City go back to the top

Manchester City returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over a floundering Aston Villa side whose nightmare home form shows no sign of easing.

City went into the match at Villa Park on the back of just one win in their previous six matches on the road, and after seeing rivals United depose them at the summit yesterday following their 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.

With the pressure on Roberto Mancini's side, Joleon Lescott's 63rd-minute header was enough to see the Eastlands club home, leaving Villa without a home win since November 5.

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