Manchester City vs Aston Villa match report: Nervous City ride their luck as Fernandinho secures late victory

Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2: City led through Aguero and Kolarov only for Cleverley and Sanchez to peg the soon-to-be dethroned champions back

Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-2 (Getty Images)

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.

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