Wilfried Bony is going to stretch his legs in the final 10 minutes of so. Sergio Aguero heads off to the bench.

Kieran Richardson lets fly from distance. He has got a cannon of a left peg and Joe Hart had to watch it all the way into his gloves with Christian Benteke loitering for any follow-up.

Fabian Delph is brought down by a trip from Jesus Navas. This is a decent spot for a delivery out on the left wing...

...Christian Benteke has strayed offside though.

Manuel Pellegrini's brow furrows a little more. There is a deep tread on that forehead now.

His team look like they may be in a sticky situation against a Villa side who sniff a point. It is in situations like this that they could do with injured captain Vincent Kompany's leadership.

At 2-1 down, Aston Villa look like a totally different side from the one who were 1-0 adrift.

Joe Hart had to be quick off his line to shut down the angle on Charles N'Zogbia. The Aston Villa man balloons a shot well over from 30 yards shortly after.

Tim Sherwood is frantically signalling on the sidelines, trying to stir up more energy in his side.

Image source, Getty Images

It seemed like game over. Maybe it is now game on.

Joe Hart attempts to barge through a clutch of players to claim a cross and gets only a faint paw on it. The ball breaks to Tom Cleverley on the edge and a bouncing bomb of a shot worms its way past an out-of-position Hart.

That is Cleverley's first Premier League goal since December 2013 - against Aston Villa for Manchester United.

Image source, Reuters

Pinpoint. Nasa couldn't have plotted a better trajectory to take that ball into the net.

Aleksandar Kolorov steps up and strokes a perfect curling free-kick into the bottom corner from 22 yards.

Ashley Westwood clipped David Silva late and Mike Dean clocks it. The referee let play run before pulling the Villa man over to receive his yellow card.

Jesus Navas comes motoring away from a bit of midfield mess with the ball as his feet.

Aston Villa briefly look stretched with Sergio Aguero and James Milner making forward runs, but they get back in position quick enough to shut down the space.

Where's the shout?

Martin Demichelis jumps to head behind for a Villa corner when Pablo Zabaleta was better positioned behind him.

The Argentines are not made to reflect any further on that though as Villa fail to make anything of the set-piece.

James Milner is stripped and ready to go on the sidelines. He will be Manchester City's second substitute.

Frank Lampard makes way.

Sergio Aguero is giving referee Mike Dean the labrador eyes, pleading for a penalty.

The Argentine certainly had Jores Okore's hands on his shoulders as he attempted to break into the box and get on the end of Jesus Navas's pull-back.

Was it enough to send him sprawling like he did though?

City's David Silva picks up the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Fabian Delph.

Alan, Manchester: What is it with this City side? So much talent on display yet we only see glimpses of it. Aguero, Toure, erm....oh I'm struggling. That's why.

As it stands, Manchester City are up to second by the way.

Manchester City have emerged with more purpose than they showed at the end of the first half.

Sergio Aguero is off on a slaloming run which is only ended when a mob of Villa defenders gang together to block his way.

We are back under way.

Image source, PA

A half-time change with Yaya Toure off and Fernandinho on for the hosts.

Adam Ben:, external @AVFCOfficial playing very well now! shame brad guzan gave man city that goal!

Ashley Tezoo:, external Villa offering very little so far at the Etihad, but Jack Grealish's net worth has probably risen to around £50m by now #Hype

Image source, Opta

Jesus Navas has touched the ball more often than any other Manchester City player in the first half - 44 times.