Aston Villa 3 - 2 Manchester City

ASTON VILLA 3 - 2 MANCHESTER CITY
El Ahmadi 51', Bacuna 73', Weimann 75'           Yaya Toure 45', Dzeko 56'


Daylight robbery in Birmingham as the Villains run away with three points.

It was all passing and no penetration for the blues who dominated possession throughout. Goal line clearances prevented Yaya Toure and Edin Dzeko from giving the away side a deserved early lead but Paul Lambert's men continued to defend brilliantly.

However, the Ivorian bulldozer had more Premier League bait to take and gave Pellegrini's men the lead on 45 minutes with a simple volley from short range. Yaya Toure's sixth goal of the season had seemingly put his side in control - but the Villains had venom to inject. 

Six minutes into the second half, the home side launched their first real attack of the game and Karim El Ahmadi smashed a low drive past Joe Hart to equalise. 


Karim El Ahmadi equalises for Aston Villa.

A vivacious Villa Park purred with pleasure, but Frenchman in form Samir Nasri was on hand to whip a sweet corner kick onto the head of Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. 

Paul Lambert's young side have made a name for themselves with their ample appetite for a fight and their hunger was on show once again on Saturday afternoon. With seventeen minutes left to play, 22 year old Leandro Bacuna stepped up to make sure Joe Hart was beaten by a free-kick for the second time in a week. 


Leandro Bacuna curls a 25 yard free kick into the back of Joe Hart's net.

Delirium swallowed the stands and the home crowd howled hysterically. Their side were miraculously still in the game and City were beginning to crumble. 

There was more woe to come for Pellegrini's pupils when Andreas Weimann capitalised on an uncharacteristic defensive lapse to give his side a shock victory.

The meltdown at Villa Park will have Bayern Munich beaming in Bavaria as they await their flight into Manchester on Wednesday night. Memories of Cardiff surfaced and the exceptional derby win a week before now almost seems fruitless. 

It's the European Champions on Wednesday night and there's no room for error. 

Player Ratings

 Joe Hart 6

Had little to do but somehow ended up picking the ball out of his net three times.

 Pablo Zabaleta 7

A similar performance to last week. Got forward well and supplemented City's attack. 

 Matija Nastasic 5.5
He was to blame for Villa's winner but looked comfortable before Weimann's goal. 

 Vincent Kompany 6

Untroubled for 60 minutes but wasn't able to save City from their self destruct. 

 Aleksandar Kolarov 6

As always, great going forward, but delivery was below par.

 James Milner 5

An uncharacteristic poor performance for the former Villa man. Wasn't able to keep hold of the ball.
 Fernandinho 8
Starting to settle into the Premier League well. A commanding performance that allowed his side to grab two goals. 

 Yaya Toure 6

A game of two halves for the Ivorian. Grabbed yet another goal but disappeared in the second half.

 Samir Nasri 7
The Nasri of Arsenal is starting to surface once again. Creatively brilliant but partly to blame for Villa's first goal.

 Edin Dzeko 6
May have grabbed a goal, but it was a quiet performance from the Bosnian.

 Alvaro Negredo 6
The Spaniard was kept out of the game brilliantly by Villa's defence.

Aston Villa v Manchester City

                                                         

Preview
It's time for a Brummy bashing as Manuel Pellegrini's derby day heroes face Paul Lambert's Villains.

Sunday 22nd September marked a three day crusade over the North. Nine goals in two games left the Red Devil's distraught and the Latic's lashed as Manchester sparkled a sultry shade of sky blue. 

Manuel's minions have another battle to win; this time in Birmingham. 

The blues have a repulsive record at Villa Park and have recorded only 16 wins in 74 games against the claret and blues. However, recent history will buoy the visitors after seizing two 0-1 victories in their last two visits to the 43,000 capacity stadium.

The Villains sit uncomfortably in 13th place after their opening five games and have made a cagey start to the 2013/2014 campaign. Christian Benteke has made a stately start to the season and tops the league's goalscoring table with four goals. However, a hip injury acquired at Carrow Road last weekend means the Belgian will face six sour weeks on the sidelines.

