ASTON VILLA 1, MAN CITY 2
Aston Villa dared to poke the bear and paid the consequences as Manchester City secured another win which edges them ever closer to the Premier League title.
They provoked City by snatching the lead after only 20 seconds through John McGinn but did not allow that early setback to derail them.
City, beaten in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea four days, produced the response of champions-to-be as goals from Phil Foden and Rodri earned victory that leaves City needing eight points from their final five games to be reclaim then title.
And they remained imperious even though they had to play more than half the match with 10 men following John Stones’ dismissal which rules him out of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Admittedly Villa also had Matty Cash sent off in the second period.
It was City’s 10th straight Premier League win on the road seventh successive victory against Villa as they stretched their unbeaten run against the Midlands side to 11 games, going back to 2013.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd it was a highly satisfactory night’s work for City as Guardiola explained: “We played so good and came back incredibly well. After 10 against 11 and after Cash was sent off, it was a really good performance. The Premier League is the most important title to win.
“We controlled the game when it was 10 against 10. It was late [John Stones’ challenge] but the intention was not. Now because we have won, I am happy. If we had lost, I’d be unhappy.
“We did a good game. This guy [Phil Foden] is growing. His influence in our games is massive. He’s becoming a serious player. Phil right now is becoming such an important player. His influence in the final third is so important.”
Captain Fernandinho praised their character, adding: “Conceding an early goal and having to carry on after the Chelsea game – we have five games left to play but with the character of our players we are sure we can do it.
“But football is on the pitch and we have to show that every week. I’m pleased for the team, the players and everyone at the club because we have fought a lot to reach this point.
“In every training session and we are so close, we just need to focus and concentrate. Five games left and we’ll see what happens.”
Guardiola reacted to Saturday’s FA Cup, semi-final defeat to Chelsea by making eight changes.
Recalled were Ederson, Kyle Walker, Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Foden.
Kevin de Bruyne was not involved after limping off at Wembley while Gundogan was named captain.
Ruben Dias, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus were the only survivors from the team that started the last match.
There was one enforced change to the Villa side from last time out as 19-year-old Jacob Ramsey came in for Trezeguet, who needs knee surgery. Influential captain Jack Grealish was once again missing so Tyrone Mings led the team.
City’s hangover from their cup defeat continued in a dramatic start as Villa snatched the lead after only 20 seconds, the second fastest goal City have conceded in the Premier League.
Mings’ quickly-taken free-kick released Ollie Watkins on the left and Stones failed to cut out his low cross which was converted by John McGinn at the near post as he steered a shot to the left of Ederson, the second fastest-ever strike by Villa in the Premier League.
And Villa, 11 days since their last match while City have played twice, continued to be a threat having three other shots at goal blocked in a pulsating opening seven minutes.
City began to take control and Mahrez was denied by a decent save from Emiliano Martinez before they equalised midway through the half following a fabulous passing move starting from Ederson and also involving Zinchenko.
Foden sprayed a perfect crossfield pass to Mahrez wide right and he slipped the ball to Silva who cut it back for Foden to slot home for his 14th goal of the season.
And City were ahead five minutes before the break from a recycled corner. Silva crossed from the right and Rodri beat Martinez to the ball to head home from six yards, only the midfielder’s third goal of the season.
Stones’ night went from bad to worse as he was sent off for serious foul play following a high challenge on Jacob Ramsey.
Referee Peter Bankes initially produced a yellow card, but VAR conducted a review and directed Bankes to look at the pitchside monitor, after which he overturned his earlier card and produced a red.
It was Stones’ first-ever dismissal in the Premier League and City’s fifth red card in the league since the start of last season, with two of them against Villa.
City made a change at the break as Aymeric Laporte replaced Jesus to reinforce the back line.
The numbers were evened up in the 57th minute when Villa had right-back Cash sent off for collecting two yellow cards in the space of little more than two minutes, both on Foden.
What possessed Cash to make a scything challenge on Foden when he was walking a disciplinary tightrope defied belief.
As a ten-versus-ten contest the match fizzled out in the last half hour with City controlling the game as they kept possession for lengthy spells as Villa struggled to get hold of the ball.
And in the last minute they brought on Fernandinho for Mahrez to make absolutely certain they saw out the game.