Barclays Premier League: Manchester City Vs Norwich Match Report - Manchester City thrash Norwich

Manchester City highlighted their credentials as title contenders with an emphatic win over lacklustre Norwich.

Joe Hart’s first-team omission became an almost insignificant side story as Manchester City stormed to a 7-0 victory over Norwich City.

Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko added goals five, six and seven after the break as the match lived up to its goal-rich reputation, with 25 having been scored in the previous four top-flight meetings between the two sides.Bradley Johnson’s own goal put City ahead before David Silva, Matija Nastasic and Alvaro Negredo struck.

The win, City’s biggest in the Premier League, moved them up to fourth in the table, while Norwich dropped into the bottom three.

It was as impressive an attacking display from Manuel Pellegrini’s side as they have produced this season as they continued their dominance on home soil this season - they have won all five Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium. But City’s strength at home had not been the talking point in the build up to kick-off.

The England goalkeeper was dropped for the Premier League clash in favour of Costel Pantilimon, who ultimately had little to do as his outfield team-mates ran riot.

In addition to the change in goalkeeper, Negredo replaced Javi Garcia in the only other alteration to the City side that started a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last Sunday.

Chris Hughton also made a double change to his Norwich side from last weekend’s goalless draw with Cardiff City, bringing Johnson and Steven Whittaker in for injured duo Alexander Tettey and Robert Snodgrass.

The hosts dominated possession in the early stages, but they had to wait until the 15th minute for a clear goalscoring opportunity - Samir Nasri drifting into the area from the left before firing an effort against the outside of the post.

City had a slice of fortune as they broke the deadlock a minute later. Silva saw a shot blocked by Russell Martin in the penalty area, before an Aguero strike took a huge deflection off Johnsonand looped over a stranded John Ruddy.

And City were two up within five minutes of going ahead, as Aguero cut the ball back for an advancing Silva, who made no mistake in sending a low drive beyond the Norwich goalkeeper.

The goals kept on coming for Manuel Pellegrini’s men with Nastasic the next to add his name to the score sheet after 25 minutes - heading home from a corner via another significant deflection off Martin.

Negredo compounded Norwich’s misery 10 minutes before the break as he made it four from close range, although there were suspicions of offside against Aguero in the build-up.

Norwich finally gave Pantilimon something to do in the 38th minute, as the Romanian stopper got down well to touch Anthony Pilkington’s effort wide of his post.

The half-time break provided some brief relief for Norwich, who were outclassed once again in the second period.

Toure curled in goal number five from a 20-yard free-kick on the hour mark as the match increasingly became a damage limitation operation for Hughton’s charges.

However, intent on causing even more carnage in the Norwich defence, Aguero added a sixth from the centre of the penalty area in the 71st minute, before Dzeko completed the rout four minutes from time from the edge of the box.

Best of the match:

Man of the match: Sergio Aguero loves playing against Norwich. Has now scored six in four starts against the Canaries, could have had more.
Goal of the match: Yaya Toure’s free-kick opened the floodgates in the second half.
Save of the match: John Ruddy endured a busy afternoon but made a fine diving save late on to deny Jesus Navas.
Attempt of the match: Aguero met Silva’s corner on the volley first time but it flashed wide.
Talking point: Are Chris Hughton’s days numbered? Humiliating defeat keeps Norwich in the bottom three.

Match of the Match: Sergio Aguero
Flop of the Match: Jonny Howson