Manchester City boosted their chances of a top-four finish on Saturday with a thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
The champions looked in control with 25 minutes remaining thanks to strikes from Sergio Aguero and Aleksandar Kolarov, but Villa fought back as Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez made it 2-2 late on.
However, City made sure of the three points two minutes from time when Fernandinho popped up in the box to smash the ball past Brad Guzan.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Aston Villa. Plenty to play for at both ends of the table tonight, with City chasing a top-four finish and Villa battling against the drop. Team news will be through shortly...
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Aston Villa. Plenty to play for at both ends of the table tonight, with City chasing a top-four finish and Villa battling against the drop. Team news will be through shortly...
MAN CITY: Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernando, Lampard; Navas, Yaya Toure, Silva; Aguero
MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Sagna, Boyata, Fernandinho, Nasri, Dzeko, Bony
Following last weekend's 2-0 win over West Ham United, Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini has named an unchanged starting lineup for this evening's clash. The good news for the hosts is that David Silva is able to take part after being stretchered off against the Hammers with a facial injury. Meanwhile, Wilfried Bony returns to the bench after missing the last three games through injury.
ASTON VILLA: Guzan; Bacuna, Okore, Vlaar, Richardson; Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley, Delph, Grealish; Benteke
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Given, Weimann, Cole, Senderos, Cissokho, N'Zogbia, Lowton
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has made three changes after seeing his side triumph over Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend as Brad Guzan, Jores Okore and Carlos Sanchez are all given the nod. Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia drop to the bench, while Nathan Baker misses out through injury.
Man City's bid to retain their title may have crumbled in recent weeks, but they will still be eager to secure a top-four finish come the end of the season. The fourth-placed Blues currently sit one point behind local rivals Manchester United. Their goal difference is superior to their neighbours, so a draw would see them move up to third this evening. However, the champions will see this as a game which they are expected to win.
A run of two consecutive defeats was ended last weekend by that 2-0 win over West Ham. An own goal from James Collins got the hosts on their way at the Etihad Stadium before Sergio Aguero sealed the points on 36 minutes. If anything, that scoreline flattered the Hammers because City were far superior in every department and could have had a couple more goals by the end of the game.
Aston Villa experienced one of the greatest days in their recent history last weekend as they came from behind to beat Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals. While that result is sure to have given Tim Sherwood's players a huge confidence boost, it won't mean anything unless they improve their league form. The Villans remain precariously close to the drop zone with just five games left to play this season.
Villa's last league game saw them earn an impressive 1-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur, with Christian Benteke scoring the decisive goal. The Belgian striker has enjoyed a resurgence under Tim Sherwood, netting nine times in his last seven games. Meanwhile, the Midlands outfit have taken 10 points from the last 18 on offer.
This afternoon's other Premier League results are in. Brace yourselves...
PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTS:
Burnley 0-1 Leicester
Crystal Palace 0-2 Hull
Newcastle 2-3 Swansea
QPR 0-0 West Ham
Stoke 1-1 Sunderland
West Brom 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool's 0-0 draw with West Brom is good news for Man City, but it's at the other end of the table where all of the drama has taken place. Leicester's win over Burnley - their fourth league victory in a row - really has put the cat among the pigeons. With Hull also earning three points against Crystal Palace, Villa are now just two points above the drop zone. Talk about added pressure heading into this game. You can see the full table here.
Tim Sherwood is clearly feeling confident about his side leaving the Etihad Stadium with a positive result this evening:
"We are not going there for a damage-limitation job. We are going there to impose ourselves on a very good Man City side. They have players who can win the game on their own. We have to make sure we nullify them and then hopefully our team ethic can be better than theirs. We go there with no fear. I always stress to the boys, don't be afraid to lose a football match and make sure we have a go. They are beatable. We have seen them lose at the Etihad Stadium this season. We believe we can go there and win."
Manuel Pellegrini: "I think this club is growing every year. For me you are never satisfied if you do not win the title but if you cannot win it you must try to be as near the top of the table as you can. It is difficult when you have a stamp put in your chest that you must be the best because you are the only club that has money. It is difficult for this club to fight against that. We try to do the best we can. I don't think it is so, so bad what this club is doing, and not just in my two years."
HEAD TO HEAD: This season's reverse fixture at Villa Park saw the champions leave with three points thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure. The Blues have the better overall record against the Villans as well, winning 65 matches compared to 53 victories for their opponents.
UPDATE! Man City have given a late update with regards to their bench. It was previously stated that Samir Nasri was among the subs, but they've now corrected that by saying that James Milner is there instead.
There's been a lot of pre-match talk surrounding Yaya Toure's future at Man City, and it remains unclear whether the Ivorian will still be at the club next season. However, it would not be a surprise to see the midfielder play a key role for the champions this evening. His form has been erratic this season, but he tends to answer his critics when he's cajoled into action.
