Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City: Foden and Bernardo the standouts in comeback win
Manchester City edged closer to securing the Premier League title as they beat Aston Villa 2-1.
Pep Guardiola's side responded well to falling behind to a John McGinn goal inside the first minute, with Phil Foden and Rodri getting them in front before the break.
And, though it looked like John Stones' dismissal on the stroke of half-time might shift the momentum again, Matty Cash followed him off the pitch before the hour mark to hand control back to City.
See how the players rated below...
Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City: Player Ratings, Match Statistics
✔️ Phil Foden: 8.4
The Englishman is fast becoming one of City's most important players and proved why here.
Along with his well-taken goal, it was Foden's quick feet that tempted Cash into being sent off, and he was a handful for the Vilal defence all evening.
✖ John Stones: 5.7
Less than 20 seconds had elapsed when Stones took the inexplicable decision to lunge at a ball in behind
with the wrong foot, allowing Ollie Watkins to tee up McGinn for the opener.
And, just when it looked like his teammates had dug him out of a hole by getting their noses in front, the Englishman produced another gaffe to make life harder for City.
Pep Guardiola was not happy with the decision, but Stones took a huge risk in flying in at Jacob Ramsey
at that pace and could have few complaints over seeing red after he was beaten to the ball.
✖ Matty Cash: 5.7
Even Cash himself could not explain the decision to dive in on Foden just three minutes after receiving a yellow card.
Aston Villa had every chance of getting something from this match while a man up but their right-back's needless dismissal ended any hopes.
⭐ Bernardo Silva: 8.8
Having gone behind so early, City needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the beck, which is exactly where Bernardo Silva came in.
The Portuguese followed a lung-busting run with an inch-perfect pass for Foden's equaliser before tempting Emi Martinez into no-man's land with the teasing cross that Rodri headed home for the visitors' second.
His contributions turned a potentially difficult evening into what ended up being a routine win.
Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City: Player Ratings, Match Statistics