Will a Benteke-less Villa have any bite?

With Vincent Kompany back in the side, it's hard to imagine. Captain Fantastic nestled Wayne Rooney in the safety of his pocket on Saturday and gave a puissant performance that helped his side to a monumental 4-1 victory over Manchester United. 

Paul Lambert's young side are certainly of the industrious type, but the blues are beginning to emerge from their shell. 

Goals are flowing, and they'll keep going.

0-2

Line-Up
Manuel Pellegrini made ten changes to the side that crucified Manchester United on Saturday and it paid off. Fernandinho was the only survivor in a 5-0 massacre over Wigan Athletic. 

Stevan Jovetic opened his goalscoring account with a brace and will be hoping to grab his first league goal on Saturday afternoon. Edin Dzeko was also on the scoresheet, but Alvaro Negredo's beautiful bulldozing of Nemanja Vidic should see him get a starting place alongside Sergio Aguero.


Stevan Jovetic scored a brace against Wigan Athletic in City's 5-0 Capitcal One Cup win.

Micah Richards was also a starter on Tuesday night and will be in contention for a starting place following his impressive display.

Key Players

Gabriel Agbonlahor
The Englishman has made a fine start to the campaign and his speed has the ability to frighten the best of defenders. With Benteke injured, goalscoring responsibilties lie with him and he'll be expected to play on the shoulders of Kompany and Nastasic.


Stevan Jovetic
Although a starting place is not guaranteed, the Montenegrin will be looking to add to the two goals he scored against Wigan in mid week. The crafty attacker still has a lot to live up to and City fans will be hoping to see his name on the team sheet this afternoon.

Manchester City 4 - 1 Manchester United

MANCHESTER CITY 4 - 1 MANCHESTER UNITED
Aguero 16', 47', Yaya Toure 45', Nasri 50'          Rooney 87'


The 'noisy neighbours' screamed into the ears of their Manchester rivals yesterday as Sergio and co. ran riot at the Etihad.

It was hilarity for Manuel and humiliation for Moyes in a jovial Manchester derby propelled by the bamboozling brilliance of Pellegrini's proteges. 

It took only 16 minutes for the blues to commence the battering when Sergio Aguero stylishly finished from a Kolarov cross beautifully assisted by Samir Nasri. The Argentine wildly waved his arms in typical fashion as his 45,000 admirers howled with happiness. A red retaliation was expected, but there was no response.


Sergio Aguero opens the scoring at the Etihad yesterday afternoon

With only one first half minute to spare, Yaya Toure kneed home from an Alvaro Negredo header. The timing was perfect and the Etihad was delirious. The home side marched into the break with smiles threatening to eclipse their cheeks; the visitors planted their peekers firmly on the ground. 

Still energised from the flurry of the first half, Pellegrini's pupils began to rub more salt into the waxing wounds of Mr. Moyes. Some superb strength from Alvaro Negredo allowed the Spaniard to tee Sergio Aguero for his second of the match and the three points were at the checkout ready to be taken home.

It was hard to see City stopping, and they didn't. Samir Nasri capped off an unbelievable performance with a precise volley on 50 minutes following an Olympic-like sprint from Jesus 'Speedy Gonzalez' Navas. The Frenchman looks to be back to his best and that can only mean good things for the blues.


Samir Nasri celebrates scoring City's fourth of the afternoon

It wouldn't have been a Manchester derby without a Wayne Rooney goal and with three minutes left on the clock, the Englishman in form curled an unstoppable free-kick into the top right hand corner of Joe Hart's net. 

A clean sheet would have been the icing on the cake, but Pellegrini can have no complaints with the way his sensational side played yesterday. It was another emphatic victory to add to City's growing list of United thrashings, but the season is long.

Let the banter commence.

Manchester is Blue.

Player Ratings

 Joe Hart 7

Had little to do but made an excellent save from Rooney and got a hand to his free kick.

 Pablo Zabaleta 7

Got forward brilliantly and looked comfortable playing behind Navas. A typically bullish performance from the Argentine. 

 Matija Nastasic 7
A comfortable performance alongside Captain Fantastic. Never looked troubled.

