Man City 1-0 Aston Villa: City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson picks up the Manager of the Month award before the game

England's Gareth Barry challenges City's former Villa striker Darius Vassell in the opening minutes at Eastlands

Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor is unable to make the most of an opening before the break and the first half ends goalless

The deadlock is broken when midfielder Michael Johnson jinks his way into the Villa box and scores

The goal is Johnson's second of the season and enhances the teenager's growing reputation

Shaun Maloney is thwarted by City keeper Kasper Schmeichel as Villa battle in the driving rain but cannot find an equaliser

Substitute Rolando Bianchi rounds Villa keeper Scott Carson in injury time, but his shot is cleared off the line by Barry