Manchester City's squad strength was there for all to see as the Blues hammered Aston Villa to go top of the Premier League.
Mario Balotelli, Adam Johnson, Vincent Kompany and James Milner all scored to render Stephen Warnock's effort a mere consolation for the visitors.
Blues boss Roberto Mancini rested David Silva, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League game against Villarreal.
Balotelli's goal was complemented by an industrious performance all over the pitch, reminiscent of his showing in the 4-0 win over Blackburn before the international break, with the Italian starting to look a more mature performer.
Having been relegated to a bit-part role owing to the form of City's other strikers, Balotelli is perhaps one of the few to benefit from the ongoing saga surrounding Carlos Tevez - the Argentinian missing again as his club continue to deal with his alleged refusal to play against Bayern Munich.
Alex McLeish's previously unbeaten men, who included former City favourites Richard Dunne, Shay Given and Stephen Ireland in a line-up showing two changes, arrived at the Etihad Stadium without an away win this season but it did not show as they made a confident opening.
Gabriel Agbonlahor robbed Joleon Lescott but failed to make the most of a one-on-one with Joe Hart and Warnock failed with the follow-up as City struggled to settle.
But Balotelli then decided to wake them up, hitting tamely wide before going closer when his 25-yard curler reared up in front of Given and forced the Irishman to turn it behind.
Balotelli's frustrations at his close shave had drawn some considerable goading from the Villa fans housed behind Given's goal, but he was soon able to silence them.
Johnson's 28th-minute corner hit an unsuspecting Micah Richards and fell perfectly for Balotelli, who produced a razor-sharp bicycle kick to leave Given flat-footed and take his tally of goals against Villa to five in three outings.
Break
City were unable to score again before the break but did so two minutes after it when Warnock slipped as he tracked Yaya Toure's pass, leaving Johnson with a one-on-one that he did not waste.
It was Johnson's second goal in as many games and City thought they had a claim for a penalty a minute later when Balotelli took a tumble while navigating traffic in the area.
Referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved, but City were soon able to score a third without any help from the officials as Kompany, making his 100th start for the club, rose to nod in Johnson's corner with 52 minutes gone.
City's afternoon was slightly soured when Richards limped off just after the hour and, while he was doing so, Villa pulled a goal back as Warnock stormed on to Agbonlahor's cross - taking advantage of Richards' absence - to score.
It only provided momentary solace for Villa, though, who fell three behind again with 20 minutes remaining.
Johnson set up Milner who found the top corner from the edge of the box against his former club for a fine goal.
Silva, on for Toure, then went close after more impressive work from Balotelli, before Owen Hargreaves came on for his first taste of Premier League action since an injury-halted seven minutes for Manchester United last November, immediately launching himself into two tackles as if to prove his fitness.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 1
October 15, 2011
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Hart
(Richards) Touré Kompany `lescott Clichy
Barry De jong
Milner Silva Johnson
Balotelli
Owen Hargreaves.....Silva
Anagram of todays team-sheet: CITY win united lose.
Fantastic win today. I’m off to listen to the Videos on CITY website. I even got my 4-1 prediction right.
I feel light headed at the Summit.
Excellent performance lads! Super Mario had a great game today; what a goal! James Milner was close as MOTM. Top of the Prem; now Villarreal next. Another 3pts please City.
slow stat but otherwise excellent display...well done and keep the faith..
ctid
Great performance from what was not our strongest lineup. Keep feet on the ground, its very early days, give Utd a real shock next sunday. well played all but Ballotell, Johnson andi Milner especially. Good to see Hargreaves come on.
Good job. Someone used to hold the team back and that someone isn't doing it anymore. 4 different goal scorers against a world class keeper wouldn't have happened last season. Well done Mario, you're improving every game and still have a lot more to come. I love it when a manager publicly states his intent and then gets whacked as opposed to leaving unbeaten. Classic.
Sensational, Super, Sublime what more can I say! Fantastic result and before you rags comment on my posting I'm on my Blackberry. what a result going into a tricky week. i was impressed by all today and more Mancini because he didn't hold back even at 3-0 shame about their goal but to get another after was again impressive. Brilliant day, brilliant result top of the table most goals scored most points that'll do for me!! Now the boys must rest and then Villareal as that game is next and more important.
See you all on Tuesday!
