Match-report Manchester City 3 Sunderland 0
thesun
ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV starred as Manchester City strolled to victory at home to Sunderland.
Roberto Mancinis men, who drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in midweek, will have been grateful for the dip in quality of opposition.
Kolarov opened the scoring five minutes into the game, his scorching free-kick too powerful for Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
But it was not until the hour-mark that City made their lead more comfortable with substitute Aguero turning in a Kolarov ball at the near post.
And Milner wrapped up the win in the 89th minute with a deflected freekick as City continue their ascent up the Premier League table.
Micah Richards made a surprise return from an ankle injury in his place while Joleon Lescott was also restored to the defence.
Yaya Toure took over as skipper, playing alongside Gareth Barry in midfield, while Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli started up front.
Sunderland had former City winger Adam Johnson in their side hoping to make a point, but the England international was unable to make an impression.
City took the lead after Tevez was crudely brought down by Carlos Cuellar on their first attack.
The Argentinian had broken clear but was felled by a late tackle on the edge of the box and referee Lee Probert brandished the yellow card.
The City supporters felt it should have been red but they did not complain for long as Kolarov stepped up to curl a superb free-kick past Mignolet at the near post.
OPENER ... Aleksandar Kolarov curls home a free-kick
City went close to a second as a Tevez shot was deflected into Pablo Zabaletas path but Mignolet making amends for any fault on his part for Kolarovs goal saved at point-blank range.
Tevez drove the ball back across goal after it found his way back to him but Zabaleta was unable to turn it in.
Balotelli then did win a free-kick on the edge of the box after being caught in the face by Gardners boot.
Kolarov took aim once again but his effort was deflected behind for a corner, perhaps with a suspicion of handball, by Seb Larsson.
Balotelli curled an effort wide and felt he should have had another free-kick after clashing with John OShea.
David Silva was clipped by Danny Rose but the referee played advantage and the Sunderland defender got back to prevent a Milner cross reaching Balotelli.
Barry drove wide as City continued to push and Sunderlands best efforts amounted to ineffective shots from James McClean and Steven Fletcher.
SERBED UP A TREAT ... Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates with Mario Balotelli
City started the second half well with Toure cutting inside and forcing Mignolet to palm over.
A chance fell to Richards from the resulting corner and his shot at the second attempt was cleared off the line by Rose.
Sunderland finally began to apply some pressure but a powerful header by Fletcher, which brought a fine save from Joe Hart, was ruled offside.
Kolarov then produced a fine tackle to deny Johnson a clear run on goal.
That served to shake City back into life and a sliding Balotelli was inches away from diverting a Kolarov cross towards goal.
Richards then brought a good diving save out of Mignolet with a powerful header from a Milner cross.
The second goal finally came as Aguero on moments earlier for Balotelli raced to the near post to turn in a vicious Kolarov ball from six yards.
EXTENDING THE LEAD ... Sergio Aguero makes it 2-0 to City
That effectively signalled the end for Sunderland but City wanted more for their dominance.
Silva played in Tevez, who drove narrowly wide, and then roles were reversed as the Argentinian rounded Mignolet to set up the Spaniard, whose sublime chip hit the bar.
Barry tried his luck but Gardner headed away before Richards again saw a chance blocked on the line in a crowded penalty area.
Richards was wild with an attempted overhead kick moments later and Toure was narrowly off-target with a long-range effort.
City threatened again after another slick move involving Richards, Aguero and Tevez but OShea managed to foil them.
Yet they would not settle for two and Milner whipped in a free-kick from the left of the box which took a slight deflection off the head of Gardner to evade Mignolets grasp.
ARGEN-BEAMER ... Sergio Aguero celebrates his strike
Roberto Mancinis men, who drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in midweek, will have been grateful for the dip in quality of opposition.
Kolarov opened the scoring five minutes into the game, his scorching free-kick too powerful for Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
But it was not until the hour-mark that City made their lead more comfortable with substitute Aguero turning in a Kolarov ball at the near post.
And Milner wrapped up the win in the 89th minute with a deflected freekick as City continue their ascent up the Premier League table.
Micah Richards made a surprise return from an ankle injury in his place while Joleon Lescott was also restored to the defence.
Yaya Toure took over as skipper, playing alongside Gareth Barry in midfield, while Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli started up front.
Sunderland had former City winger Adam Johnson in their side hoping to make a point, but the England international was unable to make an impression.
City took the lead after Tevez was crudely brought down by Carlos Cuellar on their first attack.
The Argentinian had broken clear but was felled by a late tackle on the edge of the box and referee Lee Probert brandished the yellow card.
The City supporters felt it should have been red but they did not complain for long as Kolarov stepped up to curl a superb free-kick past Mignolet at the near post.
OPENER ... Aleksandar Kolarov curls home a free-kick
City went close to a second as a Tevez shot was deflected into Pablo Zabaletas path but Mignolet making amends for any fault on his part for Kolarovs goal saved at point-blank range.
Tevez drove the ball back across goal after it found his way back to him but Zabaleta was unable to turn it in.
Balotelli then did win a free-kick on the edge of the box after being caught in the face by Gardners boot.
Kolarov took aim once again but his effort was deflected behind for a corner, perhaps with a suspicion of handball, by Seb Larsson.
Balotelli curled an effort wide and felt he should have had another free-kick after clashing with John OShea.
David Silva was clipped by Danny Rose but the referee played advantage and the Sunderland defender got back to prevent a Milner cross reaching Balotelli.
Barry drove wide as City continued to push and Sunderlands best efforts amounted to ineffective shots from James McClean and Steven Fletcher.
SERBED UP A TREAT ... Aleksandar Kolarov celebrates with Mario Balotelli
City started the second half well with Toure cutting inside and forcing Mignolet to palm over.
A chance fell to Richards from the resulting corner and his shot at the second attempt was cleared off the line by Rose.
Sunderland finally began to apply some pressure but a powerful header by Fletcher, which brought a fine save from Joe Hart, was ruled offside.
Kolarov then produced a fine tackle to deny Johnson a clear run on goal.
That served to shake City back into life and a sliding Balotelli was inches away from diverting a Kolarov cross towards goal.
Richards then brought a good diving save out of Mignolet with a powerful header from a Milner cross.
The second goal finally came as Aguero on moments earlier for Balotelli raced to the near post to turn in a vicious Kolarov ball from six yards.
EXTENDING THE LEAD ... Sergio Aguero makes it 2-0 to City
That effectively signalled the end for Sunderland but City wanted more for their dominance.
Silva played in Tevez, who drove narrowly wide, and then roles were reversed as the Argentinian rounded Mignolet to set up the Spaniard, whose sublime chip hit the bar.
Barry tried his luck but Gardner headed away before Richards again saw a chance blocked on the line in a crowded penalty area.
Richards was wild with an attempted overhead kick moments later and Toure was narrowly off-target with a long-range effort.
City threatened again after another slick move involving Richards, Aguero and Tevez but OShea managed to foil them.
Yet they would not settle for two and Milner whipped in a free-kick from the left of the box which took a slight deflection off the head of Gardner to evade Mignolets grasp.
ARGEN-BEAMER ... Sergio Aguero celebrates his strike
