MANCHESTER CITY 5 EVERTON 0

JOE ROYLE made his name as a player at Goodison Park before eventually going on to manage Everton, but the Manchester City boss gave his first club no favours as the Sky Blues recorded their biggest win in the Premier League.

City ended a run of six games without a league win after romping into a three-goal lead thanks to Paulo Wanchope, Steve Howey and Shaun Goater.

Wanchope scored his seventh goal of the season from close range on 14 minutes after midfielder Kevin Horlock sent in a powerful free-kick from 25 yards that Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard could only palm into the path of the Costa Rican striker.

The home side made it 2-0 on 23 minutes when Horlock this time delivered an inch perfect corner for former Newcastle defender Howey to head home from six yards.

City then killed Everton off in the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Nicky Weaver launched the ball upfield for Wanchope. He flicked on to Goater who held off defender David Weir and slipped the ball past Gerrard for his first goal of the campaign.

And Everton were lucky not to go in four down at the break when Gerrard saved brilliantly from Shaun Wright-Phillips after more good work by Wanchope down the right.

The result was also perfect for Richard Dunne who replaced Spencer Prior at centre-half to make only his third start for City since being off-loaded by Everton boss Walter Smith for £3million.

Dunne had a solid game at the back as Everton's rare attacks were easily dealt with, while at the other end the visitors could have done with the Republic of Ireland international in their defence as they struggled to cope with City's relentless attacks.

The Everton backline were caught out once again on 54 minutes when Gerrard, under heavy pressure from Wanchope, could only punch tamely straight to Paul Dickov. The substitute, who had replaced the injured Goater, fired the ball into the net to make it 4-0.

Just when City thought they could do no wrong, midfielder Jeff Whitley missed an absolute sitter after running through on 66 minutes. But with only the keeper to beat, he sidefooted the ball hopelessly wide from 12 yards.

Then, one minute later, Everton's misery was compounded when Gary Naysmith touched Laurent Charvet's cross past his own keeper to concede a fifth goal to City - who before the match had managed only 18 goals in 16 games.

Click here for Joe Royle's post-match interview, courtesy of Skysports.