Gabriel Agbonlahor bounced back from his England snub with an eight minute hat-trick as Aston Villa poured more misery on Mark Hughes' Manchester City side with a 4-2 win in the Premier League opener at Villa Park.
Agbonlahor was left out of the squad by Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly with the Czech Republic but took out any disappointment he may have been feeling on City in devastating fashion.
It was also a perfect way for Agbonlahor to celebrate after signing a new four-year contract with Villa on Thursday.
His Villa team-mate Ashley Young, overlooked as well by Capello, was also in impressive form as he laid on two goals in an impressive all-round display by Martin O'Neill's side.
Villa attacked with great purpose with John Carew dominating in the air and City only briefly threatened after a defensive mix-up handed it a penalty converted by Elano.
It was another blow after the shock UEFA Cup reversal by Danish side FC Midtjylland on Thursday.
Little went right for City after it suffered a pre-match setback when striker Valeri Bojinov was injured in the warm-up and he was replaced by 19-year-old Ched Evans with Felipe Caicedo being drafted in as a substitute.
It had been scheduled to be Bojinov's first competitive game after a year out with a knee injury he sustained against Manchester United and he appeared on the touch-line at the start of the second period with his right leg in plaster.
Villa made a promising start with Carew causing plenty of problems in the air - and the Norway international twice went close to breaking the deadlock.
Carew was first to react to a corner from Ashley Young but his glancing header flew just past the far post. Then the Villa striker got on the end of another corner - this time by Gareth Barry - and forced Joe Hart to save away to his right.
Michael Johnson blocked a close-range drive from Ashley Young and Carew's first-time low drive had Hart sprawling across his goal to collect.
City threatened for the first time when Kelvin Etuhu went past Nicky Shorey on the outside before firing a low attempt across the face of Brad Friedel's goal with no-one able to apply a finishing touch.
But then want-away midfielder Barry squandered a good opportunity for Villa after 26 minutes.
Nigel Reo-Coker burst down the right flank and his powerful cross was only parried by Hart into the path of Barry but from eight yards out he hooked the ball wide.
Brad Friedel had to make his first save of note after 30 minutes when he got his body behind Martin Petrov's low drive after good play by Gelson Fernandes set up the opportunity.
City defender Tal Ben Haim became the first player to receive a yellow card after 33 minutes for a late challenge on Barry who needed treatment but was able to continue.
Villa needed only two minutes of the second period to break the deadlock through Carew - last season's top marksman with 13 goals.
Barry found Ashley Young in space on the left flank and the winger sent over the kind of pinpoint cross which Carew thrives on as he sent a powerful header past Hart from six-yards out.
City tried to respond instantly and Luke Young did well to block a powerful drive from 15-yards out by Elano.
Friedel finger-tipped a low cross shot