Four second-half goals helped Manchester City to a convincing 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash.
Yaya Toure opened the scoring following a goalless opening 45 minutes, before Sergio Aguero helped himself to two of his own.
Raheem Sterling came off the bench to round off the scoring for City, but there was to be no hat-trick for Aguero as he missed from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium. Both sides head into this game on a real low in terms of their league form, but the hosts are at least boosted by better fortunes elsewhere thanks to victory over Liverpool in last weekend's League Cup final.
That triumph at Wembley six days ago helped ensure that Manuel Pellegrini already has one trophy in the cabinet this term yet, with a 10-point deficit to make up on the leaders, winning the Premier League in his swansong will most likely be too much of an ask for the Chilean. Victory here today against the division's bottom side, though, and all of a sudden they might just be in the mix with a game in hand still to play.
Before checking out both these sides in a little more detail, as well as an update on the all-important midday kickoff elsewhere in the Premier League, let us first turn our attention towards some incoming team news from the Etihad Stadium...
TEAM NEWS!
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva, Bony, Aguero
ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan, Lescott, Richards, Clark, Veretout, Hutton, Cissokho, Westwood, Gueye, Agbonlahor, Ayew
Starting with the home team, then, and there is news of three changes to the side that feel to a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool in midweek. The big news is that eight-goal striker Wilfried Bony comes in for his first start since Boxing Day, replacing Raheem Sterling in attack who drops down to the bench for the visit of the Premier League basement boys.
Bacary Sagna and Yaya Toure both return to the first-team fold, meanwhile, the former of whom missed out against Liverpool on Wednesday night due to a foot injury. Fernando and Pablo Zabaleta are the players to make way, as Manuel Pellegrini goes with three changes from that crushing loss which could well have ended his side's slim title hopes. Kevin de Bruyne, Fabian Delph and Samir Nasri are all still nursing injuries.
City will likely go with a 4-4-2 formation due to the inclusion of Bony alongside Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine forward seeking goal number 20 of the campaign this afternoon. David Silva and Jesus Navas will occupy the wide midfield positions, while Toure and Fernandinho take control of the middle of the park. It is a strong home lineup, and one which will head into today's game as strong favourites despite a recent wobble.
In terms of the visiting side, Remi Garde has opted to largely keep faith with his Villa flops despite a difficult recent run. The Frenchman has been left with little choice, in truth, having been denied any funds whatsoever in the January window, and therefore now in the position of simply seeing this season through with surely little left to play for.
To make matters worse for Garde, he remains without a quintet of important players - Carlos Sanchez, Jack Grealish, Libor Kozak, Adama Traore and Jordan Amavi all being ruled out of action for the Villans. Rudy Gestede had been among the back-up players pushing for a start this afternoon, helping his cause with a consolation goal against Everton in midweek, but he misses out once more today.
It will be five at the back for Villa at The Etihad, with Alan Hutton and Aly Cissokh providing width from the flanks. Micah Richards starts at the back against his former side - his 200th career appearance; the vast majority of which came during his City playing days. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Jordan Ayew have the thankless task of running the line, looking to pounce on any openings that come their way.
BENCH WATCH!
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Kolarov, M.Garcia, Sterling, Iheanacho
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Okore, Bacuna, Sinclair, Gil, Bunn, Lyden, Gestede
So as already mentioned, there is still no start for Gestede despite his consolation strike against Everton in the week. Scott Sinclair and Carles Gil also provide some further attacking options from the bench for under-fire Garde, who reportedly faces the sack should he fail in his impossible challenge of keeping the Villans up this term. Eight points is now the gap between the bottom and safety.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored a hat-trick against Villa in the FA Cup meeting between these two sides earlier this year, but he has to settle for a place on the bench as Wilfried Bony is handed his first start in over two months. Manuel Pellegrini makes three changes to his side in all, but one of those was enforced as Fernando misses out on the squad altogether through illness.
So a chance for City to potentially close the gap on the current Premier League leaders this afternoon, then, as rivals Tottenham and Arsenal battle it out in the early kickoff, before Leicester face off against Watford in a tricky-looking fixture later today. I can tell you that it is currently two-apiece in an entertaining North London derby heading into the final stretch of that one - a positive result for the Citizens.
A third defeat on the bounce at Anfield on Wednesday night really did leave City's title hopes hanging by a thread, though, so you have to say the pressure is pretty much off Pellegrini's men at this moment in time. That is the way they like it if recent title successes are anything to go by, as a strong end to the season can usually be expected when they are left chasing down top spot. Ten points might just be too much of an ask, however, especially when considering that this is a four-way race.
