Aston Villa vs. Man City: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game

Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero scored in the final 10 minutes as Manchester City moved within two points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Toure struck in the 82nd minute, curling his shot past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan to help his side avoid what could have been a frustrating draw at Villa Park. City dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes, but they had wasted several opportunities to take the lead until Toure's goal. With the pressure finally off, Aguero sealed points with City's second, a rasping strike two minutes from time.

With the win, City moved into second place with 14 points through seven matches, two points behind leaders Chelsea, who host Arsenal on Sunday. Villa, who have lost three straight matches after starting the season in good form, are seventh with 10 points.

Following the international break, City will host Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 18. Villa play at Everton the same day.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Saturday's match started quietly, with few chances at either end. A clear pattern emerged quickly, with City holding possession and Villa creating scattered moments of danger on the counter.

City had an opening in the 10th minute as Aleksandar Kolarov's deflected shot hit the woodwork. Villa's Alan Hutton and Charles N'Zogbia combined on the right to set up Andreas Weimann 12 minutes later, but the latter was unable to get a touch to the ball inside the box and was ruled offside anyway.

N'Zogbia led a Villa counter in the 25th minute, driving down the middle before flashing a long-distance shot well off target. Three minutes later, Aguero headed inches wide after Kolarov fizzed a superb cross in from the left.

City then laid siege to Villa's goal just before half-time. The sequence started as James Milner hit a deflected shot in the side netting, setting up a series of corners for the visitors. From the fourth and final corner, Edin Dzeko managed to direct a header on target, but Aly Cissokho made a crucial block, diverting the ball wide of the post.

Both teams had clear chances in the first minute of the second half. First, Aguero sent a low shot off the base of Guzan's left-hand post. Then, at the other end, Joe Hart made himself big to stop Kieran Richardson as Villa countered at pace.

Guzan then saved Silva's close-range shot in the 48th minute, before Fernandinho blasted over the goal. Still Villa held firm, though, despite City's territorial dominance.

Perhaps sensing a chance to nick a victory, the hosts introduced Christian Benteke in place of Weimann in the 61st minute. The Belgian striker was making his first appearance since March 29 following an extended injury layoff.

But Villa's first task was still defending. In the 70th minute, City came close once again with a fine team move, but Silva volleyed just wide from Milner's cross on the right. Guzan then saved Aguero's low shot in the 72nd minute and stopped a powerful Eliaquim Mangala header two minutes later.

Just when it seemed City would never find a way through, Toure broke the deadlock with a fine individual contribution.

Taking possession of the ball outside the box, the Ivorian advanced toward the goal as Villa's defenders stood off. From the edge of the area, Toure curled his shot past Guzan at the near post for a 1-0 lead.

It was no more than City deserved, and with the deadlock finally broken, City showed a clear sense of relief. Space soon opened up in Villa's lines, and Aguero took full advantage, drilling in City's second with a powerful finish in the 88th minute.

That finished off Villa once and for all, and in the closing minutes, City were able to coast to victory.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Brad Guzan	7.0
Alan Hutton	7.4
Philippe Senderos	7.0
Nathan Baker	7.7
Aly Cissokho	7.1
Tom Cleverley	6.8
Ashley Westwood	6.9
Fabian Delph	6.8
Charles N'Zogbia	6.7
Andreas Weimann	6.2
Kieran Richardson	6.4
Christian Benteke (for Weimann, 61')	5.8
Leandro Bacuna (for N'Zogbia, 71')	5.9
Jack Grealish (for Richardson, 71')	6.1

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Joe Hart	7.0
Pablo Zabaleta	6.9
Vincent Kompany	7.6
Eliaquim Mangala	7.4
Aleksandar Kolarov	7.6
James Milner	7.7
Fernandinho	6.7
Yaya Toure	7.8
David Silva	7.8
Edin Dzeko	6.8
Sergio Aguero	8.0
Frank Lampard (for Fernandinho, 56')	6.6
Fernando (for Dzeko, 64')	6.7
Jesus Navas (for Silva, 84')	6.3

Post-Match Reaction

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini (via MCFC.co.uk):

"

I was worried it wasn’t our day because we had so many chances to score. We played so well, defending , attacking, and in possession but of course when we have just 12 minutes to finish the game you are a little bit worried.

I trusted we would score with one of those chances because we have the important players to do it and finally Yaya scored the first goal and Kun added the second.

…

I think it is an important game not only because we won, secondly we didn’t concede but the way we played is for me the most important thing,” said the boss.

We had 70 percent possession of the ball playing away, we had eight or nine chances to score and Aston Villa just had one counter attack which Joe Hart saved after Kun had the shot which hit the post.

"

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert (via Birmingham Mail):

"

For 82 minutes in that game we were in it. Kieran (Richardson) had a really good chance at the other end and that shows how tight it is. When you play against these types of team you have to take your chances. (Manchester City) are a right good side. They will be first or second in my opinion.

Defensively we were very good. They’re that good a side they’re always going to have chances against you. Our defending, for 82 minutes, was excellent. The two lads who scored the goals are top players.

"