Manchester City have moved top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues are now two points clear of Man United following their 1-apiece draw at Anfield earlier today.
The hosts had been without the services of forwards Carlos Tevez, currently under investigation by the club, and Sergio Aguero, who has been out with a groin injury sincle their last league game.
City dominated play from the off, testing Shay Given constantly before finally finding reward in the 27th minute as Mario Balotelli shot from close into the middle of the goal.
Villa had a chance ten minutes later when Stephen Ireland was awarded a free kick, but Emile Heskey's resulting header went clear of the crossbar to leave it 1-0 going into the break.
City's second goal came just one minute into the second half when Adam Johnson fired in from the edge of the area, followed up five minutes later with a close range header from Vincent Kompany.
The visitors clawed one back at 64 minutes through Stephen Warnock, but the deficit was back to three just minutes later when James Milner scored from outside the box.
Villa next play host to Midlands rivals West Brom next Saturday, while Man City play Man Utd at Old Trafford in Sunday's early kick-off.
Neil Wilkes
