text: As composed and as comfortable as Manchester City were here at the Etihad, performances like this succeed only in highlighting the full extent of their failure this season. In Sergio Aguero they boast the joint leading scorer in the Barclays Premier League. Here against West Ham he scored his 20th of the campaign. And in David Silva and Jesus Navas, not to mention a seemingly revitalised Yaya Toure, they had players far too accomplished for the quality of this opposition. But such a dominant, determined display must leave the club’s owners wondering why on earth this was only their third win in nine games after a run of six defeats in their previous eight. Why, even when West Ham were as abject as they were until City lost Silva to serious injury, they have been unable to play with such confidence more frequently. Sergio Aguero slotted Manchester City into a two goal lead after a fine flowing counter attack by the home side against West Ham . The Argentine striker sprints away in celebration having fired in his 20th league goal of the season to put Manchester City 2-0 up at the break . Jesus Navas (right), who provided the assist for Aguero, congratulates his team-mate as Manchester City celebrated going 2-0 up at the Etihad . West Ham defender James Collins (centre) watches on in despair as his miss-timed clearance loops over Adrian for an own goal . Manchester City (4-5-1): Hart 6; Zabaleta 6.5, Demichelis 6, Mangala 7, Kolarov 6.5; Lampard 6 (Fernandinho 88), Fernando 6.5, Navas 8, Toure 7, Silva 6.5 (Nasri 75); Aguero 7.5 (Dzeko 90) Subs not used: Sagna, Caballero, Boyata, Pozo . Booked: Navas, Silva . Scorers: Collins OG 18, Aguero 36 . Manager: Manuel Pellegrini 6.5 . Man of the match: Jesus Navas . West Ham (4-3-3): Adrian 6; Jenkinson 6, Collins 5, Reid 5.5, Cresswell 5.5; Noble 5, Song 5 (Jarvis 66), Kouyate 6; Downing 4.5, Cole 4.5 (Nolan 66), Valencia 6 . Subs not used: Carvalho, O'Brien, Amalfitano, Jaaskelainen, Burke . Booked: Kouyate, Downing . Manager: Sam Allardyce 5 . Referee: Anthony Taylor 6.5 . Attendance: 45,041 . Sergio Aguero capped off a fine Manchester City counter attack (above). CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE . Presumably a victory that strengthens City’s position among the Champions League places, on a weekend when Manchester United lost, eases the pressure on Manuel Pellegrini. But there is sure to remain a fair amount of frustration in Abu Dhabi that the last few months have proved so problematic. By the end of this encounter the greater, more pressing, concern was for the welfare of Silva. Injured from what both managers agreed was an accidental elbow in the face from Cheikhou Kouyate midway through the second half, the Spanish international required oxygen before leaving the pitch on a stretcher after eight minutes of treatment. He was then taken to hospital. But other problems nevertheless remain for City’s manager Pellegrini when he had to wake to headlines being generated by the notoriously vocal agent of Toure, who reportedly accused the Chilean of being ‘a weak manager’ as well as criticising other prominent members of the club hierarchy, too. Pellegrini was asked to respond but declined to comment. With managers such as Jurgen Klopp now available for hire, these stories are poorly timed for Pellegrini. But he can at least take comfort in the way his team responded to that crushing defeat at Old Trafford the previous weekend. ‘After two defeats in a row it was a very important win,’ added Pellegrini. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini watches on at the Etihad Stadium as his side seeked to get back to winning ways on Sunday . Cheikhou Kouyate (left) tries to keep possession under the challenge from Manchester City skipper Yaya Toure . English duo Mark Noble (left) and Frank Lampard vie for the ball as West Ham traveled to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City . Aleksandar Kolarov goes down under the challenge of West Ham defender Carl Jenkinson in the penalty area but was only awarded a corner . With another match here at home coming next, against Aston Villa, City’s manager is sure to be encouraged by the form of Aguero. Until Sunday he had failed to score a Premier League goal from open play at the Etihad since November 2. But the goal he scored in this contest was neatly taken; much more like the striker City’s subdued supporters