Manchester City 1 Aston Villa 0: Manchester City maintained their 100 per cent home record under Sven-Goran Eriksson with a win over Aston Villa at Eastlands today.

Teenage midfielder Michael Johnson was the matchwinner with a well-taken goal in the 48th minute, just as he had been in the single-goal victory over Derby.

Villa fought hard in a frenetic match but were unable to create one real clear chance as City climbed up to second in the early Premier League standings.

Villa threatened first after six minutes when Carew got away from Javier Garrido down the right and cut inside, but his shot was blocked by Corluka.

Barry had started well for Villa and his high hanging cross from the left was fumbled by Kasper Schmeichel but luckily for City the chances twice fell to Olof Mellberg, who fluffed both opportunities that came his way.

City were generally having the best of it though and Vassell came close with a glancing header from a Martin Petrov free-kick in the 17th minute.

Johnson should have scored for City two minutes later when he charged down a Martin Laursen clearance and was released into the box by Elano, but Scott Carson came out well to to parry his shot, which he took on his favoured right foot when the left looked a better option.

Brazil midfielder Elano then cleared the danger at the other end after Carew had headed Barry's corner goalwards.

Gabriel Agbonlahor then came close for Villa when Wilfred Bouma's long ball fell into his path. He rounded Schmeichel but found the angle too tight.

City took the lead in the 48th minute. Johnson and Elano exchanged passes in central midfield before the 19-year-old jinked past Laursen, burst into the box and fired a low right-foot shot past Carson and into the corner for his second of the season.

Mpenza sliced a shot wide after a forward burst by Petrov, but Villa were not out of it and Corluka's alertness prevented a goal at the other end in the 58th minute as he slid in to clear with Agbonlahor poised.

The England Under-21 striker then headed wide Ashley Young's cross to the far post from the left as the hour mark passed.

Luke Moore had a goal disallowed for pushing with 17 minutes to go as the luck again favoured City. Moore was booked for fouling Corluka after 77 minutes and at the other end Mpenza's shot from the edge of the D appeared to strike Laursen on the arm.

Martin O'Neill tried a late shake-up with Stiliyan Petrov replacing Nigel Reo-Coker and Craig Gardner coming on for Bouma, while the excellent Elano was replaced by Michael Ball as City looked to hold on.

Johnson could have added a second after another break from deep but Gardner blocked his shot, but in the end his early second-half strike proved enough. Substitute Bianchi almost added a breakaway second but his effort was cleared off the line.