Sergio Aguero scored a brilliant hat-trick to completely overshadow the return of Carlos Tevez for Manchester City against Wigan.
Aguero was almost unplayable as he vied for the man-of-the-match honours with an equally impressive David Silva.
The Argentinian ace claimed a 13th-minute opener before ensuring City maintained their 100% start by scoring twice in six minutes in the second half.
That made it six goals in four games for City's record buy, putting compatriot Tevez firmly in the shade.
Last season’s top scorer was handed his first start of the season and his less-than-rapturous welcome was compounded by a feeble penalty miss.
Blues boss Roberto Mancini could even afford to leave out Edin Dzeko, City’s four-goal hero at Tottenham last time out, and keep him fresh for the club's Champions League debut against Napoli on Wednesday.
City demonstrated their threat in the opening minutes with both Silva and Joleon Lescott going close. The writing already looked to be on the wall for Wigan, and so it proved as Aguero fired home.
Tevez was involved, scampering down the left before cutting the ball inside to Silva. His feint wrong-footed Wigan and he fed Aguero, on the right of the area, who shot through Maynor Figueroa's legs into the far corner.
Wigan almost got back in the game when Figueroa's ball over the defence caught Vincent Kompany sleeping and Franco Di Santo poked the ball past Joe Hart, but also wide of the post.
And Tevez, recalled after seeking a summer move, hardly endeared himself to the City fans as Ali Al Habsi saved his weak penalty.
Silva won the spot-kick, felled by a crazy lunge from Adrian Lopez, and though Aguero appeared keen to take it, Tevez insisted.
Aguero then curled a shot from the left just past the top corner while Adam Johnson blasted over from 25 yards.
Micah Richards hit the underside of the crossbar after a lovely Tevez through-ball - the assistant referee correctly judging the ball did not bounce over the line - before some more Aguero magic saw the Argentinian go inches wide.
City fans could hardly believe their side were not two up when first Lescott headed against the woodwork and then Yaya Toure rifled the rebound narrowly past the other post.
Wigan had little to shout about and when Victor Moses did get his head to a free-kick, he was unable to find the target, before Hart denied Di Santo after a deflected shot landed at the striker’s feet.
City began the second half in much the same fashion - chances galore without the finishing touch.
Such wastefulness seemed to be inviting Wigan to respond, and they went agonisingly close when the impressive Moses fed Hugo Rodallega, who tested Hart with a fierce drive.
Tevez was then replaced by Samir Nasri and almost immediately the substitute helped City make the game safe, nudging a backheel from Silva into Aguero's path and his perfectly-placed curling shot nestled low in the corner.
Aguero's hat-trick arrived in the 69th minute courtesy of more outstanding play from Silva, who spun off his markers and delivered a gorgeous through-ball. The summer signing just needed to keep his cool, and he did so with aplomb, rolling the ball past Al Habsi.
Johnson should have made it 4-0 but shot too close to the Wigan keeper before curling another late effort wide.
What did you make of another thoroughly-impressive City win? Have your say
Manchester City 3 Wigan 0
September 10, 2011
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Flipping 'eck, Lescott could have had a hat trick today. Brilliant game, glad Wigan turned up, they also played well. LCHJ (Joorabchian, if you hadn't guessed).
Thought we might have come a bit unstuck today, as this Wigan side is OK AND didn't play badly ... but we ran rings around them when we had the ball. The quality of this City side's play is astonishing, I'm LOVIN' it! How long can we keep this up
Only 3?? Mancini out!
Great finishing by Kun, but, my word, David Silva's footballing IQ: Off. The. Scale.
Couldnt get to game but listened to commentary,sounded fantastic again somethings wrong when your a bit disappointed it was only 3-0 maybe im getting spoilt,now its all over im now a bolton fan.
Who's next
If they ever need any half time entertainment at the Etihad all they need to do is have a live feed to the changing room where they can run a bath so David Silva can liven things up a little by walking on water........what a player.
Kun was fantastic again today - the movement, the awarenes, the finishing - as was Nasri when he came on, all the lads were looking sharp and once again a great team performance in attack and defence. That could seriously have been 10 nil and not been a freak result and when you consider we can add the likes of De-Jong, Barry, Dzeko and Hargreaves to that team its towel time because the drooling is un-controllable. Even Tevez is yet to get match sharp - make that two towels..........
On a side note look who scored for Spurs today, what a surprise - we need him to do that against our title rivals and it'll make the deal worthwhile.
MOTM - David Silva - the assist for Aguerros hat-trick was worthy of its own show reel.