Pellegrini has put the league wobble down to the vast number of fixtures this year, as the Citizens continued to battle it out on four fronts until recently. Their FA Cup hopes came to a rather embarrassing end when suffering a heavy defeat at Chelsea recently, but that decision was largely vindicated by an impressive display against Kiev to keep their Champions League aspirations firmly on track. A League Cup trophy already in the bag, this is far from a damp squib as far as the blue half of Manchester is concerned.
City face four games over the next fortnight, culminating in what could be a vital Manchester derby meeting. As things stand - with the North London derby currently tied - the gap on Spurs is eight points and a further three behind Leicester. Looking the other way, the Citizens are now locked on points with United in the race for fourth place, while West Ham are one point further back. It is fair to say that results over the next couple of weeks will have a huge say in which way this one plays out.
Not since 2008 have City lost four league games in a row, ironically culminating in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of today's opponents Villa. It was March 2007 when they last lost three home games in succession, meanwhile, which will of course be the case today should they suffer what would be a shock defeat against the bottom-placed side. A further stat for you - November 2010 was the last time the Citizens failed to win in three home games in a row.
DID YOU KNOW? These City-related stats just keep on coming! Defeat today for the Citizens would be their fifth of the campaign on home soil following setbacks against West Ham, Everton, Leicester and most recently Tottenham. That would be as many as they have suffered in the last four seasons combined in the Premier League - largely explaining just why they find themselves so far off top spot with 11 games left to play.
Vincent Kompany has talked this week about his side not being able to slip-up anymore this season if they have any aspirations of winning a third Prem crown. That includes victory today, of course, but you have to wonder just how much the talk over Manuel Pellegrini's future has affected the players. If recent reports are to be believed, the Chilean's replacement Pep Guardiola is planning a mass overhaul, including a new goalkeeper and some more attacking talents.
One man that surely will not be going anywhere is talismanic forward Sergio Aguero, who has four goals in his three outings against Villa. He has only one in eight during the month of March, though, in what has proved to be a dry time in the season for the South American. With Bony alongside him this afternoon in a 4-4-2 formation, he will be hoping to put that right as he goes in search of goal number 20 of the campaign.
RESULT! We have out first result of the afternoon in the Premier League, and it is a big one as far as Man City are concerned. Tottenham and Arsenal have played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane in the midday kickoff, which you have to say is a decent result for the Citizens - one point dropped and all that. The bottom line remains the same - leaders Leicester are 10 points clear heading into the final stretch.
Plenty of talk at the top so far, but what about at the other end of the table? Well it is looking pretty bleak for Villa supporters, as it has done since the opening months of the season really. Eight points is the current deficit on 17th-place Sunderland, with time well and truly against Garde and his charges. The Frenchman is looking likely to be on his way in the summer, as the Premier League ever-presents prepare for life in the second tier.
It remains incredibly tight elsewhere at the bottom, as Newcastle (24), Norwich (24) and Sunderland (24) are separated by goal difference alone. Swansea have pulled themselves just afloat of danger elsewhere, but they face a huge game at home to fellow strugglers Norwich today. For Villa, on the other hand, they can simply watch on as the teams around them pick up the odd point and pull further clear, knowing that survival is pretty much out of the question at this stage.
Three wins and seven draws all season is all they have to show for this brave new era, which has led to suggestions that this may just be the worst Premier League team of all time. Derby County will surely keep a firm grip of that accolade for a good few years yet, but there is no denying that this has been a campaign to forget for the Villans' loyal support base. Protests and off-field fallouts galore, the summer surely cannot come soon enough for the Midlands outfit.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! City have won seven of the last nine meetings between these two sides in the Premier League, with the solitary defeat coming in a 3-2 reverse at Villa Park three years ago. They did draw 0-0 in the Midlands a few months back, though, and a similar defensive ploy could be on the cards for the Villans this afternoon. The Citizens have won eight in a row in this fixture in a run stretching back to 2007.
Villa have actually failed to score in six of the last eight meetings between the pair, and goals have been a major issue this season. They have scored just 22 all term, including a league-low tally of six in the first half of matches. To make matters worse for Garde and his men, they have taken only four points from 15 games against sides sitting in the top half of the table - again a record that is unmatched anywhere else in the top flight.
With kickoff now less than 10 minutes away, let us check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into kickoff at the Etihad Stadium.
