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BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "Aston Villa have withstood tremendous pressure as the half has worn on, full credit to the two centre-backs Nathan Baker and Philippe Senderos, and the goalkeeper Brad Guzan. They have kept their team in it. It has been a spirited performance from Villa, Man City have been in the ascendancy but could not find a way through, and Joe Hart has been untroubled."

Aly Cissokho thrusts his head out to divert Edin Dzeko's powerful goal-bound nod behind as the half-time whistle sounds.

Aston Villa are pinned back, hanging on for the half-time whistle. James Milner hits the wrong side of the side netting before Aleksandar Kolorov sees the ball deflect behind off a defender

Nathan Baker earns a ripple of applause from the Holte End as he nicks the ball off Sergio Aguero's toe in the box. Excellent defending, he had to get that just right or it could have been spot-kick central.

Five to go in the first half.

Tom, baffled Arsenal fan: Are City just paying Sagna to not play for Arsenal? Great career move at 31 years of age.

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Edin Dzeko again wants a little too much time in the box, controlling James Milner's cross, and then taking an extra touch which allows a claret and blue cloud to descend on him and take the sting out of his shot.

Image source, Reuters

Vincent Kompany gets caught dithering on the ball and Aston Villa have City on the rack as Andreas Weimann advances to the edge of the box. Who is this thundering up behind him though?

It is the imposing figure of Yaya Toure who gets back to pick Weimann's pocket and halt the attack.

Image source, EPA

Aleksandar Kolorov argues his way to the front of the queue for a free-kick 30 yards from goal, but his effort is always curling the wrong way.

The Weasel:, external Who's that marauding down the right for Aston Villa? He reminds me of a certain German full-back. It's Hutton dressed as Lahm.

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BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park:"Edin Dzeko did the hard bit to bring the ball down so well, but he snapped at the finish.

"In City's system where the two full-backs are pushed high and wide there is a gap down the middle of the defence like the Mersey tunnel. You have to have a player like Vincent Kompany, who reads the situation so well, to defend it. He looks to be in a purple patch here today. Alan Hutton's cross (18:02) is the closest Villa have come in these first 35 minutes."

The best chance of the game so far. Edin Dzeko does well to sell Nathan Baker into a sliding block with a drop of the shoulder, but then clumps his finish high over the top.

He had a bit of space in the box there and that has been a rare bit of real estate so far.

Hull beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday through goals from Mohamed Diame and Nikica Jelavic to pick up three points for the first time since the opening day of the season...

Hull's Ahmed Elmohamady: , externalIt's always good to get three points before international, great performance from everyone today and great fans!

Hull's Curtis Davies: , externalGreat 3 points today & long overdue clean sheet! Had to be patient with how they get behind the ball but paid off in the end.

Surely that is a cross? Alan Hutton boots the ball into the penalty area from way out left and 40 yards from goal and briefly it looks like it might float over Joe Hart and in.

As it lands on the roof of the net, he looks ready to say he meant it. Not sure his claims would be as convincing as Ronaldinho's in 2002.

At five foot and not a lot, Sergio Aguero doesn't get much practice, but that is a decent header.

The Argentine gives a whipped Aleksandar Kolorov cross the deftest of eyebrows and his effort floats only just over the top.

Image source, PA

Charles N'Zogbia shakes a leg to get the likes of Sam (below) interested.

The Aston Villa man picks up the ball near the centre circle, drives at the City box and, encountering no resistence, lets fly from 25 yards.

He catches it sweetly, but it is a foot or two wide of Joe Hart's post.

BBC Sport's Chris Bevan at Villa Park

"Manchester City have dominated possession so far, enjoying 60% of the ball, but that won't bother Villa boss Paul Lambert too much - when his side won this fixture last season, they did it with just 33% possession, their lowest total of the entire campaign. It's what you do with the ball what counts and, so far, most of City's many passing moves have broken down on the edge of the Villa area."

Sam:, external Both teams are playing like it's the 90th minute and they're all exhausted. It's pretty bad so far.

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Aleksandar Kolorov is the first name into Chris Foy's little black book. He earns his yellow as much for an earlier foul on Tom Cleverley as another mis-timed slide.

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BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "Under normal circumstances it was right for a shot but David Silva spotted Sergio Aguero's good run and thought it was a better option. Obviously Brad Guzan spotted it too, and the Villa keeper snuffed it out quickly."

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock: "The first goal was always going to be vital and we didn't take our chances.

"In the 40th minute there was a blatant elbow from Michael Dawson on Fraizer Campbell. I have seen red cards given for less than that and the referee (Mike Dean) doesn't even see it.

"It is OK the ref seeing pulling shirts but the elbows are the ones you've got to spot, and he is one of our top referees.

"In the first minute there was a bodycheck by James Chester outside the box and he wasn't booked for it. I can't understand it.

"If the players can continue to give me what they gave today then I can't complain. We upped our game after we conceded. We could have done a little bit more before that I think.

"When you lose a game of football at this level, you are all disappointed and that's how it should be."