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Premier League: Aston Villa 3 Man City 2

Fresh from netting nine goals in a week against Manchester United and Wigan Athletic, City were in dominant mood in the first half on Saturday but had to wait for Yaya Toure's sixth strike in eight games to put them ahead in its final minute.

Having failed to muster a shot on target before the break, Karim El Ahmadi produced a clinical finish to haul Villa level amid strong suspicions of offside in the 51st minute.

Edin Dzeko glanced in from Samir Nasri's corner to restore City's advantage five minutes later but Bacuna lashed home a stunning free-kick for his first Villa goal after Matija Nastasic fouled Weimann.

In the injury absence of forward duo Christian Benteke (hip) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (ankle), Villa manager Paul Lambert handed a first start to last weekend’s match-winner at Norwich City, Libor Kozak, and reverted to a 5-3-2 formation.

And Milner had the game's first opening in the third minute, lashing wide left-footed after Dzeko dummied a low cross from Aleksandar Kolarov.

City's pressure continued largely unchecked but they were undermined failing to consistently find a quality final ball until the half’s outstanding player intervened at its conclusion.

After watching Ciaran Clark clear off the line and Nathan Baker deflect his fierce drive wide, Toure crowned a typically dominant display from midfield by steering Nasri’s corner through Guzan’s legs.

Negredo and Kolarov threatened as City began the second period at a furious place but Manuel Pellegrini's team would soon rue their profligacy.

El Ahmadi collected Bacuna's wonderfully weighted pass to fire home low across Hart as the linesman's flag stayed down.

Dzeko made the most of a static Villa defence to glance Nasri's in-swinging delivery past Guzan and the USA international got down well moments later to keep out a thunderous Negredo volley.

Ring-wing crosses from Zabaleta and Navas – introduced in place of Nasri – invited further punishment that did not arrive from Dzeko but just as Villa looked to be entering survival mode the stunned City again.

Villa Park was in raptures following Bacuna's heroics and the noise levels were further ramped up as Weimann lifted Villa up to ninth in the table – only a point behind City in fifth.