Manuel Pellegrini: "We are not going to give up. Ten points is a lot but we have one game in hand and in the Premier League you never know when you are going to lose points. I don't see why the players would be in a negative mind. I think they try to win every time they play.
Remi Garde: "Hopefully we will prove once again, as we did in the home game against City, that football doesn't always go as predicted. If we can get the first goal I feel my players will gain the necessary confidence from that. We have 10 games to go. I have to adapt knowing that we need to win games."
Garde trying his best to keep his side motivated, then, but much of the talk heading into this weekend's match surrounds the Frenchman's future. Having cut his press duties short on Friday afternoon, talk is rife that a falling out behind the scenes has left the Villans' squad in complete crisis. It is usually at this point it is suggested, with little pressure on the side, that a good result can be picked up. You would not best on that this afternoon, though.
PREDICTION! Villa enjoyed a slight improvement in fortunes recently when beating Palace and picking up draws against Midlands rivals Leicester and West Brom, but since then it has been the same old story as they have won just one of their last seven. Throw in three defeats on the spin, including a 6-0 home humiliation at the hands of Liverpool, and it is hard to predict a positive outcome for Garde's charges. I'll back a 3-0 win for the Citizens here today.
Both sets of players have now made their way down the tunnel. Richards the man at the front for the visitors, walking past an image of himself in the Etihad Stadium tunnel way, but today all focus in on helping current side Villa avoid relegation rather than any title aspirations. Can City get their own campaign back on track? Let's find out...
KICKOFF! Aguero and the returning Bony gets proceedings underway in Manchester, sporting their traditional blue and white strip. Three points are an absolute must today for City, of course, with rivals United breathing right down their necks.
City dominating possession in the early stages here, as expected, but they have been unable to really get into advanced areas of the field. Aguero the man to drop deep to find the ball in pockets of space, while Bony will remain the player furthest forward.
Bony's weak pass allows Villa to break forward, but Kompany is across to concede a free kick before any momentum can be found. City still dominating possession, albeit with Villa providing just a little threat on the counter. An early goal could be vital.
A familiar problem for Villa, who are unable to really keep hold of the ball in advanced positions. Both wing-backs looking to knock the ball up the line, but by the time Ayew or Agbonlahor are across the danger has already been swept up.
A very positive run from Hutton down the right, bursting the length of the pitch with only really Aguero tracking back. Clichy knocked the ball back off his fellow full-back in the end to win a goal kick, but that was a promising moment for the visitors.
Richards goes right through the back of Aguero with a silly challenge, but referee Lee Mason does not go into his book. Still no shots of any note so far for either side in a fairly tame start to this contest.
SAVE! Superb challenge from Lescott! Aguero was racing through to collect the ball, but the defender got across to flick it behind for a corner. Moments later Aguero was in again, this time on the other side; bringing down a lofted pass and cutting inside before striking away a shot that Guzan palmed over the bar.
CHANCE! A fine opening for Bony, who gets in behind Villa's back five only to fire wide of goal. The cross from Clichy on the left was inch perfect, yet the forward's first-time finish flashed a yard wide in the end.
Very patient player from the hosts now, as they attempt to break down this stubborn Villa backline. That Bony opening a few minutes ago showed that it is possible to get in behind, but the chances must be converted if a nervous finale is to be avoided.
SAVE! Guzan does very well to clear away Aguero's attempt on the half volley. Richards again lucky to avoid seeing a yellow card, meanwhile, this time after clattering into Silva. City just knocking on the door a little more all of a sudden.
Toure is tempted into a shot from range, only to blast well over the bar. Villa unable to get out of their own half at the moment, appearing to be happy to just ride their luck until the interval. Two saves made by Guzan thus far, both from Aguero attempts.
Gueye does well to win back the ball and lead a charge. The midfielder overhit his pass into attack, though, with Hart easily collecting possession. There is that problem once more - Villa cannot keep hold of the ball for more than 30 seconds, simply allowing their opponents to keep coming back at them.
Alan Hutton and Sergio Aguero battle for the ball during the first half of this match at The Etihad. Man City the side well on top so far, getting away a couple of decent attempts on goal, but Villa holding on in there with a quarter of the match played.
SAVE! The game springs well into life, as at one end Aguero links well with Bony in attack before blasting narrowly wide. Up the other end Villa come close themselves through Ayew's shot, which was destined for the bottom corner if not for a Hart save.
