Villa fail to banish blues

Manchester City - 3 Aston Villa - 1:English Premiership: Ali Benarbia snuffed out Aston Villa's hopes of ending their poor away form at Maine Road yesterday. The Algerian has been relegated to bench duties for much of this campaign despite his starring role in City's promotion season last season. It was his introduction midway through the second half which gave Villa that familiar sinking feeling.

Without an away win all season, the visitors harboured hopes of victory after Dion Dublin had grabbed only his side's third goal on their travels to level Marc-Vivien Foe's early effort. However, Benarbia, after striking the Villa bar with virtually his first touch, advanced into the penalty area to dispatch Nicolas Anelka's cross with a diving header 12 minutes from time.

The City fans were still celebrating when Benarbia chipped a pass beyond the static home defence, setting up Foe, who slid in to score on 80 minutes.

The visitors levelled after 41 minutes with one of their few forward forays of the half. Sylvain Distin should have done more to clear the danger but the Frenchman was content to let Jlloyd Samuel's cross roll out for a corner after striking him on the knee.

Samuel, though, followed up his initial run then finding Dublin, who threaded his close-range shot through a crowded six-yard box with Schmeichel unsighted and helpless.

It took the arrival of Benarbia to spark some life into an increasingly listless home attack. Questions will be asked about his unchecked run into the area to meet Anelka's cross but the real blame lay at the feet of the two defenders who allowed the Frenchman to deliver the crucial final ball. Benarbia then set up Foe for his second with a brilliantly-chipped pass which invited the first-time finish it received.

MANCHESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Dunne, Howey, Distin, Wright-Phillips (Benarbia 64), Berkovic, Foe, Horlock, Tiatto (Jensen 46), Anelka, Goater (Huckerby 72). Subs Not Used: Nash, Wiekens. Goals: Foe 15, 80; Benarbia 78.

ASTON VILLA: Enckelman, Samuel, Mellberg, Staunton, Barry, De la Cruz, Kinsella, Hitzlsperger (Leonhardsen 68), Hadji, Dublin, Vassell (Angel 63), Leonhardsen (Hendrie 89). Subs Not Used: Postma, Allback. Booked: De la Cruz. Goal: Dublin 41.

Referee: Mark Halsey (England).