 Vincent Kompany 9

A simply stunning performance from the captain. Kept Rooney out of the game and threaded balls into the midfield like Beckenbauer. Great to have him back.

 Aleksandar Kolarov 7

There's no doubt about it, the Serbian is definitely getting better. Offers City a tremendous outlet when going forward and his delivery is exceptional. Assisted Aguero's first goal and was involved in most of City's attacking play. Clichy will be quaking. 

 Jesus Navas 7
His pace is frightening and his wing play was instrumental in yesterday's thrashing. Ran 50 yards to create City's fourth and scared the living hell out of Evra.

 Fernandinho 7
Maintained possession and controlled the midfield in typically calm fashion. Allowed Yaya to shine once again. 

 Yaya Toure 9
Complete and utter domination. Unquestionably Europe's best box to box midfielder and proved his credentials once again yesterday. Who's Marouane Fellaini again?

 Samir Nasri 8
All eyes were on the Frenchman following his shocker last season and he answered his critics brilliantly. The creativity we all know he possesses surfaced and he even bagged himself a goal. Back to his best?

 Sergio Aguero 9
The Argentine has a habit of upsetting United and the habit continued yesterday. Two goals in an energetic performance which left Ferdinand chasing his own tail.

 Alvaro Negredo 8
He's beginning to make the position his own. Superb strength and skill to assist Sergio's second and headed down for Yaya. Offers a lot more than Dzeko.

Manchester City v Manchester United

                                                         

Preview
For many, it's God's day of rest; for Manchester, it's play time. 

On Sunday 22nd September, the world will cast its Beady Eye on the ignition of a fresh rivalry. A paradisaical Oasis of football awaits the Etihad and the Robin Van Persie demons that still make Eastlands creek at night must be erased.

Come 6pm, the blues will be High Flying in the Barclays Premier League table; we hope.

It's been a summer of change for both Manchester clubs. Managerial appointments and a number of fresh signings (for one team at least) bring a crisp, unpredictable excitement to the derby. Fernandinho, Navas, Jovetic and Negredo all seem to be comfortable in their new sky blue tees and Marouane Fellaini has added strength and poise to United's midfield. Sunday will present them all with the perfect stage to show their worth as 48,000 roaring spectators nervously watch on.

However, both clubs have started the 2013/2014 campaign with minimal acceleration. Respective losses to Cardiff and Liverpool have left throbbing wounds, but also mean the two Manchester giants sit on 7 points. 

It's all to play for.

Mancini's minions were dealt a sickening blow last year when Robin Van Persie's late free-kick saw Fergie's champions record a smug 2-3 victory. However, Pellegrini's home record at his new club is still glistening and the Chilean won't want to spoil it with a high profile loss to his new, bitter rivals. David Moyes has a frustratingly impressive record against the blues having led Everton to 10 victories from 22 games since his reign at Everton began in 2002.

It's unconquered ground for both bosses and both would love to boast a first ever Manchester derby win. Moyes may have Premier League experience, but Pellegrini's pastoral approach will help settle the home side.

Bring your scarf, your hat... anything! 

It's time to destroy the 'Devils'. 

2-1

Line-Up
What's this?! A positive update on City's injury-ridden team?

It is! David Silva, Gael Clichy and Micah Richards have all returned to training ahead of Sunday's derby and may well be up for selection. 


David Silva has returned to training after suffering a thigh injury.

Vincent Kompany made a commanding return to first team football in midweek, captaining his side to a glorious 3-0 victory in Plzen. Sergio Aguero is expected to lead the line following his man-of-the-match performance in the Czech Republic and Alvaro Negredo's strength and height may be employed to combat Vidic. 

Key Men


Sergio Aguero
The Argentine has made a lively start to the 2013/2014 campaign and gave an exhilarating performance in Plzen on Tuesday night. His speed and strength tormented United at Old Trafford last season and he'll be our main threat on Sunday afternoon.



Wayne Rooney
There's no doubt about it, Rooney is back to his best. Two goals in mid-week and a stunning free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace will have left Moyes begging Rooney to injure his noggin more often. The Englishman has a fine record against City and is the man who will make Van Persie tick.