Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero scored in the final 10 minutes as Manchester City wore down Aston Villa to eventually record a 2-0 Premier League win this evening.
David Silva's wizardry created plenty of chances for the champions in the West Midlands, but City were kept out by a spirited Villa defence before their late double.
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Toure's first goal of the season on 82 minutes was followed by Aguero's strike two minutes from time as the Citizens climbed to within two points of Chelsea and inflicted a third straight loss on a tired Villa side.
Aleksander Kolarov's deflected shot on 10 minutes came back off the post, while Aguero glanced a cross from the Serbian left-back just wide in a first half in which City failed to register a shot on target.
Suggestions of the second-half pressure that would follow came just prior to the interval as Kolarov, James Milner and Edin Dzeko all came close to an opening goal, but Nathan Baker and his defensive teammates blocked their way to parity at the break in the absence of captain Ron Vlaar.
Gabriel Agbonlahor was also missing for the hosts, having withdrawn with illness moments before kickoff, and fit-again striker Christian Benteke was only on the bench as Villa initially offered little going forward.
They benefitted from a more open game in the second period and both sides could have scored within two minutes of the restart as Aguero struck the woodwork from close range after being rolled in by Milner.
Villa immediately went up the other end only for Kieran Richardson's poor touch to scupper one of several counter-attack opportunities which they produced, one of which saw the bright Charles N'Zogbia beat three defenders before ignoring the unmarked Andreas Weimann and getting tackled.
City's superiority increased following Manuel Pellegrini's decision to substitute striker Dzeko for holding midfielder Fernando, a switch that allowed Toure to push upfield closer to Aguero.
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Man-of-the-match Silva twice threatened an opening goal, while substitute Frank Lampard and Eliaquim Mangala both had efforts saved by impressive Villa keeper Brad Guzan before Toure finally struck.
The Ivorian, who netted 20 Premier League goals last term, chose the perfect time to open his account for this campaign when he placed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, and Aguero's powerful strike secured City a victory that takes them up to second in the table.
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