Aston Villa 0, Manchester City 1: Darius Vassell grabbed a second-half winner against his former club to end Manchester City's run of six straight Premiership defeats. Vassell did not get much power on his shot after turning on the edge of the six-yard box but saw it trundle home.

Villa thought they had snatched an injury-time equaliser when Kevin Phillips followed up Gareth Barry's shot - but he was flagged offside. The defeat leaves Villa still needing a point to be safe from relegation.

Villa began to look the stronger side and Milan Baros was unlucky not to latch on to James Milner's pass with the City defence nowhere to be seen.

More chances for Villa followed, with Gareth Barry scuffing his shot wide after creating space for himself in the box and Aaron Hughes going close with a driven cross that almost flew in the top corner.

But the visitors were a different proposition after the restart and broke the deadlock on 71 minutes.

Vassell was allowed to turn on Claudio Reyna's ball into the box and got enough on his shot to beat Sorensen.

Villa struggled to find a response but belatedly came forward in the closing stages.

Barry's shot from the edge of the area was well saved by James but Phillips followed up to slot home - only for the linesman to cut short his celebrations.

ASTON VILLA: Sorensen, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell (Phillips 76), Hughes, McCann, Barry, Samuel, Milner, Angel, Baros (Agbonlahor 58). Subs not used: Taylor, Bouma, Gardner. Booked: Ridgewell.

MANCHESTER CITY: James, Sommeil, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Sinclair, Reyna, Barton, Riera (Musampa 90), Samaras (Sibierski 45), Vassell (Jihai 87). Subs not used: Weaver, Flood. Booked: Sommeil. Goal: Vassell 71.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).