So Man City remain well on top in terms of possession and shots, but Villa within a Joe Hart save of leading in this clash. Shows the importance of taking your chances - the longer it remains goalless the more confident the visitors will grow.
City knocking the ball around very well at the moment, but Villa are more than happy to let them do so. What is more worrying for the visitors is the space constantly afforded to Clichy down the left, with the full-back again providing a good cross. The ball ricochets its way through the box, via Aguero, into the hands of Guzan.
Very sombre atmosphere around the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, incidentally, which is to be expected when two teams out of form meet. A reminder that Spurs and Arsenal played out a four-goal draw earlier today, so there is chance for City to make up some points on the top three with a win today.
Not a great deal of action at the moment, in truth, as the game follows a familiar theme. City are racking up the passes, before looking out to the left where Clichy crosses into the box. The hosts have had a few chances, without truly troubling the Villa backline.
Ayew is putting in a decent enough shift in attack for Villa, looking to get on any loose balls, but both he and Agbonlahor are going to have to come even deeper if they want to get themselves in possession. A decent game plan from the Villans, but we still have around 55 minutes of this one to play out.
A few groans around the Etihad Stadium as Toure's weak lofted passes is cut out in a straightforward manner. The Citizens just need to step out of first gear or else they risk dropping two more points on home soil. All very frustrating thus far!
The stats show that City have seen 76% of the ball so far, which is actually a lower figure that I thought it would be. Navas wins a free kick high up the field to allow the ball to come into the box, but Lescott cleared away well.
Yet another left-sided cross from Clichy, which Bony can only glance well wide of the target. Not an easy chance by any means, but one which he should have been looking to test Guzan with. Two minutes to go until half time.
Bony struggling to get into the game, really, having already squandered arguably the best chance of the half. A goal will lift spirits around the ground, yet until they do so the supporters will continue to remain frustrated by what they are witnessing.
YELLOW CARD! Veretout is shown a yellow card for his nasty-looking challenge on Aguero. The Villa man caught his opponent late to become the first player to enter referee Lee Mason's book.
HALF TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 0-0 ASTON VILLA
Not the greatest half of football you are likely to see this season, granted, but it certainly had its moments. Man City dominated things in terms of the possession count, seeing more than three quarters of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, but they have just the four shots on goal to show for their efforts.
The first big moment of the match came 13 minutes in when Aguero brought down a lofted ball and forced Guzan into a decent close-range stop. It was Bony who would squander the best opening of the half just two minutes later, though, as he fired wide when getting in behind the Villa backline. Clichy was given far too much space down the left to pick out his returning teammate, but his shot lacked an real composure.
Guzan was again called into action to thwart Aguero, this time on the half volley soon after. Things livened up a little on the half-hour mark as Aguero fired wide after some nice link-up play with Bony, before Ayew saw his shot kept out by Hart up the other end. That proved to be Villa's only opening of a half that saw them largely camped inside their own final third.
Could we see Manuel Pellegrini make a change at the break? His side have been on top, but is has been a frustrating performance so far. Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho - the scorer of a hat-trick in this fixture in January - are both among the home side's back-up options.
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Kolarov, M.Garcia, Sterling, Iheanacho
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Okore, Bacuna, Sinclair, Gil, Bunn, Lyden, Gestede
Villa's backline have remained firm throughout the opening 45 minutes, though Wilfried Bony did squander a fine chance in the opening quarter of the match when firing wide from close range.
RESTART! We are back underway in Manchester, as the home side aim to finally break down the opposition side. Anything less than three points here and you have to say their title hopes will be over for certain.
No changes made by either manager at the break, incidentally, so it remains as you were on that front. Navas gets down the flank and looks to pull the ball back, only for Cissokho to cut out the danger for a corner.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 ASTON VILLA (YAYA TOURE)
Manchester City have the breakthrough at the Etihad Stadium, and it is powerful midfielder Yaya Toure who has bagged it. Sergio Aguero played a key part, picking out teammate David Silva in a central position, who in turn laid it off to an unmarked Toure. The midfielder's strike may have taken a slight touch on its way through, leaving Guzan with no chance whatsoever.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 ASTON VILLA (SERGIO AGUERO)
City have a quick-fire second to surely wrap up the points early on in this second half. It was a horror goal for the visitors to concede, as Richards slid in to clear a cross, only for the ball to ricochet into the path of Aguero who had the simple task of blasting home from a few yards.
