Aguero brace ends Guardiola's barren run

West Bromwich - Sergio Aguero's brace ended Pep Guardiola's worst run as a manager as Manchester City turned on the style with a 4-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Aguero has been linked with a move away from City after being dropped for a Champions League tie at Barcelona recently, but he underlined his value with clinical first-half goals at the Hawthorns.

The Argentine forward, who had gone six games without a goal, then turned provider for Ilkay Gundogan on 79 minutes before the latter sealed it in the closing moments.

Victory ended City's six-match winless run in all competitions and was the perfect preparation for its Champions League clash with Guardiola's former side Barcelona on Tuesday.

City, who made eight changes from Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup, rarely looked in danger and controlled much of the game as it matched its biggest Premier League win of the season.

West Brom forced the first opening when Nacer Chadli's first-time effort swerved away from goal after Craig Dawson won the ball on the byline and Salomon Rondon teed him up.

City responded with a floated effort from Raheem Sterling that forced a save from Ben Foster and the visitors had the ball in the net in the ninth minute when Aguero squared for Nolito to tap home, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

City began to exert control and forced two chances in quick succession.

First Sterling tested Foster with a fierce volley that was palmed away, then John Stones produced a glaring miss after being left free from Nolito's cross, firing wide from five yards out.

Given the pressure from the visitor, it was no surprise when City took the lead.

Gundogan split the Baggies defence as Aguero peeled off his man and slotted home across Foster from an acute angle.

City fans didn't have to wait long for a second goal as Aguero claimed his 13th of the season.

It was a thumping strike to live long in the memory as he took advantage of some sloppy passing from Dawson and Darren Fletcher just outside the Albion box to rifle an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net.

City ended any faint hopes of a Baggies comeback 11 minutes from time when Aguero produced a lovely dink over the defence to beat the offside trap for Gundogan to slot home.

Gundogan added a fourth on 90 minutes when he stroked home first time after substitute Kevin De Bruyne broke down the left and crossed.