Bolton Wanderers 2 Manchester City 3: Aguero unable to shine but Silva provides City’s polish

By the time the wantaway forward went on as a second-half substitute, City had scored three times through first-half goals from David Silva, with a shot Jussi Jaaskelainen should certainly have saved, and Gareth Barry, and another right at the start of the second half from Edin Dzeko.

The only negative for Mancini was that City allowed Bolton to stay in the game, Ivan Klasnic reducing the deficit just after Barry’s superb strike and Kevin Davies netting the final goal of the game in the 62nd minute.

The hosts, who like City had won 4-0 on the opening day of the season, kept battling away but there was no doubt the visitors fully deserved the three points to take with them on the short journey home.

Wanderers were certainly eager to stamp their mark on the game early on but as well as being firm in the tackle they were also troubling City with the speed of their attacks.

Chris Eagles tested Joe Hart with a curling free-kick from 25 yards inside four minutes and Zat Knight’s shot ran just past a post after a corner rebounded to him.

City’s first incisive attack could have brought the first goal with 15 minutes gone as Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov combined to set up former Leeds United winger James Milner but Jaaskelainen was out smartly and pulled off a good stop.

Sergio Aguero was given his first start after his stunning showing as a substitute on his debut against Swansea, but he was badly off target as he turned Dzeko’s cross over the bar from 10 yards out.

With 25 minutes gone, City did take the lead, although only Jaaskelainen will know how Silva’s dipping effort from 20 yards evaded his clutches.

City thought they had scored a second five minutes later when Micah Richards crossed for Aguero to tuck away only for referee Mike Jones to penalise the full-back for a nudge on Martin Petrov.

Mancini’s side were certainly bossing things now, though, and Aguero missed another very presentable chance, heading wide from a cross by the impressive Dzeko.

Bolton were struggling to cope and they were two down with eight minutes to go in the first half through a goal of real quality from Barry, who gave Jaaskelainen no chance with a drive into the top corner from 25 yards. However, Bolton grabbed an unlikely foothold in the game less then two minutes later when a cross from former City winger Petrov was tucked away neatly by Klasnic.

What Bolton needed was a good start to the second half but they got exactly the opposite as Dzeko seized on a flick from Milner before holding off Knight and drilling a shot past Jaaskelainen less than two minutes after the resumption.

It was no less than the Bosnian deserved for his impressive all-round display and City continued to pour forward, with the adventurous Kolarov seeing a shot deflected wide.

However, just when it was beginning to look like a case of how many City would score, Bolton found the net again courtesy of a trademark header by Davies from Petrov’s free-kick in the 62nd minute.

The one player who was not really impressing for City was Aguero and with 22 minutes to go he was replaced by Tevez, who received a rapturous reception from the visiting fans despite his wish to leave the club.

City threatened again as Silva, who had been at the heart of all their best play, saw a close-range shot brilliantly blocked by Knight while substitute Adam Johnson jinked his way into the Bolton box but pulled his shot just wide of the far post.

Tevez had been very quiet since coming on and it took until stoppage time for a flash of his talents as he ran purposefully into the box but the eventual shot was weak.

Mancini remains hopeful of tying up a deal for Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri in the next day or so but admits it would be a “big problem” if the Frenchman played for the Gunners in their Champions League game with Udinese on Wednesday.

Manchester City have been chasing Nasri for much of the summer but the proposed deal is still up in the air and the midfielder made his first appearance of the season in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday.

Were Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to select Nasri for their Champions League qualifier in Udine, he would then be unavailable for City throughout the group stages.

Mancini expressed his frustration that the deal has not yet been finalised.

The Italian said: “For 40 days I’ve hoped in two days, three days (it would be done), I don’t know why we haven’t closed it.

“It’s a big problem (if he plays for Arsenal against Udinese) but I’m sure we can close in 24 hours, maybe 48. For Nasri it will be important he can play in all the Champions League matches.”

City showed why they are expected to be title challengers with an impressive display against Bolton, albeit without ever putting the game completely to bed.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle was delighted with his side’s play and attitude against City but was left frustrated by the goals they conceded.

The Scot said: “(My players) more than fought very well, they showed a lot of great quality on the ball and there were some terrific passing moves, accepting you’re playing against an elite club, a club that’s spent vast amounts of wealth, and they’ve assembled a terrific team.

“You have to give credit where credit’s due and the way they can pass and move the ball we’re all aware of because of the quality they have.

“But my disappointment is we probably gifted them one or two of the goals. And if top clubs are going to beat you then let them go and earn it. But they had chances in the game as we did.”