After a cagey start, it is starting to open up a little. Joe Hart does well to claim a cross before David Silva almost slips Sergio Aguero in behind at the other end. Brad Guzan is off the blocks swiftly to smother the throughball.

BBC Radio

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "Villa are expending an awful lot of energy pressing City, who are passing it all around the pitch. They are certainly making Villa do the chasing."

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Manchester City are playing in their dark-blue fade of an away kit. It is an opinion-splitter on the BBC Sport desk. Some are ranking it alongside Newcastle's lime and liquorice effort from earlier today, while others are confirmed fans.

Thoughts?

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Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We didn't deserve anything out of the game. We got off to a bad start and in away games in the Premier League you have to give yourselves a platform. We got back in it but the next opportunity they created they get another goal.

"It wasn't the best game in the world. On the day it was poor fayre from arguably both teams but we were poorer than Sunderland. Every time we allowed them an opportunity they took it so congratulations to them but we weren't at the level we needed to be at.

"We were probing, had a vast amount of possession but didn't have that cutting edge. We've played a lot better than that. They've picked up three points and in all honesty we haven't made it that difficult."

BBC Sport's Chris Bevan at Villa Park

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"Villa Park is far from full but there is still a decent atmosphere here, helped by the Manchester City fans who have not stopped singing since kick-off - their topics include Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany. Their Villa counterparts have been quieter but the Holte End has very loudly questioned whether City had as many followers before their recent success, and their chances of winning the Champions League. Just not in so many words."

Yaya Toure's pass to Sergio Aguero, under little pressure, runs behind the Argentine and out of play to sarcastic cheers from the home fans. Toure puts his hand up to apologise.

Manchester City are making inroads down the Villa right as Alan Hutton finds he has his hands full with runners coming at him from every angle. Aleksandar Kolorov has space to get in a cross, but his effort is over-hit with Edin Dzeko lurking in the middle.

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Hull manager Steve Bruce: "It was an important result for us because it has been so unlike us in recent weeks to let leads slip and concede goals.

"We've had success by being resolute and difficult to beat. So the clean sheet pleased me because we have worked hard and gone back to a tried and tested 3-5-2 system, and it worked.

"We have some tough games coming up against Arsenal and Liverpool, which is an awful run of games, but that's the league we are in. It is important to get to the amount of points we have, though we could have been in a far better position."

Which Eliaquim Mangala are we going to get today? The supreme modern centre-half we saw against Chelsea or the rick-waiting-to-happen that played against Hull?

He has been cool and calm so far, ushering the ball away from Andreas Weimann.

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BBC Radio

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "When Aleksandar Kolarov gets into space goalkeepers must tremor. This one beat Brad Guzan for sheer power and cannoned back off the outside of the post."

City are starting to turn the screw.

Ashley Westwood flings himself in the way of a Sergio Aguero shot and from the loose ball Aleksandar Kolorov rattles the outside of the post with a solid rising drive.

It found the woodwork via a deflection off Alan Hutton and I think Brad Guzan had it covered anyway.

BBC Radio

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "Man City have started at a high tempo, which has become a regular feature of their game. But in midweek they scored early but couldn't maintain it, and the same happened at Hull where they begin with a blistering pace. Today, while they have not yet threatened Brad Guzan's goal, they have started at a very swift pace once again."

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There are a few empty seats at Villa Park. It's Birmingham so I imagine there are some traffic problems.

Otherwise - visit of the champions after a strong start to the season - you have to hope for a full house.

Did you enjoy your win today, Liverpool fans? Why not listen to the commentary of today's goals from Anfield in this short BBC Radio 5 live clip.

Nathan Baker does well to block a shot on the edge of the Aston Villa box, but the hosts are given a chance to relieve the first bit of pressure in the match as Aleksander Kolorov catches Tom Cleverley late to give away a free-kick.

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Hull goalscorer Mohamed Diame, who now has three in four games since signing for the club: "We deserved it.

"The clean sheet was good. We have conceded a lot of goals lately and so the clean sheet was important and we are looking forward to the next game.

"I am happy about scoring another goal. I am a midfielder and all midfielders need to score goals. It is important for my confidence and I am happy and hopeful I can score more goals.

"It was important to win this game because after the international break we have Arsenal and Liverpool, which aren't easy games, so this is good for the confidence."

Ashley Westwood make his presence felt, handing off David Silva rugby-style as the pair contest a midfield ball. Chris Foy is happy to let it go. Silva spends a couple of seconds checking all his features are where they should be still.

BBC Radio

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Villa Park: "Aston Villa have just had a big upset in the warm-up with Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was really the main striker in the absence of Christian Benteke.

"I'm very happy with the Man City line-up, and I expected Eliaquim Mangala to come back - you don't spend that amount of money on a player and not give them time on the pitch."

It looks like Andreas Weimann is Villa's furtherest man forward, with Kieran Richardson and Charles N'Zogbia sitting in behind.

City have lined up with a meat-and-potatoes 4-4-2. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko doing the little-and-large partnership up front.

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Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "The comeback showed great spirit and character. Swansea keep possession so well and it's difficult but we really dug in and carried a little more threat today.

"There's always pressure when you're behind in a game but it's my job to try and lift the players and make sure there's fight in their belly. The confidence will get better and this will give us belief. They've been good in training but you can see on the pitch that they are under a little bit of stress but they responded really well today."