Manchester City have cruised into a 4-0 lead at the halfway stage of their League Cup tie at Sunderland this evening.

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The visitors took just nine minutes to make the breakthrough as Sergio Aguero slotted in from the penalty spot, after Jesus Navas had been brought down inside the box by Patrick van Aanholt.

Sunderland thought that they had equalised seven minutes later when Fabio Borini latched onto a ball over the top and shrugged off Nicolas Otamendi before firing into the net, but the striker was adjudged to have fouled the Argentine and the goal was chalked off.

John O'Shea then had another chance for the Black Cats with a header from close range that he could only place over the bar, before Ola Toivonen saw his header tipped over.

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City soon punished their opponents for those missed chances by doubling their lead when Kevin De Bruyne was slipped into the box by Raheem Sterling, before firing a strike past Vito Mannone at his near post.

Things got even worse for Sunderland in the 33rd minute as a strike from Sterling hit the post and rebounded back off Mannone and into his own net.

Three minutes later City scored their fourth of the evening when Sterling was slid through on goal by De Bruyne, before confidently finishing past the keeper.