Manchester City survived a late scare to reclaim second spot in the Premier League with a laboured 3-2 home victory over Aston Villa, all thanks to Fernandinho 88th minute winner.
An early howler from goalkeeper Brad Guzan gifted the hosts an early goal as Sergio Aguero tapped in after just three minutes, with Aleksandar Kolarov’s fine free-kick doubling their lead in the second half.
The hosts’ two-goal cushion lasted just two minutes, however, as on-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley pulled a goal back with a long range half-volley and the confident Villa - who saw off Liverpool to seal an FA Cup final spot last week - looked to have rescued a vital point when Carlos Sanchez turned the ball in late on.
But it was the defending champions who had the final word, with Villa punished for sloppy defending from a corner which allowed Brazil international Fernandinho to volley home from close-range.
A nervy three points sees City leapfrog rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, who both play on Sunday, into second. Tim Sherwood's VIlla, meanwhile, are now just two points clear of safety following a hectic afternoon of bottom-of-the-table action.
The teams barely had time to settle before an absolute clanger from Guzan handed City a third minute lead, Sergio Aguero taking advantage of the American’s miss-kicked clearance to tap into an empty net.
Aston Villa recovered from their shocking start, though, and – after a shaken Guzan threatened to gift City a second only for Fernando to head wide of an open goal – they went close through in-form Christian Benteke.
The Belgian scrapped through with the ball and survived a potential offside call before being denied by a brilliant save from the onrushing Joe Hart, with the striker sending a free header just wide moments later.
City looked asleep as the half time break approached, with Villa suddenly appearing the more likely team to score, but a moment of brilliance from Kolarov gave Manuel Pellegrini’s side a comfortable lead, the Serbian beating the wall to find the bottom corner from 22 yards.
However, at times this season the defending champions have looked a shadow of the side which lifted the Premier League trophy last term, and, in a dramatic final 30 minutes of play, they threatened to blow their two-goal lead as Sherwood’s stubborn Villa hit back.
The two-goal cushion lasted mere minutes as Hart was caught out and punished for a sloppy punched clearance, the England number one rushing off his line but not getting enough on the ball, with Cleverley pounding a half-volley through a crowded box and in the net.
Villa suddenly had City on the ropes as the visitors piled forward in search of an equaliser, and there was a sense of déjà vu when it eventually came, Hart rushing off his line but again only getting a slight touch on his punch, with Sanchez flicking the ball past the stranded keeper.
Sherwood’s men went for the jugular in the closing stages and were denied the chance for a shock winner when Benteke was wrongly flagged for offside when clean through on goal.
And City took advantage just 60 seconds later, the hosts profiting from a penalty area scramble after a corner with Fernandinho firing home to spare the big boys another embarrassing defeat.
