West Brom vs Manchester City: Sergio Aguero double ends winless run as Pep Guardiola's side go top
West Brom 0 Manchester City 4: Ilkay Gundogan grabbed two of his own for the visitors
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Your support makes all the difference.Sergio Aguero bagged a double to end Pep Guardiola's blues as Manchester City turned on the style with a 4-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.
The Argentina international fired home in the 20th and 28th minutes then turned provider to set up Ilkay Gundogan on 79 before the latter added a fourth at the death.
Victory ended Guardiola's worst run as a manager - six matches without a win in all competitions - and was the perfect preparation for their Champions League return against Barcelona on Tuesday night.
City, who made eight changes from Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the EFL Cup, rarely looked in danger and controlled much of the game as they matched their biggest Premier League win of the season.
West Brom forced the first opening however when Nacer Chadli's first-time side-footed effort swerved away from goal after Craig Dawson won the ball on the byeline and Salomon Rondon teed him up on the angle with his back to goal.
City responded with a floated effort from Raheem Sterling that forced a falling save from Ben Foster.
The visitors had the ball in the net in the ninth minute when Aguero squared for Nolito to tap home but the Argentinian was correctly flagged offside.
City began to exert control on proceedings and forced two chances in quick succession.
First Sterling tested Foster with a fierce volley that was palmed away after a clearing header by Dawson.
Then John Stones produced a glaring miss after being left free from Nolito's cross, firing wide from five yards out.
Given the pressure from the visitors, it was no surprise when City took the lead.
Gundogan split the Baggies defence as Aguero peeled off his man and the Argentinian slotted home across Foster from an acute angle.
Aguero's 12th goal of the season ended a six-match drought and was his sixth in nine games against West Brom.
Aguero was in superb form and set up the next chance when he robbed Darren Fletcher in midfield and fed Gundogan, whose pass released Nolito.
His shot beat Foster but hit the covering Gareth McAuley in front of the line.
City fans didn't have long to wait for a second goal however – and it was that man Aguero again.
It was a thumping strike to live long in the memory as he took advantage of some sloppy passing from Dawson then Fletcher just outside the Albion box to rifle an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net.
That was the cue for some showboating from City, who were happy to keep the ball for periods.
Albion became increasingly frustrated but with no one more than referee Lee Mason, who punished the hosts for a string of minor offences to earn the wrath of The Hawthorns crowd.
City started the second half as they ended the first – in control of the game.
Two minutes after the break, David Silva's skidding left-foot drive clipped Nolito and deflected just wide.
Then McAuley got a vital foot to deflect Aguero's drive over the bar as City pressed for a third goal.
Gundogan was next to try his luck when he attempted to pick his spot with his left foot inside the box but his side-footed effort was deflected and trickled wide.
West Brom made a double substitution six minutes after the break when Jonathan Leko and James Morrison replaced Jonas Olsson and Fletcher.
And although Morrison's first action was a booking after catching Stones late, the changes seemed to inspire the home side.
Brunt set up Rondon with a pass that had keeper Claudio Bravo racing to the edge of his area and the £12m record signing headed narrowly wide.
Albion remained in the game and Chadli whistled a drive that arrowed a few feet wide after a break by Rondon, then Brunt's daisy-cutter free kick was smothered by Bravo.
But City were always a threat and Sterling screwed his shot over after some pinball in the Albion box.
West Brom should have scored in the 72nd minute but Rondon miscued from six yards out after James McClean broke down the left and crossed low into the box.
City ended any faint hopes of a Baggies comeback 11 minutes from time when Aguero produced a lovely dink over the defence to beat the offside trap for Gundogan to slot home.
Gundgoan added a fourth on 90 minutes when he stroked home first time after substitute Kevin De Bruyne broke down the left and crossed.
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