Job done
Speaking to the media after the game, Manuel Pellegrini stated it was important for his side to be patient, in their bid to break down a stubborn Villa defence.
A thoroughly dominant first-half display saw plenty of chances created but ultimately no goals and for a short period, we wondered whether it would be ‘another one of those days’.
However, the hosts finally opened the scoring just three minutes after the restart and the floodgates were opened.
Before the game, many had predicted a Blue rout against a side battling relegation. With the score goalless at the break, there were murmurings of frustration - but once the deadlock was broken, there was little doubt as to who would claim the points.
Whether a victory was expected or not, City still had to produce the goods and they did.
Still in the hunt
As things stood at full-time, City had closed the gap on Tottenham and Arsenal, who had shared the spoils in the North London derby, and were awaiting the result of Watford’s clash with table-topping Leicester.
The Foxes would emerge victorious from Vicarage Road to move to 60 points - ten clear of Pellegrini’s men, who however have a game in hand.
City will not give up on the title. The boss certainly feels our fellow title contenders will drop points, adding experience could prove key.
We all know the Blues have been in this situation before and as Gael Clichy declared, the Blues must focus solely on themselves. There is no use in worrying about what others do - for we have no control over that.
Here’s hoping we can push on and embark on the run we believed we would hit after the Capital One Cup final.
Two will do
We need not explain the value of Sergio Aguero to this Club but displays like his always warrant praise.
Okay, it wasn’t quite a flawless performance with a penalty miss to deny his hat-trick - and he may have had a slice of luck in his first goal - but he was in fine form. In addition to his brace, he also created an assist and let’s face it, his second goal was simply sublime.
The exquisite one-two with David Silva was mesmerising enough and Kun bettered it, taking the ball down on his chest and executing an excellent finish into the near post on the half-volley.
That strike was his 21st of the campaign, 16th in the Premier League and tenth in as many games. When you consider he’s been absent through injury for parts of the season, it’s an even more impressive return.
Men of the Match
Kun was voted the star of the show by our City Matchday app users - but in truth, several City stars were worthy of the acclaim.
When we asked our Twitter followers to vote, there were nominations for Silva, Yaya Toure, Clichy and Nicolas Otamendi too.
The Manchester Evening News heralded Merlin’s display as ‘one of his best performances of the season’.
His assist took him to ten in the Premier League this year and as Opta revealed, it was also his 55th since his arrival in England’s top flight - 11 more than any other player.
Similarly, Yaya’s strike marked his 49th goal from midfield in his five seasons - another stat which trumps that of any player in the same position.
If these two are back to their brilliant best, it would be a major boost in the title run-in.
