Report and pics of Villa 0 Manchester City 2
Aston Villa were consigned to a third Premier League defeat in a row against tough opposition with a 2-0 loss at home to champions Manchester City.
The recently-maligned Yaya Toure sent a message to his critics as he and Sergio Aguero struck late on, to ensure City went home with three points.
A quiet game for Toure was lit up, as he broke the hosts' spirited resistance with a superb long-range strike eight minutes from time at Villa Park.
Aguero, who had earlier hit the post, ended any notions of a Villa fightback with an equally classy finish after 88 minutes.
Paul Lambert's side had come close to frustrating Manuel Pellegrini's men and their defence offered plenty of encouragement, as did the return of star striker Christian Benteke.
The Belgium international came off the bench in the second-half for his first action since rupturing his Achilles six months ago.
Villa had also been forced into a late reshuffle, after captain Gabriel Agbonlahor was injured in the warm-up. Andreas Weimann had initially been left out for Charles N'Zogbia, but the Austrian was quickly restored.
City upped the tempo in the latter stages of the first-half and Aguero glanced a good header narrowly wide. Edin Dzeko sliced over when well-placed, before having another attempt blocked by Philippe Senderos.
Aguero looked set to break the deadlock as he burst through within moments of the restart. He tried to place his effort and was unlucky as his shot struck the base of the post.
That sparked a breathless end-to-end period as City goalkeeper Joe Hart denied Kieran Richardson seconds later.
Then Villa shot-stopper Brad Guzan was called into action to save a deflected shot from Silva and Vincent Kompany slid across to prevent N'Zogbia shooting.
Weimann then glanced a header wide and Silva shot over from a free-kick. Looking for a break-through, City sent on Frank Lampard for a limping Fernandinho and Fernando for Dzeko.
Not to be outdone, the biggest roar of the afternoon was reserved for when Benteke came on for Weimann.
City remained the most likely side to score but Guzan proved a solid wall, keeping out a Silva chance, grasping an Aguero shot and then saving well from a firm Eliaquim Mangala header.
Yet, as valiantly as Villa had held out, their resistance was broken by Toure as the game entered its final stages.
Toure was almost nonchalant as he took as short pass from Fernando, jogged to the edge of the area and then side-footed a precise low finish inside the near post with his left boot.
Villa were broken and Aguero grabbed the goal his efforts deserved when he rifled home a shot from the edge of the area two minutes from time.
