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Substitute Fernandinho saved Manchester City's blushes as he scored late in the game to seal a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa after the reigning Premier League champions had let slip a two-goal lead.
Sergio Aguero and Aleksandar Kolarov put City 2-0 ahead, the latter executing a curling free-kick that looked to have put the game beyond doubt.
However, Tom Cleverley immediately replied to get the Midlanders back into the game, and when Carlos Sanchez equalised with an acrobatic finish, it was relegation candidates Villa who looked most likely to go on and secure victory.
However, City were able to turn the tide, and when a corner was initially headed away from goal, it fell to Fernandinho. The Brazilian midfielder chest the ball into the path of his right foot, which sweetly volleyed the ball between goalkeeper Brad Guzan's legs and into the net to secure the win.
City move ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal into second place, with both playing on Sunday.
So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery below to find out.
Show all 22 1 /22Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Manchester City: Joe Hart - 5/10 Fine save from Benteke in first half, but caught hopelessly out of position for both Cleverley and Sanchez's goals, so will be grateful for Fernandinho's winner.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Pablo Zabaleta - 6 Nullified the threat of Delph well in the first half and made a telling interception against Ashley Westwood after the break, but didn't have his customary impact going forward.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Eliaquim Mangala - 6 Like his defensive partner had his hands full in a physical battle with Benteke, but fared relatively well.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Martin Demichelis - 5 Will be battered and bruised after repeated tussles with Benteke, and was fortunate that the Belgian was flagged offside when through on goal in the latter stages.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Aleksandar Kolarov - 8 Was solid defensively and got forward throughout, putting in some superb probing crosses. Took his goal well, although was given a massive helping hand by the flimsy wall.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Frank Lampard - 5 One of Lampard's more subdued displays during his loan spell, he made way for James Milner early in the second half.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Fernando - 5 Should really have scored a free header after Guzan flapped at a Kolarov cross in the first half, and struggled to control the midfield as Villa came bake into the game.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jesus Navas - 7 Was busy, produced some quality dribbling and offered a threat throughout without producing an end product.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Yaya Toure - 6 Rampaged around with typical purpose in the opening stages, but faded with his team before limping off with a knock at half-time.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings David Silva - 6 Thankfully showed none of the after-effects of his head injury, and produced some flashes of quality, as well as one petulant tackle, for which he was booked.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Sergio Aguero - 7 The opener was the easiest goal the Argentinean will ever score, but he deserves credit for pressuring the keeper. Was an intermittent threat afterwards and should have won a penalty, but faded late on.
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Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Aston Villa: Brad Guzan - 3 Followed his awful, awful error for the opener with another gaffe that Fernando should have punished. Some better moments later on, but by then the damage was done.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Leandro Bacuna - 5 Terrible back pass almost gifted another chance to Aguero early on, and should have given away a penalty when he pulled back Aguero, but offered an attacking threat in the second half.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jores Okore - 6 Nervy in the first half, almost gifting Aguero another cheap goal, but produced some telling interceptions after the break.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Ron Vlaar - 7 Supplied an unwanted assist for Guzan's howler, but we can let him off for that. Looked increasingly assured as the game went on after a shaky start, and made himself a nuisance in the leadup to Sanchez's goal.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Kieran Richardson - 6 Had a good duel with Navas down the Villa right. Occasionally exposed, but was not afraid to get forward and whip crosses into the box, although he crumbled in the Villa wall for Kolarov's strike.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Carlos Sanchez - 7 Gave away the free-kick for the goal, for which he was booked, but redeemed himself with his beautifully-controlled finish for Villa's second goal.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Ashley Westwood - 6 His calm distribution helped to bring Villa back into the clash. Was booked for clattering David Silva before making way for Charles N'Zogbia.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Tom Cleverley - 7 Full of running as Villa came back into the game in the first half but wasted two decent chances. Took his goal brilliantly, though, to get Villa right back into the game.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Fabian Delph - 6 Found it tough going in the first half against Zabaleta but came into the match much more after the break, sending one controlled long-range effort just wide.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Jack Grealish - 8 Was lively throughout and produced moments of real quality with a superb run during the first half and several incisive through balls in the second, but occasionally careless in possession.
Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 2 player ratings Christian Benteke - 8 Was feeding off scraps but gave the City defence problems throughout, and forced a superb first-half save from Hart. Was caught offside repeatedly due to mistimed runs, but was then massively unlucky to be flagged when through on goal in the latter stages.
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