After a dire first half, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side upped the pace and made the breakthrough in the 67th minute when substitute Darius Vassell crossed from the left for midfielder Stephen Ireland to volley his first goal of the season.

The victory takes City to 25 points in the Premier League, one above Chelsea and two behind Manchester United and Arsenal.

Last season City won only five home games, scoring a top-flight record low of 10 goals. They have already surpassed both those marks less than a third of the way through this campaign.