Stroll for City as Vassell returns to haunt Villa

MANCHESTER CITY finally achieved their first away win of the season in the Premiership – and it should come as no surprise that Aston Villa were on the receiving end.

City are now unbeaten in 10 league and cup meetings with the midlands club stretching back to August 2002 and they became the first side to win at Villa Park this season. Former Villa striker Darius Vassell, Joey Barton and Sylvain Distin were on target for Stuart Pearce’s side but it was an all-round impressive performance.

Villa were second best in the opening 45 minutes and any improvement after the interval was only minimal.

Stuart Taylor, deputising for the injured Thomas Sorensen, made the first save of note to beat out a fierce drive from Samaras after he had exchanged passes with Bernardo Corradi.

Taylor was called upon again to turn a curling Vassell shot around the post.

Then after 18 minutes Vassell put the visitors ahead with his fifth goal in four games against Villa since his £2million move in the summer of 2005.

A cross from Trabelsi was flicked on by Corradi and Vassell had the time and space at the far post to beat Taylor with a low left-footed drive.Vassell came close to doubling City’s lead with a header inches too high.

It came as no surprise when City struck again in the 32nd minute through Barton’s fourth league goal of the campaign.

Distin’s long crossfield pass was chased down by Samaras who was played onside by Liam Ridgewell. He managed to keep the ball in play by the by-line and had time to pick out the run of Barton whose first-time shot beat Taylor inside the near post.

There was a rare opportunity for Villa when Ben Thatcher brought down Baros 25 yards from goal and Stiliyan Petrov’s free-kick beat Weaver but crashed against the crossbar and bounced down on the goal-line.

Manager Martin O’Neill would have wanted a positive response from his side after such a dreadful opening 45 minutes and Angel was only just too high with a 20-yard drive after running on to Gavin McCann’s crossfield ball.

Barry then played in Petrov and his low shot took a deflection off Richard Dunne but Weaver was able to adjust and make a comfortable save.

But Villa were still struggling to hit top form and it needed a fine double save from Taylor to prevent City from making sure of the three points.

The ex-Arsenal player blocked Corradi’s first attempt and then reacted quickly to keep out the rebound effort from Vassell.

Then after 66 minutes McCann gave Villa a lifeline with his first goal of the campaign. City were slow to close him down after he had taken a pass from Barry in his stride and the combative midfielder drilled a swerving 25 yarder past Weaver.

At last Villa were able to mount some concerted pressure but with 15 minutes remaining a superb goal from Distin settled the issue.

He made a run from deep inside his own half, exchanged passes with Samaras, and then beat Ridgewell for pace before firing a low shot past Taylor.

ASTON VILLA: Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Davis 63), Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann, Barry, Angel, Baros.

MAN CITY: Weaver, Richards (Onuoha 90), Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Trabelsi (Dickov 85), Reyna, Barton, Vassell, Corradi, Samaras (Hamann 76).

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).