Manchester, Sep 10: Sergio Aguero scored a hat trick as Manchester City overpowered Wigan 3-0 to register a fourth straight Premier League victory.
Aguero finished a pass from David Silva to open the scoring in the 13th minute and added two more with strikes in the 63rd and 69th as City's attacking interplay proved too much for Wigan.
Aguero has now scored five goals in two home games for City.
Carlos Tevez made his first start of the season alongside Aguero up front, hours after City coach Roberto Mancini confirmed he had stripped the Argentine striker of the club captaincy.
Tevez had a hand in Aguero's goal and then missed a 19th-minute penalty before being replaced by Samir Nasri after an hour.
David Silva was the architect behind most of City's attacks and it was a run into the box by the Spanish winger that created the first goal for Aguero.
Tevez scampered down the left and found Silva, whose unselfish pass allowed Aguero to shoot through Maynor Figueroa's legs and into the bottom left corner.
Tevez wasted a chance to put his team two goals up when Silva was fouled by Wigan defender Adrian Lopez in the box, with Al Habsi saving the weak spot kick.
Aguero continued to impress, bending a shot from the left just past the top corner, before England winger Adam Johnson blasted a 25-yard shot over the bar.
Micah Richards hit the underside of the crossbar following a throughball from Tevez and Aguero's effort went just wide shortly after as City threatened to overwhelm Wigan, while City defender Joleon Lescott hit the upright with a header.
Just before halftime, City goalkeeper Joe Hart was called into action to make a one-on-one block on Di Santo after a deflected shot landed at the Wigan striker's feet.
Hart blocked Hugo Rodallega's effort just after the break, but Nasri finally unlocked the Wigan defense, nudging a backheel from Silva into Aguero's path to curl a shot low into the corner.
Aguero's hat trick arrived in the 69th minute, courtesy of more outstanding play from Silva who spun off his markers and delivered a defense-splitting throughball for the Argentina striker to roll past Al Habsi.
With the game wrapped up, Mancini sent on Mario Balotelli for Aguero, who departed to a standing ovation.
Johnson should have made it 4-0 but shot too close to the keeper, and then curled wide when handed another chance. AP
