Four goals before the break set City up for a convincing 4-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at the New Stadium this afternoon.

Jack Hobbs headed home a Nicky Adams corner in the 12th minute for the opener, Lloyd Dyer got the second in the 18th minute, followed by a first City goal for Dany N'Guessan (pictured) on 28 minutes and a second for Dyer in the 37th minute for a 4-0 advantage at the interval.

There were no more goals after the break with the visitors having done enough to notch the first win wearing the new black away kit, the many substitutions in the second period never altering their domination or seeing the clean sheet threatened.

City started brightly and they did not have long to wait for their opener as, in the 12th minute, a perfectly flighted right wing corner from Nicky Adams was clinically headed home by the towering figure of Jack Hobbs in the middle.

Play had been pretty even up to then and indeed Hobbs was called upon at the other end less than a minute later to clear from home striker Jake Robinson who was closing in on goal.

But City were in command and a fine dipping shot from Richie Wellens in midfield just cleared the bar by a fraction from 20 yards.

Moments later, though, City doubled their lead with a well-worked strike, a clearance from goalkeeper Chris Weale being flicked on by Howard for Adams to send Dyer through and chip home beyond the advancing keeper in the 18th minute.

The home side then carved out a chance when good work by Robinson sent Disley through but his shot was easily saved by Weale.

Fine work by Adams then helped carve out City's third in the 28th minute, starting on the right, he beat a trail of challenges to feed Dyer on the left and his cross was brilliantly steered home by N'Guessan via the right-hand post, the new man's first City goal.

A couple of minutes later, a City break served up another chance for Dyer but this time he sent his shot wide of the far post from the left side.

However, the City winger did not have long to wait for his second as, in the 37th minute, a long throw by Robbie Neilson, something the Blue Army are going to see more of, was turned on by Howard and Dyer gleefully blasted the ball home.

The game was ended as a contest but the home side tightened up after the break to prevent further embarassment and City's chances were a lot fewer in the sceond period. Adams had a free kick saved after Dyer had been chopped down and towards the end another Adams efforts from just outside the area flew inches over with the keeper beaten.

But by then the scoreline hardly mattered and the practice element saw the introduction of Paul Dickov, Luke O'Neill, Andy King Max Gradel and Aleksandar Tunchev at various intervals to give them valuable pitch time.

City boss Nigel Pearson, back to his first professional club, albeit at a brand new stadium, was delighted with the afternoon's work.

He said: "I was very pleased. It was a pretty comprehensive win for us. It was nice to score some goals and look dangerous. The second half was a different story but I am pleased with how we acquitted ourselves today."

City 4-4-2 Weale; Neilson, Morrison, Hobbs, Berner, Adams, Oakley, Wellens, Dyer, Howard, N'Guessan. Subs O'Neill (60 for Berner), Logan, A King (65 for Wellens), Tunchev (60 for Neilson), Gradel (72 for Dyer), Dickov (46 for N'Guessan).

Shrewsbury 4-4-2 Arestidou; Holden, Cansdell-Sherriff, Langmead, McIntyre, Dobson, Disley, Murray, Neal, Robinson, Riza. Subs Dunfield, Leslie (72 for Murray), Hooman, Gray (30 for Dobson), Simpson (55 for Riza)

Referee S Rushton

Attendance 2,030 (Away 488)