Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 0 - Report and pictures

Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan all netted in the second half as Villa were beaten for the 14th time in 15 visits to the Etihad Stadium.

After a goal-less first half, Sterling put the hosts ahead within 60 seconds of the restart when he finished under Tom Heaton.

De Bruyne then doubled the lead in controversial fashion, with the goal allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check, before Ilkay Gundogan completed the scoring.

Analysis

There were still 20 minutes left when the German international fired home on the half volley and the fact Villa did not suffer any further damage may count as something as a moral victory.

Instead, it was the hosts who saw their afternoon end on a sour note when Fernandinho was dismissed in stoppage time after picking up a second booking.

After an opening half in which they had limited City to few chances and provided a threat of their own on the counter, the second half was a struggle from the moment Sterling latched on to Jesus’ header and fired home.

This being a Villa match, there was of course a VAR controversy. This time it concerned City’s second, with Sterling appearing to offside and interfering with play when Silva appeared to get the final touch on a De Bruyne cross.

Despite Silva wheeling away in celebration and claiming the goal, video assistant referee Jon Moss ultimately ruled replays to be inconclusive and allowed the goal to stand, De Bruyne ultimately being credited with the strike.

In a further twist after the final whistle, the goal accreditation panel - an independent entity which has no affiliation with VAR - reversed the decision and awarded the goal to Silva, further compounding the farce.

Though the incident left Villa boss Dean Smith furious, in truth it did little to change the outcome.

These games are not those which will define Villa’s season but Smith will still feel an element of frustration at his team’s second half performance.

Having named an unchanged line-up for Villa’s previous three matches, which yielded seven points, the boss made two changes for the trip to the Etihad.

It included a recall for Douglas Luiz in midfield, in place of Conor Hourihane. Egyptian winger Trezeguet was also restored to the line-up for the first time since last month’s 3-2 defeat Arsenal, with Anwar El Ghazi dropping to the bench.

The hosts should have lead inside the opening five minutes but Jesus, having been handed a rare start at home, shot wide from little more than six yards out on the turn after an Ilkay Gundogan had taken two deflections and fallen perfectly into his path.

City were dominant in those early stages but while Sterling found space on several occasions on the left, Villa’s defence remained disciplined with Bjorn Engels and Matt Targett both making key blocks.

The first of three VAR checks took place when Gundogan blasted the ball into Engels at close range but while the shot hit the defender’s hand, video assistant Moss opted against awarding a spot-kick.

Moss also ruled against awarding Villa a penalty on two occasions. The first came after John McGinn had brought a fine save from City keeper Ederson. The ball ran loose and Luiz tried to pounce on the rebound, only to go down in a tangle of legs with two home defenders. After a delay, no penalty was awarded.

It was the same outcome when John Stones then handled, accidentally, after sliding to block from Trezeguet.

Perhaps the biggest officiating controversy of the opening half concerned Grealish. Harshly booked after bringing down Sterling, the Villa skipper was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card when he held down David Silva as he tried to stop a City counter.

Silva would then miss a glorious chance to put the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time, side-footing wide from eight yards out after Sterling had pulled the ball back from the byline.

Villa would have gone in the happier team at half-time but all of their hard work was undone within 60 seconds of the restart.

From a defensive point of view, it was a horrible goal to concede. Ederson’s long punt forward was flicked on by Jesus, who read the flight of the ball better than Mings, which allowed Sterling to race into the box and finish under Heaton.

The visitors couldn’t get hold of the ball for a time after that and City, with a renewed spring in their step, came close to finding a quick second.

Bernard Mendy saw a low shot deflect off Engels and go flashing wide of the far post, before Tyrone Mings pulled off a remarkable goal-line clearance, flicking a Jesus shot over the bar with his knee, after Engels had given the ball away deep in Villa territory.

The second, when it did arrive on 65 minutes, was controversial. It was initially credited to Silva and the Spaniard certainly claimed a touch on De Bruyne's cross.

That would have meant Sterling was in an offside position and interfering with play, impeding Heaton's view.

Yet after a lengthy delay for a VAR check the goal was eventually awarded, the video officials ultimately unable to determine whether Silva had in fact touched the ball.

There were no question marks about the third, which arrived soon after, Gundogan firing home an acrobatic half volley after Villa failed to clear their lines.

City had further chances, with substitute Phil Foden bringing a fine save from Heaton, while Mings cleared a chip from the same player off his own bar after a mix-up with the keeper.

After Fernandinho was dismissed for needlessly pulling back Keinan Davis, Villa’s best chance of the match came in the closing seconds, substitute Davis bringing a save from Ederson before John McGinn drilled the rebound against the post.

Key Moments

46 - GOAL - Villa conceded in the first minute of the second half. Jesus flicks on goalkeeper Ederson’s kick and Sterling races into the box, firing a finish underneath Tom Heaton.

65 - GOAL City double their lead in controversial fashion. Kevin De Bruyne’s goal is allowed to stand despite Raheem Sterling appearing to impede Heaton’s view while stood in an offside position.

70 - GOAL City make it three. Ilkay Gudogan shoots home on the half volley after Villa can’t clear their lines.

Teams

City (4-3-3): Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy (Angelino 73), De Bruyne (Foden 76), Gundogan, Silva D, Silva B, Jesus, Sterling (Aguero 76) Subs not used: Walker, Mahrez, Otamendi, Bravo (gk).

Villa (4-3-3): Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Luiz, Trezeguet, Wesley (Davis 71), Grealish (El Ghazi 84) Subs not used: Konsa, Taylor, Hourihane, Lansbury, Steer (gk).