City left it late at a rain drenched Etihad Stadium, where Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan scored in the final 11-minutes to give us a hard-earned three points.
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Having seen several good opportunities go begging, the tension was rising when Bernardo Silva arrowed into the top corner from the edge of the area after Rodrigo had dispossessed Tyrone Mings deep in the Villa half.
The Spanish midfielder had returned from an offside position to win the ball, but the visitors saw their appeals away by referee John Moss, with manager Dean Smith sent off for his protests.
Gundogan wrapped up the points from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Matty Cash was penalised for a hand ball from Gabriel Jesus’ header.
Match report: City 2-0 Aston Villa.
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