A Yaya Toure goal has given Manchester City a slender half-time lead against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

City almost went ahead after only two minutes with Aleksandar Kolarov sending in a cross from the left, but James Milner could only strike wide.

The Citizens were doing the early running and came close through Edin Dzeko as the Bosnian stretched for the ball and forced Brad Guzan to save.

Again the visitors poured forward in search of the opening goal. First Samir Nasri's shot was deflected wide and then Dzeko headed over after Kolarov had flicked on a Nasri corner.

Villa's first shot of the afternoon came on 25 minutes but Karim El Ahmadi's free kick failed to test Joe Hart.

Toure then found Pablo Zabaleta on the right byline and his cutback found Dzeko at the far post. However, the striker tried to lay the ball to Alvaro Negredo and Villa cleared.

After all of their pressure, City finally took the lead on the stroke of half time when Toure scored his sixth goal of the season.