Manchester City 2, Aston Villa 0 - Hughes: City’s best yet

MARK HUGHES described it as possibly Manchester City’s most complete performance of the season as they defeated top-four team Aston Villa at Eastlands last night.

The City chief had plenty of reasons to be cheerful after seeing his side climb to eighth place in the Premier League and a UEFA Cup place is by no means the long shot it once appeared.

Hughes said: “When we show what we are capable of, which more often than not is at Eastlands, everyone can appreciate what a good team we are.

“What we need to do is find that consistent level of performance on our travels. Saying that, there have been positive signs in our last two away games.

“Slowly but surely we feel we are getting to where we can go up against the likes of Aston Villa and test ourselves on an even footing.”

Only pacesetters Manchester United have recorded more league victories at home than City.

Yet on their travels, lowly Blackburn and Middlesbrough boast better records.

What made City’s win against Villa so commendable was that it was achieved with a blunted attack as Brazilian star Robinho, Craig Bellamy, Benjani and Daniel Sturridge were all injured.

It was left to 20-year-old rookie Felipe Caicedo, who is from Ecuador, to plough a lone furrow up front, though he received excellent support from man-of-the-match Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stephen Ireland.

Villa, the team with the best away record in the Premier League, had been seeking an eighth straight league victory on their travels.

But they arrived at the end of a bad week in which they had been knocked out of the UEFA Cup by CSKA Moscow — they fielded a much-weakened side in Russia — and had been held at home in the league by lowly Stoke City.

Their confidence looked shot as City took control from the start.

They went ahead when Wright-Phillips was scythed down by James Milner as he burst through on goal with Elano scoring from the penalty spot.

Villa, who brought on giant Norwegian striker John Carew at the restart, were more of a threat in the second period, but City’s defence stood firm with Richard Dunne back to his best.

“We had to stand up to their physical presence in the second half and we were able to do that,” explained Hughes. “It was about determination and the resolve not to get beaten.

It took Villa more than 70 minutes before they tested City ’keeper Shay Given who, in quick succession, denied Gareth Barry and Ashley Young.

City continued to carve out chances and only a fine save from Brad Friedel kept out Elano’s effort.

City deservedly sealed victory in the 89th minute when Wright-Phillips fired home his seventh goal of the season after a fabulous interchange of passes between himself and Ireland.