Would City have bought Sergio Aguero if they had signed Sanchez?
Just looking in my crystal ball.....ahhhh, I see a Duckie and an Edski...what's that, speak up....Oh, OK...
Apparantly, we have a couple of 'supporters' who reckon that Mancini was listening when they suggested he tightened up the defence after recent lapses...however, as we missed a penalty and hit the woodwork twice they also suggest we should have the forwards in on Sunday for shooting practice!!
Great result, guys, it could have been a potential banana skin if we hadn't treated Wigan with the respect we did.
What's really heartening so far, this season, is the way we keep pressing forward when we get the first goal. It's getting more and more like those magic 60's and 70's days that we old farts have been banging on about for so long!
TTFN
City are just scarily good ..... simply brilliant!
Hoping I got my previous post through, as I'm now down to only one in five making it!
TTFN
Great win football was superb, the only downside was the fans did not wake up till the second goal. Come on boys sing your hearts out for the lads right from the start, we never want to be accused of being a prawn sandwich brigade. Why you would put prawns on bread in the first place beats the s##t out of me.
CLASS !!! CTID BELIEVE.
Why is it that after City went 3 up after 75 mins, we took the foot of the pedal and just passed the ball square and back for last 15 mins. Its so annoying,it appears that after scoring 3 or more goals, we don't want any more. Please City play for full 90mins and kill of opponents where it hurts. I think it will come down to goal difference between us and Utd for title, so come on City we want on average 4 goals a game from our strike force
I am not sure about Aguero is Bebe still up for grabs?
Great performance by City great see Aguero scoring Hat trick we could of had a lot more but we will take 3 Balotelli knows he going to have to give a 100% every game if he is going to get in this team
Nasri, Aguero, Silva. Lethal weapons. I've never seen 3 players look so good together in sky blue!? I think City lady will agree with me ;)
Thanks Garry Cook for what you did for the club. I am not interested in what other people say about you, you have helped make this club great and hope your successor is as good as you....... but keeps his emotions in check.
Best striker in the world, always thought he would be dynamite! Puts paid to all the negativity about needing time to settle in the EPL : Aguero is simply class, way beyond the rest of the so called world class players in the EPL - Torres, Carroll et al what a joke!
That said great team performance Silva exceptional - again, boy is that guy class:) Tevez busy, but not as potent as was. Penalty was dire!
Above all great performance, bring on Napoli - September will prove we are 'simply the best:)'
Away you go.
Could and should have been at least six ! And that wouldn't have flattered us one bit. How it was only 1-0 at half time I'll never know. Missed so many easy chances.
Last 20 minutes was like a testimonial game and I am sure I saw Martinez wave the white flag.
David Silva the man of the match again - even though Aguero got it for his hattrick. He just gets better and better. Only Adam Johnson needs to up his game - just didn't happen for him today. Clichy and Richards looked good both defending and going back.
We just need a new penalty taker...Carlos played well but the penalty was embarrassing.
Roll on City !
It's really hard to dissagree with the sponsers decision to
name Aguero MOM,given he scored a fantastic 3 goals.
But i'm sorry David Silva gets it all day long for me.the lad
is an absolute genious.If Messi did what he did for that 3rd
goal today.Sky sports news would be repeating it all year.
A very proud Salford blue,1 of many.
Unfair.
Unfair.
We are only warming up
Well done, i must say Man City are doing very well . I think the best news for City is Cook leaving, you will be far better off without that clown. From a Manchester United fan.
Sounds daft but at half time i was a bit concerned. We should of been 5 up but whilst only 1 up Wigan always in it. Second half was just stepped up another gear. This is the greatest City team in 38 years i have witnessed. Off the topic any others on the Air Singapore flight to munich leaving 0910 day of the match returning 0600 following day? Should be a great trip
To be honest at times it looked like a practice game and we should of had 5 or 6 and thats being kind. Aguero in front of goal is so cool, doesnt panic at all as he showed and deservs all the plaudits.
David Sliva, what can i say other than absolute quality and must be one of the best players not only in our team but the premiership. His touch and vision and the way he keeps th ball in difficult situations puts him up there as one of the best ive seen in blue.
At 3-0 the game was over but i do wish we would go for the jugular rather than play the game out but thats just me being greedy.
Nice to see Nasri make his debut and get an assist how important is he going to be this season.
Tevez made a decent contribution but once not that long ago he was the kingpin, the one who would produce the goods but not anymore. The penalty was poor by his standards and for once carlos will have to fight a little harder to make the first eleven.
Never thought i would say that!
Well done boys.