Manchester City vs Aston Villa match report: Sergio Aguero scores twice as Villa continue to struggle

Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 0

(Getty Images)

This was not so much a football match, more a public execution. Aston Villa played as if they expected to lose, lost and went home.

After three consecutive league defeats, the arrival of a side that seemed afraid to cross the halfway line until they were four down was precisely what Manchester City required. The surprise was it took them until three minutes after the interval to break through. Once a languid swing of Yaya Touré’s instep had sent the ball skidding past Brad Guzan, City scored three more in 18 minutes and the match became a training exercise.

Rémi Garde absurdly tried to pretend he was not planning for next season. If he really is not thinking beyond May, it is because he realises he is unlikely to be managing Villa then.

When asked if he had ever lost faith in his ability as a manager, Garde, replied he had not: “I have problems but not with my management.” The man must have reserves of self-belief as deep as the Marianas Trench.

For 45 minutes Garde’s game-plan consisted of packing his defence to the extent that some-times there were 11 Villa players in their own area. Then Touré scored and everything fell apart.

It was Sergio Aguero who turned the screw and, had he not struck the post with a penalty, awarded with City four up, would have had a hat-trick.

Moments after City had taken the lead, Micah Richards attempted to clear, the ball struck Aguero and the game was to all intents and purposes, over. Aguero’s second and his sixth in four games against Villa was technically brilliant, taking down David Silva’s flick and ramming his shot home at the near post.

Raheem Sterling, who endured a torrid night at Liverpool on Wednesday, scored within minutes of coming on. A low cross from Jesus Navas beat three Villa defenders, the last of whom, Alan Hutton, fell over trying to clear. Sterling’s was not so much a goal more the acceptance of an invitation.

Manchester City: (4-2-3-1) Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure (M Garcia, 80), Fernandinho; Navas, Silva (Iheanacho, 70), Bony (Sterling, 62); Aguero.

Aston Villa: (5-3-2) Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho; Westwood, Gana, Veretout (Bacuna, 74); Agbonlahor (Gestede, 70), Ayew (Sinclair, 80).

Referee: Lee Mason.

Man of the match: Aguero (Manchester City)

Match rating: 5/10