchestrating City's first Premier League defeat since April. His team had taken the lead when the busy Shane Long had exploited City's Achilles heel by dashing between the flat-footed centre-back pairing of Joleon Lescott and a seemingly distracted Vincent Kompany.
Albion had not buckled when Dzeko equalised late on with a header from Samir Nasri's free-kick. And indeed they were pressing for victory when an overhead kick by the substitute Romulu Lukaku had been brilliantly saved by Joe Hart.
"You think maybe you'll get the winner from the resulting corner," Clarke said. "Unfortunately we got done on a counter-attack." What a counter-attack it was, one which, in the manner of its execution demonstrated precisely why City are a good bet to retain their title.
While it is true, as Platt insisted, that his side exuded spirit and determination throughout the game, what that goal showed is the unique edge they have over most of their rivals. It was fashioned by their three replacements. Aleksander Kolarov won the ball on the edge of his area and sent Sergio Agüero sprinting down the right wing. Agüero looked up, saw Dzeko haring through the middle and bent a sublime pass into his path. Without breaking stride the Bosnian joyfully arced the ball past Ben Foster for his third goal of the week.
Kolarov, Agüero and Djeko: it is some Plan B available to Mancini, the sort of resource way beyond his opponents. And he used it to perfection. Carlos Tévez and Mario Balotelli had started the game, the Argentine his usual mix of industry and guile, the Italian his usual mix of eyebrow-raising skill and an incendiary fuse.
However, with time ticking and both tiring as they covered for the dismissed James Milner, Mancini sent for the replacement board. Platt revealed that it had been hoped to keep Agüero, back from international duty only on Thursday, fresh for this week's encounter with Ajax. But needs must. As for Dzeko, his ability to fulfil Plan B is rapidly earning him a soubriquet he dislikes.
"I am not a super-sub and never will be," he said, his face a picture of wounded pride at the very thought. "When you get 10-15 minutes, you can't be sad or angry with the coach. You just have to play your game and do your best. That is in my mind always." Platt, meanwhile, hinted that there may be immediate reward for the Bosnian. "By doing what he has done today in coming on and getting two goals, when you start looking at your next game he goes right to the forefront of your mind," he said.
From that it can be surmised those who finished up front at the Hawthorns will start at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday. In which case Tévez and Balotelli will be held in reserve, just in case. That really is why they are champions.
Champions League watch
Ajax, Wednesday
Last match: Heracles 3 Ajax 3
Frank de Boer's team warmed up for the visit of Manchester City with an exciting draw at Heracles. Ajax wasted a 2-0 and 3-1 lead, with Luis Pedro snatching an injury-time equaliser for Heracles.
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