Aguero inspires Man City

Aguero - a £38 million summer signing from Atletico Madrid - had the home fans drooling after he replaced Nigel de Jong on the hour mark at the Etihad Stadium.

Roberto Mancini's men had broken a plucky Swansea side's resolve on 57 minutes when Edin Dzeko slipped the ball home after visiting keeper Michel Vorm had failed to hold Adam Johnson's swerving shot.

Argentina forward Aguero slid home Micah Richards's cross from close range on 68 minutes before he provided the third for David Silva on 71 minutes with a piece of sublime skill.

The ball seemed to be heading out of play, but Aguero did superbly well to flick it back over his head for Silva to finish with some ease.

Vorm had an excellent night in the Swansea goal, but was left with no hope a minute into stoppage time as Aguero whacked a wicked dipping shot over the Dutchman from long range.

Aguero left the pitch clutching the match ball after his outstanding 30-minute cameo with the applause of the majority of a 46,000 crowd ringing in his ears as Manchester City celebrated being the only side to win at home in the Premier League's opening round of fixtures.

On this showing, Aguero seems to likely to be a major star in the Premier League with the 27 goals he netted in La Liga last term a realistic target. There was not much thought of the absent Carlos Tevez when his compatriot Aguero got into his stride.

Yet there seemed little evidence that Swansea - the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League since it was reformed in 1992 - would be subjected to such a flogging as they managed to keep the score goalless at the break.

Brendan Rogers's side built a stout reputation for being good passers of the ball in the Championship last term. Despite not carving out many chances on the night, they managed to limit the home side to few attempts at goal in the opening 30 minutes.

Vorm showed his class with a strong save from a dipping Silva drive on 24 minutes before Silva hit the bar after lifting a shot over Vorm from Johnson's pass seven minutes later.

Dzeko then seemed likely to score seconds before the break when he won space inside the box only for Vorm to dive to save at his feet.

Gareth Barry then saw a shot rebound off the bar in the final passage of play in the half as Swansea escaped to the dressing room without shipping a goal.

Swansea's most notable move of the match arrived early in the second period as Nathan Dyer tackled Silva inside the box before Stephen Dobbie broke upfield.

The Scottish player hammered a shot at goal from distance, but Joe Hart dived to his left to make an agile stop.

Hart was a spectator from there on in as Aguero took centre stage to torment the league newcomers.

The only consolation Swansea have is that Aguero is likely to do this to better teams than them as the season progresses.

Manchester City visit Bolton on Sunday in their second league encounter with Swansea hosting Wigan in a match that looks eminently more winnable for them.