have grown to admire. He thrived on the possession City were enjoying — 75 per cent for the first 15 minutes — and joined Silva and Alek-sandar Kolarov in threatening West Ham’s goal early on. City’s opening goal, scored after 18 minutes, was an absolute horror for West Ham. First came Aaron Cresswell’s failure to win an aerial contest with the diminutive Navas, and then a spectacular own goal from James Collins. Winger Stewart Downing (centre) attempts to avoid the attention of Manchester City full back Aleksandar Kolarov at the Etihad Stadium . Argentine right back Pablo Zabaleta reacts after referee Anthony Taylor awards a freekick to West Ham for a foul on Alex Song (right) Adrian (centre) desperately attempts to keep out a deflected James Collins clearance but the ball ends up in the back of the net . In trying to intercept a cross from Navas, the West Ham centre half succeeded only in scoring with a sliced volley, the ball spinning off his boot and over the head of Adrian before flying home via the underside of the crossbar. If it was a little unfortunate for the visitors it remained a product of the pressure City were exerting. A West Ham side probably unsettled by the uncertainty surrounding their own manager offered little in return. Carlton Cole almost seized on a mistake from Martin Demichelis only for Joe Hart to block his shot, while City’s goalkeeper then marked his 28th birthday by denying Enner Valencia. West Ham centre back is left stunned after his mis-timed clearance turned into an unfortunate own goal during the first-half . Sergio Aguero collects the ball after Manchester City's opener despite West Ham keeper Adrian's (centre) best efforts to keep it out . The Manchester City players celebrate having taken an early lead at the Etihad on Sunday against West Ham during the Premier League clash . The control nevertheless remained with City, a second goal arriving in the 36th minute after Toure had regained possession from Stewart Downing. A rapidly executed counter-attack followed, with Aguero and Navas combining impressively before Aguero slotted home his 101st Manchester City goal. In the dug-out Sam Allardyce appeared thoroughly hacked off, and understandably so given the ineptitude of his defenders and his side’s lack of ambition going forward. He responded at the start of the second half by pushing Valencia into a more attacking role alongside Cole. But it was City who continued to press, with Adrian doing well to deny Aguero a second. The injury to Silva — earning Kouyate a yellow card despite the fact that it really didn’t look intentional — disrupted City’s rhythm and gave West Ham a little encouragement. Downing went close, as did Valencia. But to no avail. For once Pellegrini had reason to feel a touch more secure. Manchester City playmaker David Silva slips through a pass during another attack for the home side against West Ham on Sunday . Aguero sprints towards the City fans who erupted into celebration having seen the Argentine score their second goal on Sunday . Frank Lampard lets fire with a shot at the Etihad Stadium but couldn't find the back of the net with this long range effort on Sunday afternoon . England No 1 goalkeeper Joe Hart had a quiet afternoon but still managed to impress with a couple of fine saves to maintain a clean sheet . Navas leaps into action to nod on a pass at the Etihad Stadium with West Ham striker Carlton Cole (right) watching on . Anthony Taylor books West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate (centre) after he appeared to elbow David Silva . Silva had to receive treatment on the pitch for over six minutes after the collision with Kouyate abd was eventually replaced . Silva had to be replaced late in the second-half and exited the filed of play on a stretcher after being hit in the face by Kouyate's elbow . Joe Hart, 28 years-old on Sunday, watches on at the Etihad as his Manchester City side faced West Ham in the Premier League .
target: The home side were gifted the lead after James Collins sliced a cross over Adrian for an astonishing own goal .
  A devastating counter-attacking goal was swept in by Sergio Aguero for his 20th league goal of the season .
  The victory moved Manuel Pellegrini's side back to within one point of Manchester United in third in the league .
  CLICK HERE for the player ratings from the Etihad Stadium after Jesus Navas steals the show .