Goals at the end of each half from David Silva and James Milner helped Manchester City to a flattering 2-0 win over Leicester City at Eastlands this evening.

The Spaniard tapped the hosts ahead on 45 minutes in a crushing blow for Leicester, who defended admirably throughout the first half.

The champions continued to toil in the final third after the break but found an all-important second through Milner in the dying stages.

Here, Sports Mole analyses the players' performances at the Etihad.

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Goal

Joe Hart: Relatively untested throughout the 90 minutes, but did do well to tip the ball away from Kramaric when the Leicester striker attempted to go around him in the first half. (6/10)

Defence

Bacary Sagna: Quiet game for the former Arsenal right-back in a rare start for the champions. (6/10)

Martin Demichelis: The Argentine did not have to be excellent by virtue of his team's dominance, but he was brilliant when he needed to be and produced one or two fine challenges. (7/10)

Eliaquim Mangala: Looked worryingly vulnerable and conceded possession cheaply at times. Still a major question mark over the £30m man. (5/10)

Aleksandar Kolarov: Got forward brilliantly as per usual and delivered some fine crosses into enemy territory - including the one that led to Silva's opening goal before the break. (7/10)

Midfield

Fernando: Sat in front of the back four well but continues to look a liability in possession. (5/10)

Yaya Toure: Like a number of Man City players, Toure slowly but surely grew into the game after a quiet first half. Not his best but by no means at his worst. (6/10)

Jesus Navas: One of few Man City players to perform well in both halves, the Spaniard gave Konchesky a host of problems and bagged an assist for the second with a wonderful cross. (7/10)

David Silva: Broke the deadlock at a key time in the game and regularly looked threatening. Would have secured 'assist of the season' had Bony brought his shooting boots. (8/10)

Attack

Wilfried Bony: Had two chances to mark his full debut with a goal but fluffed his lines with both. Also lucky not to concede a first-half penalty. Poor overall from the £25m man. (5/10)

Sergio Aguero: Produced an anonymous first-half display, but gradually came into the contest and would have scored if not for Schwarzer's heroics. (6/10)

Substitutes

James Milner: Put the result beyond doubt in a week where Pellegrini urged him to sign a contract extension. (6/10)

Frank Lampard: Started a few Man City counter-attacks with clever play in his 10-minute cameo. (5/10)

Edin Dzeko: Only had a little over five minutes to make an impact, but never really got going. (5/10)

Goal

Mark Schwarzer: This one would have been the cricket score that the bookies thought if not for Schwarzer. Superb performance from the 42-year-old. (8/10)

Defence

Danny Simpson: Had no answers for the questions that Silva regularly posed him and could have done more to prevent Kolarov's cross in the build-up to the costly opener. (5/10)

Wes Morgan: Could have done a bit better for both goals but was relatively solid other than those two blemishes. (6/10)

Matthew Upson: One of the reasons why Leicester looked a little shaky in defence after the break. (4/10)

Robert Huth: The big German defended admirably and proved an asset when it came to defending set pieces. Continues to prove a shrewd signing by Pearson. (6/10)

Paul Konchesky: Struggled with the pace of Navas throughout his 57-minute spell and never looked assured in possession. (4/10)

Midfield

Riyad Mahrez: Unlucky not to grab an equaliser after his left-footed volley bounced off the post. Anonymous other than that. (4/10)

Matty James: His set-piece delivery was not up to par and the midfielder's decision making in counter-attacks undermined Leicester's effort tonight. (5/10)

Esteban Cambiasso: Used possession cleverly as usual but struggled to have a major impact. Also cleared a Bony header off the line early on. (5/10)

Jeff Schlupp: One of Leicester's better players overall but did cheaply concede possession shortly before the hosts opened the scoring seconds before the half-time break. (6/10)

Attack

Andrej Kramaric: Dreadfully unlucky not to win a penalty after the referee ruled that the foul was outside the box, but went close from the resulting free kick. Should not have been subbed off. (6/10)

Substitutes

Jamie Vardy: Good cameo after proving effective in both ends of the field, but should have tested Hart with a volley that he sent well wide of the target. (6/10)

David Nugent: Added barely anything to Leicester's attack when Pearson switched up his system. (4/10)

Written by
Shane Callaghan