City shrugged off both Sergio Aguero's early exit with a groin strain and a poor first half to eventually turn on the style.
And the main beneficiary was Balotelli - starting in place of Tevez, suspended for apparently refusing to play as a Euro substitute, and Dzeko, benched after his strop at being substituted last week.
City chief Roberto Mancini ducked post-match interviews - and questions about Tevez were banned.
But assistant boss David Platt added: "Mario has had a lot of column inches in the last 12 months or so and a lot of it has been negative. That's fine but I think he deserves the plaudits as well."
Italian livewire Balotelli (he's so stylish and he makes everything seem easy) also hit a post before Adam Johnson's superb curler (I think he should always play) on 56 minutes put City on the way.
Hitman Balotelli then volleyed home substitute Samir Nasri's cross just three minutes later. Balotelli looking by far the most menacing of City's attacking options.
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