First half goals from James Collins - who put past his own keeper - and Sergio Aguero proved enough to seal the points during what was perhaps the most comfortable 90 minutes of the campaign.
The only blight on another wise enjoyable afternoon was a facial injury to David Silva, the prognosis of which is as yet undetermined.
Last weekend’s derby defeat to Manchester United had seen City drop to the final berth of the Champions League places and with Liverpool only four points behind, the Blues needed to make sure they rediscovered their swagger in the remaining games.
As disappointing as the last few months had been, Manuel Pellegrini admitted finishing outside the top four was unacceptable so a home game against a stuttering West Ham United could not have been better timed.
The visitors arrived having won just one of their previous eleven Premier League games as a once-promising campaign gradually limps towards a mid-table finish
...City 2 West Ham 0...
Pellegrini made four changed to the side that started the derby with Aleks Kolarov, Fernando and Frank Lampard all recalled.
Chelsea’s win over United on Saturday meant a win for the Blues would take them to within a point of third place again while giving everyone a much–needed fillip in the process.
City settled to the task quickly with West Ham sloppy in possession and looking a pale shadow of the side that won the first meeting between the teams at Upton Park in October.
Jesus Navas was a constant threat in the early stages as the Hammers were forced to camp in and around their own box and it seemed that it would be only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.
Silva went close a couple of times and Aguero mis-hit another chance from close range before City finally took the lead on 18 minutes with a bizarre goal.
Navas raced down the right flank and his attempted cross was spectacularly volleyed over Adrian in the West Ham goal via the crossbar by James Collins who has surely never hit a sweeter strike.
Navas continued to cause havoc and 18 minutes later he claimed another assist as the Blues doubled their lead with a fine team goal
...City 2 West Ham 0...
Yaya Toure won the ball just inside his own half and then set Aguero darting forward. He held the ball long enough to play in the sprinting Navas who immediately returned the pass for Aguero to sweep home his 26th of the campaign.
It was no more than City deserved having dominated the half and it effectively sealed the points with the best part of two thirds of the game still remaining – barring a miraculous recovery from the visitors.
It was more of the same after the break with the Hammers pinned back for long periods and the visitors were more than a shade lucky not have Cheikhou Kouyate sent off after he caught Silva plum in the face with his elbow just past the hour-mark – an injury that ended the Spaniard’s afternoon as he was stretched off after a lengthy stoppage in some considerable discomfort.
The eight-minute delay disrupted City’s flow somewhat and though there were half-chances at either end in the time that remained but the outcome was never in any real doubt as the Blues coasted to victory and closed the gap on the teams above.
