Manchester City vs. QPR: 5 Things We Learned in City's Easy Etihad Win

Manchester City got back to winning ways with a 3-1 home triumph over Queens Park Rangers, after a hugely dominant home performance which might have taught manager Roberto Mancini a few things about his side.

Yaya Toure got the ball rolling for City with a finish from close range in the first half, but despite dominating proceedings the home team did not add to their lead before the break.

Bobby Zamora had City fans thinking "here we go again" as he nodded in from a yard out after Joe Hart denied Andrew Johnson to equalise, but just three minutes later City were back in front courtesy of Edin Dzeko's header.

Carlos Tevez scored a late third after City were made to suffer a little more than was necessary considering their control of the game.

Here are five things we learned from Saturday's game.

Edin Dzeko got the nod from manager Mancini to start up front against QPR, and he will perhaps be pleased to have gotten his name on the score sheet as a reward.

Despite his lead-restoring strike—a header from two yards, just three minutes after QPR had equalised—Dzeko's all-round game and approach play was nothing short of atrocious on his first league start of the season.

Poor control, a lack of vision and no acceleration about his movement whatsoever meant that City's attacking moves frequently broke down when the Bosnian became involved.

With Sergio Aguero injured and Mario Balotelli left on the bench this was an opportunity for Dzeko to stake a claim for a regular starting place.

Despite his goal, it's hard to argue that he did that.

Yaya Toure's 15th minute strike looked like it would be the catalyst for an easy Manchester City win after he put his side 1-0 up against QPR.

City had utterly dominated without letting the away team get a sniff of the ball; by the time the goal went in the Citizens had completed over 120 passes, QPR just 20.

They had further chances to increase their lead before the break but for all their passing and neat approach play, City didn't seem to have the real cutting edge to finish QPR off, and as a result the game was a lot more nervy for them in the final stages than it should have been.

All of the problems between Manchester City, Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tevez from last season appear to be well and truly in the past.

From the forward not wanting to play for the team and the manager not wanting the player on his squad—to scoring three goals in his first three games of the season this term.

Tevez netted City's first against Southampton, the late equaliser against Liverpool and now the goal to wrap up the win versus QPR.

It was mentioned in some circles that City might have won the league with less problem if Tevez had been around for the whole of last season; by the looks of the start of this campaign there could be a point to be had there.

With Aguero out injured, Tevez is more important than ever to Manchester City.

Against Liverpool at Anfield last week, City fielded a 3-5-2 system.

Despite having plenty of early play they were soon overrun by the home team for large spells, who prevented Manchester City from playing through the middle of the park and from getting the ball to their wing backs in advanced positions.

At the Etihad Stadium versus QPR, City switched back to the back four system of last season, with Samir Nasri and David Silva causing problems by coming infield off the flanks.

City as a result had much more presence in the final third and were able to retain the ball better, with Jack Rodwell and Yaya Toure a controlling presence in midfield.

Of course, there was a quality gulf in the opposition to take into account as well, but on this occasion a return to the more established tactical approach worked well for City.

With five goals conceded in three matches so far this term, City have hardly been the formidable defensive force of last season which saw them leak only 29 goals all season.

They have, nonetheless, accumulated seven points from those three matches with two home wins and a creditable draw at Anfield after being second best for much of the contest.

Southampton had a real go at the champions on the opening day too before losing out.

QPR were well and truly out-played on Saturday—but were still in the game with a chance of snatching a point as injury time loomed large.

All in all there are still plenty of aspects of the game for City and Mancini to work on over the coming weeks—despite all that, the champions remain in touch at the top without having lost, and those points garnered are more important than any perceived weaknesses which have, thus far at least, not led to any defeats.

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