Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Two goals in three minutes in the closing stages of an absorbing clash saw Fernandinho claim the winner for the defending Premier League champions in a game that could have major ramifictions at both ends of the table.
Fernandinho was on the end of Aleksandar Kolarov’s 89th-minute corner that passed through a crowded area to the unmarked Brazilian, who took a controlling touch before producing an emphatic finish.
That followed what Villa manager Tim Sherwood surely expected to be an equalising goal when Joe Hart failed to deal with Charles N’Zogbia’s corner and palmed the ball to the penalty spot where Carlos Sanchez equalised with a hooked shot.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratingsShow all 22 1 /22Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Manchester City: Joe Hart - 5/10 Fine save from Benteke in first half, but caught hopelessly out of position for both Cleverley and Sanchez's goals, so will be grateful for Fernandinho's winner.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Pablo Zabaleta - 6 Nullified the threat of Delph well in the first half and made a telling interception against Ashley Westwood after the break, but didn't have his customary impact going forward.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Eliaquim Mangala - 6 Like his defensive partner had his hands full in a physical battle with Benteke, but fared relatively well.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Martin Demichelis - 5 Will be battered and bruised after repeated tussles with Benteke, and was fortunate that the Belgian was flagged offside when through on goal in the latter stages.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Aleksandar Kolarov - 8 Was solid defensively and got forward throughout, putting in some superb probing crosses. Took his goal well, although was given a massive helping hand by the flimsy wall.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Frank Lampard - 5 One of Lampard's more subdued displays during his loan spell, he made way for James Milner early in the second half.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Fernando - 5 Should really have scored a free header after Guzan flapped at a Kolarov cross in the first half, and struggled to control the midfield as Villa came bake into the game.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jesus Navas - 7 Was busy, produced some quality dribbling and offered a threat throughout without producing an end product.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Yaya Toure - 6 Rampaged around with typical purpose in the opening stages, but faded with his team before limping off with a knock at half-time.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings David Silva - 6 Thankfully showed none of the after-effects of his head injury, and produced some flashes of quality, as well as one petulant tackle, for which he was booked.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Sergio Aguero - 7 The opener was the easiest goal the Argentinean will ever score, but he deserves credit for pressuring the keeper. Was an intermittent threat afterwards and should have won a penalty, but faded late on.
Getty Images
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Aston Villa: Brad Guzan - 3 Followed his awful, awful error for the opener with another gaffe that Fernando should have punished. Some better moments later on, but by then the damage was done.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Leandro Bacuna - 5 Terrible back pass almost gifted another chance to Aguero early on, and should have given away a penalty when he pulled back Aguero, but offered an attacking threat in the second half.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jores Okore - 6 Nervy in the first half, almost gifting Aguero another cheap goal, but produced some telling interceptions after the break.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Ron Vlaar - 7 Supplied an unwanted assist for Guzan's howler, but we can let him off for that. Looked increasingly assured as the game went on after a shaky start, and made himself a nuisance in the leadup to Sanchez's goal.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Kieran Richardson - 6 Had a good duel with Navas down the Villa right. Occasionally exposed, but was not afraid to get forward and whip crosses into the box, although he crumbled in the Villa wall for Kolarov's strike.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Carlos Sanchez - 7 Gave away the free-kick for the goal, for which he was booked, but redeemed himself with his beautifully-controlled finish for Villa's second goal.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Ashley Westwood - 6 His calm distribution helped to bring Villa back into the clash. Was booked for clattering David Silva before making way for Charles N'Zogbia.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Tom Cleverley - 7 Full of running as Villa came back into the game in the first half but wasted two decent chances. Took his goal brilliantly, though, to get Villa right back into the game.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Fabian Delph - 6 Found it tough going in the first half against Zabaleta but came into the match much more after the break, sending one controlled long-range effort just wide.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jack Grealish - 8 Was lively throughout and produced moments of real quality with a superb run during the first half and several incisive through balls in the second, but occasionally careless in possession.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Christian Benteke - 8 Was feeding off scraps but gave the City defence problems throughout, and forced a superb first-half save from Hart. Was caught offside repeatedly due to mistimed runs, but was then massively unlucky to be flagged when through on goal in the latter stages.
Earlier, goals from Sergio Aguero and Kolarov looked to have ensured City a routine win only for unsure defending to hand Tom Cleverley Villa’s opening goal and the visitors a lifeline.
Ultimately, Villa were badly let down by their goalkeeper Brad Guzan after only three minutes.
With City’s forward line pressing high up the field, the American panicked in dealing with a routine Ron Vlaar backpass, laying it square into the path of Aguero who converted his 21st league goal of the season into an open net from six yards.
Fernandinho scores the winning goal
(Getty Images)
City claimed the second goal after a foul presented Kolarov with a free-kick 22 yards out which the full-back steered into the bottom corner through a gap in the wall vacated by Leandro Bacuna and Kieran Richardson.
It was a short-lived two-goal cushion with Villa back in it through poor communication between Hart and Eliaquim Mangala at Grealish’s 67th minute free-kick which saw the defender head to the edge of the area where Cleverley lashed home.
Line-ups:
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernando, Toure (Fernandinho 46); Navas, Lampard (Milner 56), Silva; Aguero (Bony 82). Subs: Sagna, Dzeko, Caballero, Boyata
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; Bacuna (Lowton 86), Okore, Vlaar, Richardson; Cleverley, Sanchez, Westwood (N’Zogbia 67), Delph; Grealish, Benteke. Subs: Weimann, Cole, Senderos, Cissokho, Given.
Referee: M Dean
Match Rating: 7/10
Man of Match: Aleksandar Kolarov
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies