Manchester City provided the perfect antidote to their Premier League struggles with a clinical display in dumping Leeds United out of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium.

Yaya Toure put the champions ahead as early as the fifth minute, latching on to Carlos Tevez's flick before Sergio Aguero's penalty made it two before half-time.

The Argentine turned provider as Tevez tapped home from close range and Aguero made it four after David Silva's perfect chipped pass as Leeds failed to live with a City side who produced a performance far superior to their meek surrender to Southampton eight days before.

Sergio Aguero
Aguero netted twice as City toppled Leeds

With Leeds, who knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in round four, having failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 20 away games, City sensed blood and they hit the front with barely five minutes on the clock.

Neat interplay between David Silva and Tevez released Toure, playing his first home game since returning from the African Nations Cup. He drew out Leeds keeper Jamie Ashdown before passing into an open net.

City's swashbuckling attacking play, shades of their title winning campaign of last season, was proving hard to live with and Tom Lees' foul on Aguero was indicative of their problems, with referee Mark Clattenburg pointing to the penalty spot, and the former Atletico Madrid forward duly converting.

El Hadji Diouf and Lees both had half chances to cut the deficit, the former heading over before the latter failed to connect with Sam Byram's cross. City's FA Cup keeper Costel Pantilimon saved well from Ross McCormack's free-kick in the visitors' only effort on target in the first half.

Ashdown tipped over Toure's thumping strike in the twilight of the half, but stood no chance of denying Tevez the other side of the break, as Aguero's chipped pass over the Leeds stopper saw his fellow-countryman put the game out of sight with a third.

And the icing on the cake came from Aguero, who was delightfully found by Silva, and netted his second with aplomb.

While their assault on the Premier League title might be all but over for another season, City have at last a foothold in a season littered with disappointments, and Roberto Mancini has a lifeline for his desire to remain at the helm at the Etihad Stadium beyond this summer.

Meanwhile, the result is another reminder of the investment required in Neil Warnock's squad if the club are to return to the top flight any time soon, a wait which next year will mark a decade since their relegation from the Premier League.