Premier League: Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 1

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table thanks to a Joleon Lescott goal as they defeated Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park.

Lescott was left unmarked in the six-yard box to turn the ball home after Gareth Barry had flicked back James Milner’s corner as the two former Villa players returned to haunt their old club.

City dominated possession and tried to pepper Shay Given’s goal, but the closest they came apart from Lescott’s goal was an Adam Johnson shot which struck the post.

In a subdued start, City had the first chance when David Silva nodded to Sergio Aguero who shot on the turn from the edge of the area but straight at Shay Given.

The match livened up slightly with Richard Dunne heading a Stiliyan Petrov free-kick tamely at Joe Hart and Silva wriggling away to hit a low shot which Given had little trouble saving.

The Spaniard was involved moments later with a wonderful cross-field pass to Aleksandr Kolarov who fed Barry, but he again shot straight at Given.

The visitors were still dominating possession and beginning to look more threatening, with the Villa defence having to block shots from several angles as they began to come under pressure.

Aguero then had two efforts, firstly weaving into the area before slicing wide and then seeing his shot across goal cleared by Alan Hutton.

The Argentine tried his luck once more before Kolarov also had a free-kick from 25 yards, but neither could hit the target as the teams went into the break goal-less after a disappointing first-half.

City started the second 45 minutes on the front foot with Vincent Kompany flicking a Milner corner towards goal, but Hutton managed to clear.

A goal had always looked like coming at some stage but it took the two Villa old boys to combine for the visitors to take the lead.

Milner’s corner from the left was headed back across goal by Barry for Lescott to stab home.

Having recouped 11 points from losing positions this season, Villa found themselves in a familiar position once again and Alex McLeish responded by bringing on Charles N’Zogbia for Emil Heskey in a bid to draw level.

The home side had threatened only from set-pieces during the match and they had two late chances to equalise.

Dunne tamely headed at Hart and then Carlos Cuellar headed Petrov’s right-wing delivery over from eight yards when unmarked, but the Villa attacks were too sporadic throughout the match as City held on for a deserved three points.