MANCHESTER CITY 3, ASTON VILLA 0
Second half goals by Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan saw Manchester City beat Aston Villa to go back to second in the Premier League, just three points behind Liverpool.
The Villans had frustrated City in the first half with a packed defence which the home side found it difficult to pick their way through.
Villa crumbled in the second half after Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock 21 seconds after the restart following a route one ball by Ederson which was won in the air by Gabriel Jesus up against the massive Tyrone Mings to set up the in-form forward.
It was Sterling’s 13th goal in 14 appearances this season and Jesus should have got himself on the scoresheet but was denied by a combination of a Tom Heaton deflection and a Minds clearance off the line.
Kevin De Bruyne’s curling effort went through everyone and survived a VAR check to see if Sterling was offside after David Silva appeared to clip it on the way in.
And Ilkay Gundogan’s beautiful volley sealed matters 20 minutes from the end after Bernardo Silva’s cross into the box was only half cleared.
Both City and Villa hit the woodwork right at the end – Jesus’ delicate lob came back off the bar while John McGinn hit the post with an injury time effort.
Fernandinho got his marching orders for a second yellow card but the game was long since over.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 0
Ederson: 7. Saved from John McGinn and Trezeguet, had a generally quiet match. Big clearance set up City’s first goal right after half time.
Joao Cancelo: 7. Assured presence on right flank.
Fernandinho: 7. Played on the right side of central defence. Not troubled too much but sent off at the end for a second booking with the game.
John Stones: 7. Some nervy moments early on. Had a penalty claim against him for accidental handball but would have been harsh in the slippery conditions. Gained in confidence later in the game. Injury scare at the end after Fernandinho had been sent off.
Benjamin Mendy: 7. Looking after John McGinn and Trezeguet but had his moments going forward. Didn’t show his pace but looked up for the physical challenge.
Ilkay Gundogan: 8. Kept City’s midfield ticking over and covered the back four well. Scored a technically brilliant goal with a volley.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Clattered in the head early on but still put enticing crosses in from the right despite not being at his best. His goal was another neat curling effort from the left which needed a VAR check but was well choreographed.
David Silva: 7. Good interchanging in forward positions, but Villa had plenty of bodies back in defence to reduce his passing options as he sat high up against Villa. Shot wide after Sterling set him up. Deserved a goal.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Set up Gabriel Jesus for an early shot. His cross into the area was only half cleared to Ilkay Gundogan who put the game beyond Villa.
Raheem Sterling: 8. Lots of telling crosses in from the left. Set David Silva up for a great chance. Caused problems to Villa with his pace. Grabbed his 13th goal of the season from 14 appearances when latching onto a Gabriel Jesus header and beating Tom Heaton. Intercepted Bjorn Engels clearance to set up another chance.
Gabriel Jesus: 8. Early chance sent wide. Leaped up high to win an Ederson clearance and flick the ball on to Sterling to score. Had a second half shot deflected by Heaton and cleared off the line by Mings after Sterling had intercepted a poor clearance by Bjorn Engels. Chipped the keeper and hit the crossbar in added time after winning the ball.
Angelino (on for Benjamin Mendy, 73): 6. On to give Mendy a rest with the game won.
Sergio Aguero (on for Raheem Sterling, 76): Too late to mark.
Phil Foden (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 76): Too late to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 0
Man City 1, Aston Villa 0: 46. Raheem Sterling breaks the deadlock 21 seconds after the restart, rolling the ball past Heaton from8 yards after Jesus had won the ball in the air against Tyrone Mings from Ederson’s massive launch upfield
Man City 2, Aston Villa 0: 65. Kevin De Bruyne’s cross went through everyone and into the net but there was a VAR check to see if Raheem Sterling was blind siding the ‘keeper – which he would have been had David Silva touched it on the way in. The decision stood after a lengthy VAR check.
Man City 3, Aston Villa 0: 70. Ilkay Gundogan’s 15 yard volley beat everyone and nestled into the back of the net after Bernardo Silva’s square ball into the mix was half cleared by Frederic Guilbert.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 0
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy (Angelino 73), Gundogan, De Bruyne (Foden 76), David Silva (C), Bernardo Silva, Sterling (Aguero 76), Jesus
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Walker, Mahrez, Otamendi
Booking: Fernandinho 57 (obstruction on Jack Grealish), Gundogan 81 (foul on Trezeguet)
Red Card: Fernandinho 88 (second booking for foul on Trezeguet)
Goal: Sterling 46, De Bruyne 65, Gundogan 70
Aston Villa: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Trezeguet, McGinn, Luiz, Grealish (C) (El Ghazi 84), Wesley (Davis 71)
Aston Villa Subs not used: Steer, Taylor, Lansbury, Hourihane, Konsa
Booking: Grealish 36 (dissent)
Referee: Graham Scott