Speaking of midfielders, Aston Villa's own Jack Grealish has seen himself thrust into the spotlight following his stellar performance against Liverpool last weekend. There will be plenty of eyes on the youngster tonight, though it would be unfair to expect a similar showing from him over the course of the next 90 minutes.
Not long to go now as we edge closer to kickoff. The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium, while there is plenty of home and away support out in the stands.
Here come the teams!
KICKOFF! The players are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Aston Villa to get us underway. Here we go!
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 ASTON VILLA (AGUERO)
Man City take the lead through Sergio Aguero, but it's a horrible error from Brad Guzan that gifts him the goal. Guzan's attempted pass to a teammate on the right goes straight to the Argentine, who makes no mistake from close range. The Villa goalkeeper really needed to just lump that upfield then instead of trying to play a square pass.
The hosts are in firm control of this match, that's for sure. City create another chance as Toure hits a hurried volley inches wide from the edge of the box. Villa haven't got going at all so far.
It must be said that the atmosphere inside the Etihad Stadium has been poor so far. The Villa fans are making the majority of the noise, while Man City's supporters remain pretty quiet even after that early Aguero goal. It's kind of emblematic of the team's malaise over the past few weeks. Lethargy all round.
The champions come close again as a neat passing move ends with Aguero hitting a low drive from the edge of the box, but Guzan does well to get down low and make the save.
No sign of a Villa fightback at the moment. The visitors are being forced to chase the ball as Man City knock it about with confidence. Lampard has looked lively during these opening few minutes. The midfielder has shown good awareness so far, linking play from central areas to attack well.
CHANCE! Guzan almost gifts Man City another goal as he gets nowhere near a cross from the right. However, he breathes a sigh of relief as Fernando heads wide. The American is all over the shop right now. He needs to regain his composure quickly.
Villa enjoy their best spell of the game now, winning a couple of corners in quick succession. The second is met by the head of Benteke, but the Belgian nods over the crossbar with a couple of defenders around him.
The visitors are at sixes and sevens again at the back as Bacuna's attempted pass to Guzan is cut out by Aguero. The striker is eventually muscled off the ball before Navas sees his shot blocked. City could easily be about 3-0 up by now.
The torpid atmosphere inside the Etihad continues, though Man City's performance so far has been quite the opposite. Instead it's the visitors who are struggling to come alive. Villa are having to spend most of their time defending. Tim Sherwood doesn't look too pleased down on the bench, to put it mildly.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Villa to make it 1-1. They win a corner before Vlaar's deflected shot finds its way through to Benteke. The striker looks offside, but the flag stays down and he fires straight at Hart from close range. He really should have buried that.
Villa are enjoying a decent period of possession now. Former Manchester United players Richardson and Cleverley combine, but the latter fires over following a cross from the former. Cleverley is involved again soon after, slicing an effort wide after a great run from Grealish.
Tim Sherwood will certainly be encouraged by what he's seen from his players in the last few minutes. The away side are having a right go now, forcing the champions back. Benteke ruffles a few feathers in the City defence as he rises highest to head Richardson's cross over the crossbar.
Manuel Pellegrini is now prowling the touchline. The Chilean will be eager for his side to put up a bit more of a fight because Villa have been the better team over the last 10 minutes or so. The hosts are only being allowed to venture into opposition territory every now and again.
That's disappointing from Benteke, who ruins a good Villa move by straying into an offside position. The Belgian has done that a few times this evening. He needs to time his runs better. Five minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, with Man City still leading 1-0 thanks to that early Aguero goal.
Villa pile some more pressure on the hosts as a corner causes a few problems before Delph's cross is qhipped in from the right. However, despite there being half a dozen Villa shirts in the box, the flag goes up for offside.
There will be just one minute of added time at the end of the half...
HALF TIME: MAN CITY 1-0 ASTON VILLA
So, that early goal from Sergio Aguero is what separates the teams at the break, with Man City leading Aston Villa 1-0. The hosts started brightly, but Villa were the better team by the end of the half.
Make no mistake, it was a horrible error from Brad Guzan to gift Aguero the game's only goal so far. The goalkeeper's attempted pass was seized upon by the Argentine, who wasn't going to miss from six yards. Guzan was a bit shaky after that, but he seemed to have got his act together before the interval.
Tim Sherwood will have been furious with how his team started the game, but he can take plenty of encouragement from how they improved after that. The Villans have looked lively up front, but some lacklustre finishing has cost them.
Villa's best chance in that opening half fell for Benteke, who has been a handful for the Man City defence so far. The ball fell to the striker in acres of space in the opposition box, but his effort was straight at Hart. A bit more composure in that position and the visitors could well have been level.
