West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester City 3 - Report and pictures
West Brom's season began with a heavy defeat as title hopefuls Manchester City turned on the style at The Hawthorns.
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City were on Easy Street in the first half as they cruised into a 2-0 lead thanks to a fortunate goal from David Silva and a fine one from Yaya Toure.
And they added a third through captain Vincent Kompany after the break despite an improved showing from the Baggies, who had paraded record signing Salomon Rondon to the crowd before the game.
It was a chastening start to the campaign for Tony Pulis's men, but less daunting challenges await after a tough opening month.
City made all of the early running with the Baggies struggling to retain possession.
And even before the opening goal, new signing James Chester had to make an important interception for the hosts to prevent David Silva getting the finishing touch to a Jesus Navas cross.
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City maintained their pressure and it was rewarded on nine minutes, although the goal came with a sizable chunk of good fortune.
Navas's pull-back from the right found Toure just inside the penalty area and his shot struck the right instep of Silva, cannoned off both of Craig Dawson's feet and dribbled past Boaz Myhill.
The Baggies keeper appeared to give the shot up as a lost cause, but replays suggested a quick reaction might have given him a chance of a making a save.
Albion enjoyed a brief spell of pressure but they were soon back under the cosh and found themselves 2-0 down courtesy of a goal of real quality by City on 24 minutes.
Toure cut in from the left and exchanged passes on the edge of the box with Wilfried Bony before curling a scorching shot into the top corner of the net.
If Myhill's decision was under question for Silva's opener, he had no chance to stop Toure's second.
It might have got worse for the Baggies when Aleksandar Kolarov galloped unchecked down City's left flank and delivered a cross for Bony 15 yards out.
But the striker's shot deflected for a corner off Dawson.
Big-money signing Raheem Sterling should have marked his City debut with a goal late in the first half when he exploited a worrying amount of space between Chester and Dawson and raced onto a through-ball, finding himself in a one-on-one with Myhill.
But the England youngster produced a tame shot and Myhill made the most of the opportunity to make a smart save.
Moments later Saido Berahino, who had moved from a central role out wide in a mid-half reshuffle, raced onto a James Morrison pass and found the net but his celebrations were cut short by a linesman's offside flag.
Albion (4-4-2): Myhill 5; Chester 5, Dawson 5, Lescott 6, Brunt 6; Gardner 5, Fletcher 6, Morrison 6, McClean 5 (Yacob, HT 6); Lambert 6 (Anichebe, 74, 5), Berahino 7 (McManaman, 80). Subs (not used): Olsson, Ideye, Sessegnon, Rose (gk).
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Mangala, Kompany, Kolarov; Toure (Demichelis, 80), Fernandinho; Navas, Silva, Sterling (Nasri, 74); Bony (Aguero, 63). Subs not used: Zabaleta, Denayer, Iheanacho, Cabellero (gk).
Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral)
Attendance: 24,564 [/breakout]
The Baggies looked grateful to reach half-time without further damage as they headed for the dressing room looking to regroup.
Sterling had another great chance to add City's third early in the second half when he once again outpaced Dawson and Chester and burst into the Baggies box.
But his shot from a tight angle was saved smartly by Myhill.
And the hosts came out with more intent after the break and raised the volume in the stadium.
They won a free-kick for a foul on Craig Gardner which summer signing Rickie Lambert curled an inch over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
They then missed a glorious chance to halve City's lead when the hard-working Berahino latched onto a chipped pass from Morrison but the youngster squandered the opportunity.
And the Baggies were punished to the full on 59 minutes when they got in a tangle defending a Silva corner and found themselves 3-0 down.
Joleon Lescott appeared to be blocked inadvertently by James Morrison, allowing former City defensive partner Kompany to score at the near post with his shoulder.
That goal killed any genuine hope of an Albion fightback but they enjoyed some moments of attacking promise in the closing stages.
A neat backheel from Berahino gave the overlapping Chris Brunt a chance to cross and his centre to the near post should have been headed home by Morrison.
But the Scotland international sent his effort too close to keeper Joe Hart and the chance went begging.
And there was a worrying sight for Albion late on when Berahino appeared to be moving gingerly and he was replaced by Callum McManaman.
