Manchester City's Sergio Agüero slides in his first goal against West Ham. Photograph: John Walton/PA  Sergio Agüero scored twice at the Boleyn Ground as Manchester City – who always win when Sergio scores – finally benefitted from both these things happening away from home in the Premier League. A 3-1 defeat of West Ham was City first away win since Reading in May, but more than that it was a convincingly resilient performance as the home side fought gamely for all their lack of punch in attack, but were undone by City's moments of delicately high class incision in attack.  At a mild and even slightly steamy Boleyn Ground there were cheers before kick-off at the announcement of Carlton Cole's return to the bench for his first home game since being signed by West Ham after being released (also by West Ham). This is shaping up to be one of football's great romances, an Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton of the Premier League years, although perhaps the excitement came in part from seeing a striker of any description on the home bench.  Not that Sam Allardyce has been slow to embrace the tactical possibilities, once again here putting out a five-man midfield mixed-bag with Ravel Morrison and Mohamed Diamé and Kevin Nolan taking turns to play furthest forward. After the stunningly streamlined 3-0 win at White Hart Lane Allardyce already had the scalp of André Villas-Boas dangling from his sporran, and here was the chance to add another well-resourced darling of the tactical classes. Confronted by Big Sam's midfield block, Big Man simply picked his strongest team, with Agüero just behind Alvaro Negredo in attack and the full weight of City's midfield riches in support.  Before long City were moving the ball smoothly through between the lines and dominating possession with Javi García and Matija Nastasic able to play as free men at the back. A goal seemed imminent from the opening moments – and it came after 16 minutes, created by a beautifully nonchalant dummy-walk by Negredo. Yaya Touré played a straight pass down the centre of the pitch and Negredo simply strolled past the ball, allowing Agüero to run through unhindered and ease a low shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.  It was a bafflingly simple goal to concede – cut through the middle – for a team with six men crammed into their midfield. And for a while West Ham did seem disorientated by the relentless movement of David Silva, Agüero and Samir Nasri: Agüero might have scored twice again, the second after a scampering run from right to left that completely baffled the home defence.  After which West Ham crept back into the game, driven on by the aggression of Mark Noble. Silva was booked for a flying ankle-hight tackle on Razvan Rat in extremis on the edge of the penalty area and after 33 minutes Nastasic had to produce a goal-saving interception from Rat's cross as Morrison and Ricardo Vaz Tê shifted a little further forward. By half time City were even hanging on a little as West Ham, finally testing that depleted central defence, forced a series of corners.  City have made a habit of dropping points from winning positions away from home, but here they took a stride towards a first away win of the season by scoring the most West Ham-like of second goals six minutes after the break.  Agüero was fouled by Winston Reid and Silva's dinked free-kick was headed into the top corner via Jaaskelainen's flailing glove: a lovely finish but delivered from an unmarked pocket of space so large an ambitious east London property developer might have been able to fit a small apartment block in it.  West Ham had no option but to attack, with Morrison – subject of some giddy talk this week – helping to spark the fightback. Having eased past García close to goal with a beautiful shimmy of the shoulders, moments later Morrison hooked Stuart Downing's header back across goal, where Vaz Tê produced an athletic overhead volley across Joe Hart from six yards out. A more assertive central defence might have made it harder to score from there. But it was still a lovely finish.  Pellegrini responded by introducing Aleksandr Kolarov for Negredo before – like a man dragging his favourite pair of muddy wellies out of the car boot – introducing James Milner for Nasri. City, breaking quickly through Touré, duly made the game safe with ten minutes left. Agüero carried the ball through the centre then backheeled into the path of Silva's diagonal run. Silva finished beautifully, placing the ball high past Jaaskelainen's right hand and into the top corner, reward for a waspishly incisive performance.
Sergio Agüero scored twice and David Silva once as Manchester City proved too strong for West Ham at Upton Park