Manchester City 3 Villa 0

Villa boss Gerard Houllier is facing a backlash from fans after fielding a weakened side which were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City at Eastlands.

Houllier left Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Kyle Walker, Nigel Reo-Coker and Marc Albrighton on the bench as City cruised to a comfortable victory to secure a quarter-final meeting with Reading.

Yaya Toure put City ahead in the fifth minute after Villa failed to clear a corner and Mario Balotelli added a second in the 25th minute with a crisp volley, before Silva added a spectacular third after the break.

Houllier controversially made eight changes from the side which won 4-1 against Blackburn at the weekend and rested a number of star players.

American international Michael Bradley made his first start for the club since his loan move from Borussia Monchengladbach, while youngster Chris Herd came in at right-back for his first start.

It was not long before Villa found themselves a goal down and inevitably City were quick to exploit Villa's inability to defend from corners.

Aleksandar Kolarov delivered an outswinging ball from the left which was flicked on by Patrick Vieira, who outjumped Herd, and deflected off the arm of Ciaran Clark into the path of Toure.

The midfielder made no mistake from inside the six yard box as he swivelled and smashed the ball past goalkeeper Brad Friedel from less than a yard out.

A neat Villa build-up moments later created an opening for Barry Bannan but his sweetly-struck shot from 30 yards went straight into the hands of City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Roberto Mancini's side were in complete control of the game and doubled their advantage in the 25th minute with a well-worked goal on the counter attack.

Herd misplaced a pass to Nathan Delfouneso and Vieira found Toure who played a lofted ball over the Villa defence for Balotelli to chase.

The ball sat up kindly for the Italian striker who calmly volleyed the ball past the outrushing Friedel and into the net.

Villa's best hope of pulling a goal back was on the break and Emile Heskey went close in the 30th minute with their best chance of the half.

Heskey picked up the ball on the left flank and cut back inside before he curled a low shot to Hart's left which the goalkeeper pushed past the post.

The visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure immediately after the half-time break but despite forcing a succession of corners they were unable to create a meaningful chance.

However, City never really needed to break sweat and Silva effectively made the tie safe when he added a third in the 70th minute with the pick of the goals.

Pablo Zabaleta's cross from the right was cleared by the luckless Herd straight to the feet of Silva, who struck a powerful angled shot from outside the box into the corner of the net.

Houllier belatedly threw on Young and Downing a minute later – to ironic cheers from the away end – but it was too little, too late from the Villa boss.

City had several chances to add a fourth in the remainder of the game but were denied by Friedel in the Villa goal, but it's Houllier's team selection which will grab the headlines.