City 3 - 0 Wigan

Not an entirely convincing three-nil win, but a three-nil win nonetheless. City were a little out of sorts first half, but you would be excused from thinking we had lost the game reading some reports across the internet. Yes, Wigan put up a spirited display, and the game was much closer than the scoreline perhaps suggests, but I was still confident City would score before Caldwell's red card - which, from where I was sitting, I couldn't make head or tail of through a wall of players.

Wigan set up like Everton, but with a deeper-lying Cahill figure. Which, mostly owing to the off-the-pace Vieira, meant City really struggled to control the midfield in the first-half. And this led to most of the frustration. Wigan looked assured and comfortable - which is testament to Martinez's style - and they certainly weren't without threat, but City still had the best chances of the half - the block on Adebayor, the close ranger from Tevez, and the Torres-esque curler from Tevez. Scharner forced a good save from Given, but it wasn't close enough to the corner to really worry him.

The red card certainly made things easier. Scharner was pulled out of midfield and suddenly Vieira had the time he needed and De Jong was able to cover better. The increased freedom wasn't without the odd scare from Wigan though and the impressive Moreno fired narrowly wide and Rodallega perhaps should have done better with another close miss.

Ludicrous goalkeeping gave City the break they needed and sparked the 12 minute hat-trick from the outstanding Carlos Tevez. The only worry about these games lately is the gulf between Tevez's performances and some of his teammates. Would City be winning these games without him? His influence in everything City did last night suggests we'd struggle. He is quickly establishing himself as a City legend!

The need for a creative midfielder was there again. When forced, there aren't many options to come from our midfield pairings and with Ireland seemingly unable to play in an ordinary midfield role, that position has to be the priority for the summer. Mancini knows Ireland cannot play in the deeper role and has always adapted the team to suit his position when he has been picked, but the side needs someone who can dictate the game in an attacking sense from midfield, not just in a battling sense. You feel this is part of the legacy of Mark Hughes - attacking in formations earlier this season, but not in personnel.

Not entirely convincing from City, but three points were always going to be the main thing. Keeping within touching distance of Tottenham was important considering their next three games should see them dropping points.