Manchester City cruised into the fourth round of the League Cup by thrashing struggling Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light this evening.

The visitors took just nine minutes to make the breakthrough as Sergio Aguero slotted in from the penalty spot, after Jesus Navas had been brought down inside the box by Patrick van Aanholt.

Sunderland thought that they had equalised seven minutes later when Fabio Borini latched onto a ball over the top and shrugged off Nicolas Otamendi before firing into the net, but the striker was adjudged to have fouled the Argentine and the goal was chalked off.

John O'Shea then had another chance for the Black Cats with a header from close range that he could only place over the bar, before Ola Toivonen saw his header tipped over by Willy Caballero.

City soon punished their opponents for those missed chances by doubling their lead when Kevin De Bruyne was slipped into the box by Raheem Sterling, before firing a strike past Vito Mannone at his near post.

Things got even worse for Sunderland in the 33rd minute as a strike from Sterling hit the post and rebounded back off Mannone and into his own net.

Three minutes later City scored their fourth of the evening when Sterling was slid through on goal by De Bruyne, before confidently finishing past the keeper.

Jeremain Lens threatened to pull a goal back for the hosts just after the hour mark, but his powerful effort was hit straight at the keeper.

The Black Cats worked another opening as DeAndre Yedlin played through Borini, who saw his effort kept out by Caballero.

Sunderland were finally rewarded for an improved second half when Toivonen got in front of the keeper to head in a cross from Yedlin, but it made little difference to the final outcome as City comfortably booked their passage through to the next round.