Manchester City bounced back from their draw with Borussia Dortmund with a 3-0 win over Sunderland.
City boss Roberto Mancini made seven changes to the side that were fortunate to claim a 1-1 draw with Dortmund in the Champions League. It was partly down to injury and partly down to the short amount of time between games.
It did not affect City in any way as they powered ahead inside five minutes. Carlos Tevez was restored to the starting line-up and he had a hand in the opener. The Argentine's feet were too quick for Carlos Cuellar who hacked Tevez down on the edge of the box. It proved a costly challenge as Aleksandar Kolarov stepped up and rifled a left-footed free-kick in off the post.
Chances came and went for City,with Simon Mignolet making a couple of fine saves and Danny Rose heading off the line to deny Micah Richards.
But just as frustration looked like setting in, Kolarov was played in down the left and he delivered a pin-point cross for Sergio Aguero to score his first goal at the Etihad since the strike that won the Premier League in May.
And the seal was put on the performance in the dying stages as a free kick from JamesMilner flashed off Craig Gardner and over Mignolet.
It won't last.That team has a problem
The swagger did not quench before