EVERTON 2, MAN CITY 0
Manchester City passed this stern examination with flying colours as victory at Everton took them to the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Goodison Park had not been a fruitful hunting ground – only one win in six visits before today’s win – which made it an important yardstick as to the progress of the current team.
Goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and substitute Samir Nasri made it nine points out of nine from the first three games.
What is more the three wins have followed complete performances with eight goals scored and none conceded as City are clearly the team to beat and the early favourites for the title as their main challengers falter and lack consistency.
City were impressive at Everton, though there were periods of the game when they had to show their battling qualities as the hosts gave a good account of themselves.
But when you look at the superb saves made by Toffees’ keeper Tim Howard and David Silva being denied by the woodwork, City could easily have won by a four or five goal margin.
A delighted City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “It was important to win here as Everton are a very difficult team to play against, and it has been difficult for Manchester City to win here.
“We are only starting the season and we need to be consistent. We have been that winning three games, scoring eight goals and conceding none.
“Last season we made a lot of mistakes and lost points against the relegation teams, something you cannot afford to do.”
Pellegrini added that it is not just the team but the squad which will be key to any success this season.
“We are only playing one game each week at the moment, but then it will be eight games each month so it will be important to have a squad,” he continued.
City’s manager added that even in their worst moments last season they continued to play attacking and attractive football.
He continued: “It is important to play attacking football and be an offensive team, but also important to know how to defend.
“We have all these things at the moment which makes it an exciting team.”
New £32m signing Nicolas Otamendi did not feature for City as the former Valencia central defender has still to receive his work permit so Eliaquim Mangala continued alongside Vincent Kompany.
City played the same starting line up that kicked off last Sunday’s game against Chelsea.
And they continued where they left off against the champions making an electrifying start in which Aguero could have scored twice in the opening 10 minutes. Each time the Argentine striker was saved by the legs of keeper Howard.
Raheem Sterling, sliding in six yards out, just failed to reach a low cross from David Silva as City remained in the ascendancy.
Everton had the ball in the net, but the referee’s assistant had his flag raised long before Romelu Lukaku had found the net with replays showing the decision was correct.
Seamus Coleman then made a dazzling run and cut inside before shooting into the side netting, though keeper Joe Hart had the effort covered.
Sterling forced a good save from Howard before Everton carved out another chance when Phil Jagielka’s header from a Tom Cleverley corner landed on the roof of the net.
Everton had their best chance of the opening half deep into stoppage time when Lukaku’s free kicked clipped the top of the crossbar.
City came within inches of taking the lead within two minutes of the restart when Sterling played in Silva whose shot struck the upright.
The breakthrough came just short of the hour when Kolarov showed the likes of Aguero and Silva how to finish.
Sterling played a ball inside to Kolarov who, one yard from the byline, beat Howard at his near post as his low shot flew into the far corner of the net.
Howard, who was clearly at fault for leaving his near post unguarded, made amends moments later with a brilliant block to deny Jesus Navas who was clean through on goal.
Everton enjoyed a great spell when they had took chances in quick succession to equalise.
Phil Jagielka was unable to scramble home a corner from Ross Barkley and then Barry’s header from James McCarthy’s shot beat Hart but was cleared off the line by Kompany.
Navas was denied by Howard for a second time when clean through, but City sealed victory when they scored their second goal in the 89th minute.
Subsitute Nasri played a delightful return pass with Yaya Toure and then coolly lobbed Howard from six yards with the deftest of touches.