City shake off their reliance on Tevez

Carlos Tevez returned to Manchester City colours but Roberto Mancini’s side showed they no longer need to rely on the Argentinian for goals in a fluent win over Bolton that took them to the top of the Barclays Premier League table.

By the time the want-away Argentinian came 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, a fine Gareth Barry drive, 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 down the M61.

Wanderers were certainly eager to stamp their mark on the game, and they were firm in the tackle and troubled City with the speed of their attacks.

But once the score reached 3-2, City’s Sergio Aguero, unimpressive in the main, was replaced by Tevez, who received a rapturous reception from the visiting fans despite his wish to leave the club.

Tevez had just 22 minutes on the field and it took until injury time for a flash of his talents as he ran purposefully into the box, but the eventual shot was weak.