Pep Guardiola hails Ilkay Gundogan as German playmaker runs the show in Cardiff demolition

Pep Guardiola, cowering in the rain with his hood pulled up, left the swaggering to his players as normal service resumed for Manchester City.

There was no prowling, demonstrative return for the Spaniard, forced to watch from the stands in midweek as his side crumbed against Lyon. Instead, it was his players that were back with a bang.

Neil Warnock had told his side to expect a "kick in the backside" - it was exactly that, delivered with panache. Two Riyad Mahrez goals from the bench, a dominant midfield display from İlkay Gündoğan and a relentlessly stylish performance proved it remains business as usual at Manchester City. But Guardiola insisted his dugout presence had no influence. "I don’t play, my friend," he said afterwards. "The managers are there to be there when they have doubts, to support them."

He was more keen to discuss a man-of-the-match display from Gündoğan, who scored and was heavily involved in three other goals. "The best this season," said Guardiola of his performance. "He always plays good too but today was excellent, today the Gündoğan we know came back."

The poor, soggy home fans were barely given a moment to cheer as the heavens opened. Warnock had already poured cold water on the home supporters by dismissing his side's chances in his programme notes. "We know that results against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City aren't the results that will ultimately define our season," he said.

He said afterward that the goals knocked the "stuffing out of us". "The quality was there for everybody to see. It's not going to define our season but it's just going to knock our chins down today," he said.

As Aguero and Sane, his affro heavy and sodden in the relentless rain, found their range with a couple of early efforts, the Manchester opener became an inevitability as Gündoğan imposed himself. The breakthrough came on the half hour as he notched a neat ball through to Bernardo Silva on the right-hand side of the box. Silva then slotted across to Aguero, who put the opener away with ease.

City doubled their advantage just four minutes later, Gündoğan finding Sane out on the right. His deflected cross was met at the near post by Bernardo Silva whose backwards looping header dropped into the far corner.

Gündoğan, easily the the star of the first half, saved his best for the third goal, shortly before half-time. He teased one-twos out of first Sane and then Raheem Sterling, before effortlessly squaring up his body and curling the ball beyond Neil Etheridge from 20 yards.

The second half was a canter for City, particularly after Warnock was forced to withdraw Sane's man-marker, Lee Peltier, who tumbled and appeared to dislocate a shoulder just moments after the restart.

Riyad Mahrez, eager to impress, got in on the scoring just five minutes after being introduced for Aguero. He slotted away comfortably from close distance after Gündoğan again provided, this time with a carefully-weighted low cross from the left. Mahrez then doubled his contribution in style, rifling home from distance after brilliantly creating space for himself with a swivel.

The last time these two teams met sparked a bitter war of words between Guardiola and Warnock over an ugly lunge by Cardiff full-back Joe Bennett on Sane. Bennett was dropped for this game, but there would be a new pantomime villain for the away fans to boo. Shortly before the break, Joe Ralls launched a woefully-late challenge on Gündoğan, who was left writhing in pain as Ralls was booked.

4:54PM

Full time: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle

It's all over at Selhurst Park.

4:54PM

Full time: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle

It's all over at Selhurst Park.

4:54PM

Average touch positions (full time)

4:53PM

Full time: Leicester 3-1 Huddersfield

The referee has seen enough at King Power Stadium and blows the final whistle.

4:52PM

Average touch positions (full time)

4:52PM

Full time: Leicester 3-1 Huddersfield

The referee has seen enough at King Power Stadium and blows the final whistle.

4:52PM

Cardiff were blunt in attack

Cardiff managed just two shots on target all game.

4:52PM

Full time: Cardiff 0-5 Man City

It's all over at Cardiff City Stadium.

4:52PM

Full time: Cardiff 0-5 Man City

It's all over at Cardiff City Stadium.

4:52PM

Average touch positions (full time)

4:52PM

Full time: Burnley 4-0 Bournemouth

The final whistle blows at Turf Moor.

4:52PM

Full time: Burnley 4-0 Bournemouth

The final whistle blows at Turf Moor.

4:51PM

Average touch positions (full time)

4:47PM

GOAL!

A goal from Riyad Mahrez for Man City makes the score 0-5.

4:47PM

Man City are shooting on sight

The visitors have fired in 20 shots with ten of them on target.

4:47PM

One-way traffic at King Power Stadium

Leicester are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to seven from Huddersfield so far.

4:47PM

GOAL!

A goal from Ashley Barnes for Burnley makes the score 4-0.

4:43PM

It's been a mismatch at Selhurst Park so far

It's been all Crystal Palace, with the hosts racking up 15 shots so far - Newcastle have managed just six in reply.

