Phil Foden showed onwatching England boss Gareth Southgate exactly what he could do when he inspired his Manchester City side to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
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Villa ran into an early lead with just 20 seconds on the clock when John Stones fluffed his lines and tried to catch Tyrone Ming’s long ball, before Ollie Watkins cut the ball back to John McGinn who hit home.
“Start fast, boys!” #AVLMCI
pic.twitter.com/aox6k12Nlg
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 21, 2021
The visitors leveled midway through the first half when a brilliant team-mate started with Ederson and ended with Phil Foden picking out the bottom corner, before Rodris’ gleaming head gave City the lead five minutes before half-time.
The visitors were in pace but the game swung back in balance when the Stones shocking night ended after he received a red card for a ruthless challenge on Jacob Ramsey, even though Matty Cash took two bookings in three other half minutes to make it 10-a-side. page.
Villa did their best to push for an equalizer but City’s possession was completely relentless as Pep Guardiola’s side edged closer to the Premier League title.
Now to the Villa and City player ratings …
Emiliano Martinez started in goal for Villa | Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Emiliano Martinez (GK) – 6/10 – Made brilliant to anticipate a number of city intersections before leaving his line to cut them out, but was found lacking when unloading his line for the City winner.
Matty Cash (RB) – 4/10 – Some quick interceptions on the back post but let him down by picking up a second yellow card in the evening just three minutes after his first.
Ezri Konsa (CB) – 7/10 – Guardiola’s side would probably have had three or four if it were not for this man. Produced some solid blocks and looked comfortable walking into the wide areas to help their slopes.
Tyrone Mings (CB) – 6/10 – Fantastic vision to discover Watkins’ drive and take a quick free kick to get City unprotected for the Villa opener. Caught ball watching as Rodri led City forward.Matt Targett (LB) – 7/10 – Exploited Riyad Mahrez’s inability to track her husband and caused City backline many problems.
John McGinn opens the scoring for Villa | Pool / Getty Images
John McGinn (CM) – 7/10 – Made brilliant to anticipate the Stones missed clearance before taking in the opening goal. Tried to hold the ball and pull his side up the field but it was like trying to shoot water upwards.
Douglas Luiz (CM – 6/10 – Sat at the base of Villa midfield three but could not contain the runs of Ilkay Gundogan. Holds the ball well and helped to start one or two sporadic attacks.
Marvelous Nakamba (CM) – 5/10 – Did his best to disrupt the flow of City’s metronome midfield but it turned out to be an ungrateful task. Recalled with 25 minutes to play when Dean Smith sought an equalizer.
Ollie Watkins looks to hold out Ruben Dias | Chloe Knott – Danehouse / Getty Images
Bertrand Traore (RW) – 5/10 – Offered valuable little down in the Villa right. Lasted 75 minutes before it was taken off but it really was not a memorable screen.
Ollie Watkins (ST) – 6/10 – Fantastic awareness to select McGinn who opened the scoring. Found himself a bit isolated when City took control of the game and spent most of the night chasing lost items.
Jacob Ramsey (LW) – 6/10 – Did not neglect his defensive duties when Mahrez flowed forward but in truth he was like a dog that chased its tail at times. Recalled at half time for tactical reasons.
? SECOND HALF?
45 minutes to play on VP, where @ KeinanDavis39 is on his way for Ramsey. #AVLMCI pic.twitter.com/zbkynEusAc
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 21, 2021
Keinan Davis (ST) – 5/10
Ross Barkley (CM) – 6/10
Anwar El Ghazi (RW) – 6/10
Kyle Walker sends Jacob Ramsey tumbling | Michael Steele / Getty Images
Ederson (GK) – 7/10 – Very little he could do for the Villa opener. Incredible number of passes opened the game and helped City launch countless attacks.Kyle Walker (RB) – 5/10 – Looked very ruthless at times and was lucky not to allow a number of cheap free kicks. Used his pace well but ended up out of position too often.
John Stones (CB) – 3/10 – Decided to go with his left foot instead of his right to clear Ming’s long ball at the beginning of 20 seconds and made an absolute mess of it. Sent for an early swim after a terrible challenge on Ramsey. His rear catalog of shockers is decent but it’s up there.
Ruben Dias (CB) – 7/10 – Had to regroup after the dismissal of his defensive partner, he did not seem to mind at all and continued to hit the ball comfortably.Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 7/10 – Fantastic work in building City’s equalizer when he blew himself free and was picked out by Ederson. Strolled a lot and helped to connect the game with the midfield.
Aston Villa vs. Manchester City – Premier League | Pool / Getty Images
Rodri (DM) – 6/10 – Good head to give his side the lead. Got a little more to do at night than keep the ball in midfield before sitting and watching his side flood forward.
Ilkay Gundogan (CM) – 7/10 – City sometimes passed the ball to death and this man was central to every move. Started advancing further up the field during the second half and basically just controlled the game.
Bernardo Silva (CM) – 7/10 – Lovely overlapping drive before he put the ball on a plate for Foden to equalize and then took another assist when Rodri led City forward.
Phil Foden steps away from Ollie Watkins | Marc Atkins / Getty Images
Riyad Mahrez (RW) – 5/10 – Caused problems in Villa left but his last ball was sometimes missing. Grew up frustrated when the game continued but only became more wasteful when he should have been looking for a teammate.
Gabriel Jesus (ST) – 4/10 – Who? Completely anonymous for most of the first half and was replaced at half time.
Phil Foden (LW) – 8/10 – Great goal to compare the score. Literally unstoppable when he is in full swing and had the Villa defense in strings. Shown glimpses of absolute quality and will undoubtedly have given Southgate a lot to think about.
CITY SUB | @ gabrieljesus9? @Laporte
? 1-2? #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/JR9cZPSmF8
– Manchester City (@ManCity) April 21, 2021
Aymeric Laporte (CB) – 6/10
Fernandinho (DM) – N / A