A very very very happy CityLady
Anyone else put a grand on Villa getting that goal when we were down to 10 men with a head injury - happens every gosh darn time...........please excuse my horrific language, i never went to finishing school.............
What a great performance from the lads, goes a long way to show that Mancini has everyone in the squad, baring one certain individual, working for each other and for the team. If we are honest with ourselves every true blue has that pessimistic streak after so many years of pain so a small part of me was half expecting one if not all of the following.....
1)A Dunne goal
2)An Ireland goal (guaranteed to come with an excruciatingly smug celebration)
3)A Given penalty save
4)Dunne commiting a careless cack handed donkey-ish challenge on Silva that puts him out for the rest of the season.....followed by a gormless expression of apathy.
Number 4 was the one i was having the real nightmares about. MOTM for me was Super Duper Mario followed closely by Milner. Great to see De-Jong back and great to see Hargreaves getting stuck in, 4-1 without Dzeko, Nasri, Aguerro and only a 25 minute cameo from the magician himself - well done boys, well done Mancini - top of the league going into the derby. So sweet it must surly be the forbidden fruit............delicious.
2-2 Ted?
Crikey, top of the league.......... and theres the rags on here saying that
had won it already!!!
Sets us up nicely for our trip out of Manchester next week.
For such a changed side the result was amazing, Johnson's goal was a great one, but Ballotelli's Kompany's and Milners goals were totally brilliant, Well done everyone, especially Roberto Mancini!
reply great win , second half fantastic , top of the league, no nore to say , scoring freely , 3-4 goals a match , need a win or draw next week against utd to stay top ..amd I am sure we can achieve this , Fergie was lucky today - left his top players on bench considering Liverpool is the biggest game of the season , who is he trying to kid - anything to play down Us , see next week .. City blue moon arrived ,,
top of the league.... United looked totally one dimesional, paper thin all round. Where as City are full on 3D HD.......! Convincing win, with areas for improvement
Nigel de Jong's long pass played in Johnson. Wrong! It was Milner's great cross field diagonal pass.
RICHARD DUNNE, SHAY GIVEN bottle'd it for you lot! anyway congRATS! see you on 23rd.
JAMES MILNERS GOAL WAS THE PERFECT STRIKE & AT THE MOMENT HAS TO BE GOAL OF THE SEASON ! Brilliant team display SUPER MARIO top performance again our squad strength is now realy begining to show, all i have to say is carlos WHO ! Brilliant City FORZA MANCINI !!! CTID BELIEVE.
Completely wrong on the 4th goal, in my opinion one of the best you will see. It was Milner who started the move with the inch perfect cross field ball, not de Jong. He then took up the perfect position to finish the move off. I would be surprised if we see a better goal this season, although no doubt Rooney will win goal of the season for a tap in.
Completely wrong on the 4th goal, in my opinion one of the best you will see. It was Milner's inch perfect cross field ball that played in Johnson, not de Jong. Milner then took up the perfect position on the edge of the area to receive the ball back and lashed it in. I doubt we will see a better goal this year, although no doubt Rooney will win goal of the season for a tap in.
Nice to be top long may it last roll on next week.
I had the privilidge today to be sat in my local bar with 3 United fans who were cheering for Villa. They were certainly well and truly shut up. As a City supporter for well over 50 years I just can not get enough of watching this absolutely superb team. And, at least, 2 of today's goals MUST be worthy of goal of the season.
The real icing on the cake is that we are top of the table with the best goal difference in the Premier League.
No class, no spirit, Mancini out, Tevez in.
Come on Ted - back me up!
Nice win & sets up for a cool week! City looked very comfortable for long periods of the game; I am sure we will meet better sides than Villa this seasaon!
Good goals from Mario & Milner & nice to see Kompany score twice in a week!!
Now for V-real, tricky but we can win that & then arriving at OT as top dog been a longtime since that happened; I also think we are good enough to beat them - of course this is subject to who the ref is:) we all know the history of bias at OT especially when it comes to us. I am sure Aguero will play & score & that Utd will suffer defeat as we show who is the best team. City always;-)
Relentless
Great win!! top of the table, if only I had Balotelli as first goal scorer and not Silva would have been £340.00 up!!!!
Well done lads, great win ! At the moment, we are like a classic,vintage car, difficult to start, but once it gets going, the engine just purrs along. Great team performance !
Hargreaves for the winner next week ???