Big-spending Manchester City claimed a straightforward victory against an insipid Wigan side in difficult wet conditions at the DW Stadium.

A route-one goal from captain Carlos Tevez gave City an interval lead. And Wigan’s inability to clear their lines gifted a tap-in to Yaya Toure midway through the second half.

Chances were at a premium in the opening period, with Tevez the main attacking threat. He flashed a 25-yard drive wide on the quarter-hour mark, having fashioned the chance himself. So it was fitting that he should score, even if the goal was bizarre.

City keeper Joe Hart slipped as he took a goalkick, but the ball found its way to a clean-through Tevez via an inadvertent backward header from Wigan’s Mohamed Diame, and the Argentine lifted his shot over Latics keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

The game was put out of Wigan Athletic’s reach on 70 minutes when poor defensive headers from Steve Gohouri and Maynor Figueroa allowed Tevez time to pick out Yaya Toure with a low ball across the box and the Ivorian made no mistake from six yards.

Diame headed Figueroa’s cross narrowly wide as the Latics stirred into life at last. But it was too little too late.