Man City certainly faded as the half went on, but they haven't been helped by the crowd. The home fans have struggled to provide a decent atmosphere so far, and it seems as if that's affecting the players on the pitch. City's title bid may well be over, but they've still got something to pay for this season in the form of a top-four finish.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are out for the second half and it will be Man City to kick us off again. The hosts have made a change during the break, with Fernandinho replacing Yaya Toure. The Ivorian is understood to have picked up a knock in the first half.
YELLOW CARD! The game's first booking comes inside the first minute of the second half as David Silva is cautioned for a foul on one of the Villa players.
It's been an even start to the second half, with both sides passing and probing. Benteke gets involved high up the pitch again as he nods down Sanchez's cross, but none of his teammates are able to get on the end of it.
Manuel Pellegrini isn't impressed with something. The Chilean is shaking his head down on the touchline. Man City have taken the game to Villa in the last few minutes, though they're struggling to make anything happen in the final third. Navas finds some space down the right, but his cutback is just beyond the reach of Lampard.
CHANCE! The visitors come within inches of getting themselves level as Delph drags a shot narrowly wide after being teed up by Grealish on the edge of the box. That was very close indeed and just goes to prove that Villa aren't out of this yet.
MAN CITY SUB: A second change for the hosts now as former Villa midfielder James Milner replaces Frank Lampard.
Both sides are struggling to keep hold of the ball as we enter the final half an hour at the Etihad Stadium. However, City manage to carve open a chance as Kolarov whips a devilish cross in from the left that Guzan does well to hold on to. It could be a nervy finale to this game if the hosts don't kill it off with a second goal.
YELLOW CARD! Another booking here as Ashley Westwood is shown a yellow card after barging into Silva from behind. No complaints from the Villa man.
PENALTY APPEAL! Man City want a spot kick as Silva goes down under a challenge from Okore in the box, but referee Mike Dean waves play on. The Villa defender is a bit lucky to get away with that. Play continues before Carlo Sanchez is booked for a hefty challenge on Fernandinho.
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-0 ASTON VILLA (KOLAROV)
The resulting free kick is duly converted by Aleksandar Kolarov, who doubles Man City's lead with a fine strike. The full-back hits a low drive that curls around the wall before nestling in the bottom corner. That completely caught out Guzan, who was not protected well enough by his wall.
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-1 ASTON VILLA (CLEVERLEY)
In the blink of an eye, Aston Villa reduce the deficit. Tom Cleverley is the goalscorer and it's a decent strike as well. Man City fail to clear and inswinging free kick from the left, allowing Cleverley to smash the ball home from the edge of the box. He did well to get it through a crowded penalty area. Meanwhile, the visitors have made a change as Charles N'Zogbia replaces Ashley Westwood.
Those goals in quick succession have certainly brought the Etihad to life. It could be a cracking end to the game because Villa will feel as if they can take something from this. And who can blame them? The visitors have given a good account of themselves this evening.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Villa as Bacuna puts a wonderful cross right into the heart of the Man City penalty area, only to see it miss Benteke by a whisker and go out of play for a goal kick.
It's all Villa at the moment as they push hard for an equaliser. However, they won't want to commit too many men forward because Man City can be lethal on the break. The Villans have just over 10 minutes to get something out of this match. Remember, a draw would move them three points clear of the drop zone.
Villa aren't looking particularly hurried as we reach the 80-minute mark. The visitors are playing as if they're the home side, such is their confidence. Richardson tries his luck from all of 30 yards, but his low effort is well held by Hart.
MAN CITY SUB: The hosts make another change now as Wilfried Bony takes the place of Aguero. Can the January signing from Swansea City seal a win for his new club with a goal?
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-2 ASTON VILLA (SANCHEZ)
Would you believe it?! Aston Villa have fought back from two goals down to make it 2-2! A corner is whipped in from the right that Hart can only punch to Sanchez, who shows great technique to hook a tidy finish into the back of the net. Incredible stuff.
ASTON VILLA SUB: The visitors shake things up as Matthew Lowton replaces Bacuna.
Villa can count themselves very unlucky indeed as Benteke is played through on goal before seeing the flag go up for offside. Replays would suggest that the striker was in face onside when N'Zogbia passed the ball to him.
GOAL! MAN CITY 3-2 ASTON VILLA (FERNANDINHO)
And just like that, Man City take the lead again! What a game this is turning out to be! It's a lovely finish from Fernandinho, who smashes an acrobatic volley home after the ball came to him inside a crowded box following a corner.
There will be FOUR MINUTES of added time...
Villa have just two minutes to get something out of this game. Can they find another equaliser?
FULL TIME: MAN CITY 3-2 ASTON VILLA
The final whistles goes, bringing the curtain down on a breathless second half of football at the Etihad Stadium. Man City have won it 3-2, but Aston Villa will feel so unlucky not to have taken something from the match. The result means that City remain on course for a top-four finish, while Villa miss the chance to distance themselves further from the drop zone.
That's all from our live text coverage of this evening's encounter, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both camps here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
