An evenly balanced first half saw the sides go in level at half time with a 1-1 scoreline. Kevin Nolan celebrated his second goal in as many games as he put Bolton in front following a long ball by defender Bruno N'Gotty on 25 minutes but no sooner had they kicked off at the restart then City where level, Shaun Wright-Phillips latched onto a ball by Joey Barton before lobbing the Wanderers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, Wright-Phillips was booked for his goal celebration in the first of two yellow cards which was to later see the youngster sent off.
Bruno N'Gotty, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Per Frandsen and Ivan Campo all missed good chances to increase Wanderers lead whilst the City strike duo of Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler both forced Jaaskelainen into action in the Bolton goal.
What was to follow was a sheer embarrasment and an insult to every supporter of Bolton Wanderers Football Club as Kevin Keegan's side came out after the interval with all guns blazing and deservedly brushed their North West rivals aside.
City captain Sylvain Distin was the first to take advantage of the crumbling Wanderers as he converted a cross by Anelka to give City the lead. The former Paris Saint Germain player expertly finished for his first goal of the season against the club who once tried to buy him.
Without pointing the finger from a Bolton point of view it seemed to be Ricardo Gardner who was made vunerable from the runs of Wright-Phillips down the flanks and despite having full back Anthony Barness on the bench the Bolton manager Sam Allardyce chose not to use the player.
Bruno N'Gotty then cleared off the line from Nicholas Anelka but City where to add their third a minute later Wright-Phillips added his second of the game on 56 minutes when he latched onto a pass from USA international Claudio Reyna to fire the ball past an unconvincing Jaaskelainen. The runs of Phillips caused Gardner problems all afternoon and this problem was not rectified allowing the Blues to carry on their onslaught.
Anelka then got onto the scoresheet himself on 58 minutes when his pace took him away from the Bolton defence and the former Arsenal and Liverpool striker beat Jaaskelainen at the near post with a low effort.
Bolton midfielder Ivan Campo then pulled the scores back to 4-2 when he spectaculary hit a left footed effort beyond the former England goalkeeper David Seaman.
Wright-Phillips then blotted his copybook of what was a fine afternoon otherwise for the England U21 midfielder, the 22-year old was dismissed on 61 minutes for a sickening challenge on Bolton defender Simon Charlton. However despite the challenge warranting a straight red card the City perspective would feel aggrieved at the fact that he was booked earlier on in the game by referee Steve Bennett for a trivial incident.
Anelka then added his second and City's fifth to put the game way beyond doubt, Wanderers brought on Mario Jardel and Glen Little to try and stop the rot but the game was by now won and the Trotters couldn't even restore some pride for the travelling support who had paid hard earned money to see their heroes.
Former Sunderland and Rangers midfielder Claudio Reyna then capped off a miserable afternoon for Wanderers when he added the sixth for City with a few minutes remaining in what was the first time City had scored six goals in a Premiership match which would of equalled Wanderers worst defeat had they not scored the two goals.
City where excellent in the second half and thoroughly deserved to win but Wanderers players need to take a long hard look at themselves, they have let the town down and put in a performance which Bolton supporters are not happy with.