Premier League: West Ham 0 Manchester City 3

Manchester City moved to equal top with a 3-0 win over a West Ham side who are stuck firmly at the opposite end.

Roberto Mancini, who celebrates a year in charge of City next week, saw his side cruise past a poor West Ham without hitting top gear, with only goal difference keeping Arsenal, who play Manchester United on Monday, above City.

City started with a more attacking formation than they are known for, with Jo joining Mario Balotelli in attack and Yaya Toure just behind.

It was no great surprise that they created the best of the early chances, with Jo cutting in from the left to have one low cross well saved, and another turned wide of the far post from a few yards out by Balotelli.

West Ham struggled to gain possession and offered little except for long-range shots from Scott Parker, Junior Stanislas and Pablo Barrera.

None hit the target, but the same could not be said of the rocket of a shot with which City opened the scoring.

Toure had shown his intent with a run that ended with a shot that Robert Green saved easily.

But minutes later he gave the goalkeeper no chance when Gareth Barry cut back a low pass from the left wing.

Toure hit the ball first time with his left foot, a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area that was still rising as it hit the roof of the net, with Green unable to get near it.

It could have been 2-0 four minutes later, when Balotelli headed David Silva’s corner kick towards goal, only for Barrera to clear off the line.

While City played a simple, short-passing game, West Ham could hardly get the ball off them, and when they did gain possession, struggled to string more than two passes together.

Frederic Piquionne headed just over the bar shortly before half-time, but that was the closest West Ham got to goal.

It was only a matter of time before City increased their lead.

Toure had a firm shot well saved, but when he broke away again in the 73rd minute, leaving James Tomkins in his slipstream, his shot cannoned off the near post and rebounded into the net off Green’s back.

There was no way back for the Hammers, and Adam Johnson’s goal nine minutes from time just added to their misery.

Silva ran towards their defence before slipping the ball behind Matthew Upson, allowing substitute Johnson to run it, take it round Green and fire home from a tight angle.

City’s supporters sang Mancini’s name, and chanted “Boring, boring City” to mock the most common complaint aimed at their side, and even a late West Ham goal, when a header from Tomkins was deflected in by Kolo Toure, could not curb their enthusiasm.