So Villa's gameplan has fallen apart early in this second half, meaning it could be a very long afternoon indeed. Garde must decide whether to now stick or twist; usually a simple enough question - attack! - but with six shipped against Liverpool recently he may have second thoughts.
That is assist number 55 of his Premier League career for David Silva, incidentally - 11 more than any other player during the same period. The Spaniard is quite some player, and he will no doubt be looking to bag one of his own in the closing 35 minutes here.
Good challenge from Otamendi - pretty much his first of the afternoon - to prevent Ayew from charging through. Villa looking better since falling two behind, but Agbonlahor could not pick out an unmarked Hutton with what was a fine opening.
Aguero blasts away a bullet of a volley from 20 yards out, which Lescott managed to get his body in the way of. Villa showing more attacking intent now, and if they can find the game's third goal then it could change the feel of this contest entirely.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 ASTON VILLA (SERGIO AGUERO)
Make that six in five for Aguero against the Villans - this one of the finest of the lot. The finish itself was nothing special, tucking away from a few yards out, but it was the link-up with Silva in the lead to the goal which really caught the eye. The Spaniard superbly lofted a return ball into his teammate's path, and he was never going to miss from there.
SAVE! City make their first change of the afternoon, bringing on Sterling for Bony in attack. The Englishman had a decent chance seconds after coming on, too, but his blast was pushed over by Guzan. Villa well and truly on the ropes.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 ASTON VILLA (RAHEEM STERLING)
Sterling joins the goalscoring party a little over five minutes after being introduced from the bench. It was yet another example of how not to defend, as a cross from the right was allowed to pass right through to an unmarked Sterling, who was left with a simple task six yards out.
SUBS! Both teams have decided to make a change; Rudy Gestede on for Gabriel Agbonlahor, while Kelechi Iheanacho comes on for David Silva as the hosts go in search of a fifth.
PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY!
Kelechi Iheanacho is clipped by Clark inside the area, which will allow Aguero to bag a hat-trick from the spot should he convert.
PENALTY MISSED!
Aguero is denied a hat-trick by the width of the post. The striker looked for the bottom right corner, but it was too close to the woodwork in the end and his effort rolled out of play for a goal kick.
So no hat-trick for Aguero just yet, as he is denied a third by the width of the post from the penalty spot. A reprieve for Villa, who have completely fallen apart in this second half.
City not particularly looked like adding to their tally since that penalty miss, so maybe they are happy with just the four? No sign of a goal up the other end, which has been the case all afternoon bar a near Ayew miss in the first half.
MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Bacuna was brought on for Veretout a few minutes ago, and now Toure has been replaced by Garcia for his Premier League debut. The Citizens being given the chance to rest a few players for the closing stages of this one-sided match.
ASTON VILLA SUB! The final change of the afternoon has been made, as Sinclair is brought on in place of Ayew. The Englishman will be keen to make an impact on his old stomping ground.
City now within seven points of leaders Leicester, then, having played the same number of games. The Foxes face off against Watford later today, with the rest of the top four no doubt watching on closely. A big win for the hosts, this, in a match they simply could not afford to lose.
Not seen a great deal of action since the Aguero penalty miss, but City have barely made it out of first gear all game. Been far too straightforward for them, against a Villa side that just appeared to collapse within minute of the second-half restart. Six minutes remaining.
Navas has enjoyed a good half, this time looking to pick out a teammate in a central position when reaching the byline, only for Guzan to pounce on the ball. Villa almost out of their misery now.
Gestede a little unlucky when seeing his shot blocked aside by Otamendi, while up the other end Clichy almost created a fifth when his umpteenth cross of the match. This match slightly petering out over the past 15 minutes.
A classic game of two halves, then, as City managed to put a frustrating first-half display behind them to rack up four in this second period and get the job done. Three minutes of added time to be played.
Villa putting together a string of passes now, which is greeted by ironic cheers around the ground. Sergio Aguero has just been announced as City's man of the match for his two-goal showing.
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 ASTON VILLA
Full time at The Etihad, but in truth the game has been over since the 50th minute when City edged themselves two goals in front. A goalless first half could have led to a nervy finish, yet Pellegrini's men stepped up to the plate to end their poor run of league form and move to within seven points of leaders Leicester in the process.
Villa are 11 points from safety at the other end of the table, meanwhile, and their season is surely now all over as they prepare for life in the second tier. Before bidding farewell, there is time to point you in the direction of Sports Mole's live text coverage of Leicester City's meeting with Watford in the top flight's evening kickoff. Enjoy!
