Robbie Fowler and Jon Macken therefore led the City attack but the Coca-Cola Championship side took the lead on 11 minutes with Ivar Ingimarsson scoring from a corner.
Paul Bosvelt had a powerful drive saved before Macken scored an equaliser on 23 minutes. Fowler received the ball in the left channel, turned inside his marker, and unselfishly played a square-ball to Macken to tap into an empty net.
Then just after the half-hour City were in front thanks to Claudio Reyna. The midfielder exchanged passes with Fowler through a mass of bodies on the edge of the box before strolling into the area and cooly slotting home from close range.
After the break the American claimed his third goal in two pre-season games as he collected a short corner before making space to deliver an exquisite chip over the keeper.
Stephen Jordan, Paddy McCarthy and Willo Flood were all second-half introductions as City rounded off the win with a 20-yard Antoine Sibierski free-kick in the dying moments.
City: James (Ellegaard h-t); Wright-Phillips, Bischoff, Distin (Jordan h-t), Thatcher (McCarthy 69); Anelka (B. Wright-Phillips), Reyna, Bosvelt (Flood 63), McManaman (Sibierski 63); Macken (Barton h-t), Fowler.