4:42PM

GOAL!

Ashley Barnes makes it 3-0 and puts Burnley firmly in the driving seat now.

4:34PM

GOAL!

A goal from Jamie Vardy for Leicester makes the score 3-1.

4:25PM

GOAL!

A goal from Riyad Mahrez for Man City makes the score 0-4.

4:25PM

One-way traffic at Cardiff City Stadium

Man City are dominating this game, firing in a total of 15 shots compared to two from Cardiff so far.

4:25PM

GOAL!

A goal from James Maddison for Leicester makes the score 2-1.

4:03PM

Second half: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle

We're back under way at Selhurst Park.

4:03PM

Second half: Leicester 1-1 Huddersfield

The second 45 has begun at King Power Stadium.

4:03PM

Second half: Cardiff 0-3 Man City

The second 45 has begun at Cardiff City Stadium.

4:02PM

Second half: Burnley 2-0 Bournemouth

The action restarts at Turf Moor.

3:49PM

Half time: Leicester 1-1 Huddersfield

The teams head in at the break at King Power Stadium.

3:48PM

Half time: Leicester 1-1 Huddersfield

The teams head in at the break at King Power Stadium.

3:48PM

Average touch positions (half time)

3:48PM

Half time: Cardiff 0-3 Man City

The teams head in at the break at Cardiff City Stadium.

3:48PM

Half time: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle

The half-time whistle blows at Selhurst Park.

3:48PM

Average touch positions (half time)

3:48PM

Cardiff have barely tested the visitors' goal

Cardiff managed just a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes

3:48PM

Half time: Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle

The half-time whistle blows at Selhurst Park.

3:48PM

Half time: Burnley 2-0 Bournemouth

The half-time whistle blows at Turf Moor.

3:48PM

Half time: Cardiff 0-3 Man City

The teams head in at the break at Cardiff City Stadium.

3:48PM

Average touch positions (half time)

3:48PM

Half time: Burnley 2-0 Bournemouth

The half-time whistle blows at Turf Moor.

3:48PM

Average touch positions (half time)

3:44PM

GOAL!

It's cruise control for Man City now! Ilkay Gündogan makes it 0-3.

3:42PM

The shot count is similar

Leicester and Huddersfield have both attempted five shots each.

3:41PM

GOAL!

Aaron Lennon adds a second for Burnley - it's now 2-0!

3:41PM

Man City defence unworried so far

The Cardiff attack haven't been able to threaten the visitors in the final third.

3:39PM

GOAL!

Matej Vydra scores for Burnley to make it 1-0!

3:36PM

Cardiff respond

A first attempt at goal from Cardiff - Man City have had four shots of their own so far.

3:35PM

GOAL!

Cardiff up against it now - Bernardo Silva makes it 0-2 to Man City.

3:33PM

Neither side able to dictate the game so far

Bournemouth enjoying slightly more of the ball, with 274 touches to 244 from Burnley.

3:32PM

Neither side taking control of the game yet

Crystal Palace having more of the ball so far, with 201 touches to 172 from Newcastle.

3:32PM

GOAL!

Sergio Agüero scores for Man City to make it 0-1!

3:24PM

It's been a shot-shy start to Cardiff v Man City

Tense opening quarter of an hour at Cardiff City Stadium, as Cardiff and Man City struggle to get shots on goal

3:19PM

GOAL!

An equaliser from Kelechi Iheanacho for Leicester makes it 1-1.

3:11PM

Newcastle threaten for the first time

Following the earlier Crystal Palace effort, Newcastle register their first attempt at goal.

3:11PM

Man City enjoying plenty of touches of the ball so far

Man City have had 134 touches of the ball compared to 44 by Cardiff.

3:10PM

Bournemouth have their first sight of goal

Bournemouth respond to the earlier Burnley effort with their first shot of the game.

3:09PM

Leicester hit back

Leicester register their first shot, in response to two so far from Huddersfield.

3:05PM

GOAL!

Zanka strikes early to open the scoring - it's 0-1 to Huddersfield.

3:01PM

Kick off: Crystal Palace vs Newcastle

The action gets started at Selhurst Park.

3:00PM

Kick off: Burnley vs Bournemouth

They're off and running at Turf Moor.

3:00PM

Kick off: Cardiff vs Man City

They're off and running at Cardiff City Stadium.

3:00PM

Kick off: Leicester vs Huddersfield

We're under way at King Power Stadium.

2:11PM

Team news - Leicester vs Huddersfield!

2:10PM

Team news - Crystal Palace vs Newcastle!

2:09PM

Team news - Burnley vs Bournemouth!

2:08PM

Team news - Cardiff vs Man City!