Manchester City strolled into the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup with a 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The victory will ease worries in the City squad following two successive defeats, and the players will look to take the momentum into Saturday’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Sunderland, however, will be disappointed with their lethargic showing, despite a bright opening ten minutes, with their players looking laboured and disinterested at times.
Clinical City ease through to the next round
The game was over as a contest after 36 minutes, as Raheem Sterling added to earlier goals from Sergio Agüero, Kevin de Bruyne - as well as an own goal from Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
Dick Advocaat's men will take some encouragement from Ola Toivonen's late header, but on the whole, it was a night to forget for the Black Cats.
The opening exchanges saw an encouraging opening spell for the hosts as they passed well and played with tempo, but Nicolas Otámendi easily dealt with the only real danger they posed, as he turned Jeremain Lens' cross behind for a corner.
Then City created a goal out of nothing, as Patrick van Aanholt clumsily fouled Jesús Navas in the box. Agüero returned to the scoresheet with a cool penalty, sending Mannone the wrong way to open the scoring.
The visitors had half-chances to double their advantage soon after, with Yaya Touré shooting wide of the post before de Bruyne provided Sterling with a chance, but the England international curled his effort straight into the arms of Mannone in-between the posts.
Fabio Borini had the ball in the City net moments later, as he charged through Otamendi and slotted past stand-in goalkeeper Willy Caballero, but referee Roger East deemed Borini to have fouled the defender on his way to goal.
Sunderland then forced a corner, Cabellero tipping Toivonen's header over the bar, but it was City who scored from the resulting set-piece. A lightning quick counter saw Sterling slip through de Bruyne, who finished low into the near corner from a tight angle.
Disappointing night for Mannone on Wearside
Eight minutes later the Citizens were 3-0 up in fortuitous fashion, as Mannone only helped Navas' cross on its way through to Sterling, whose shot crashed off the base of the post - bouncing off Mannone - before trickling into the net.
A comfortable second-half was ensured with a fourth goal nine minutes before the break. Sterling this time added himself to the scoresheet, opening his body to curl into the far corner, as Mannone couldn't get a strong enough hand to the shot.
After the break, the game lacked much real tempo and there were no great chances at either end, with Touré forcing an easy save out of Mannone the only action of the half for the visitors.
But Sunderland did bag themselves a late consolation to give their supporters something to cheer, as a wicked ball in by DeAndre Yedlin – on loan from Spurs – was nodded home at the near post by Toivonen for his first goal in English football.
However, it was long over, and City find themselves in tomorrow’s draw for the Fourth Round, despite conceding a late goal and losing the possibility of what would have been a well-deserved clean sheet, as Caballero made a few good saves upon reflection.