Good evening! It’s been quite the week for Manchester City, but now it’s time for the football to return, and it’s a trip to Aston Villa that faces the Premier League leaders.

Manchester City go 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League with an incident-packed 2-1 win. Red cards for John Stones and Matty Cash added to the drama of the game, but in the end City were good value for their victory and will now turn their attention to Sunday’s League Cup final.

There will be three minutes at the end of this game. Three minutes for City to play out for a win that will move them a step closer to securing the Premier League title.

City fizz it around nicely in the Villa half again, working Silva into space for a shot. But his effort flies off target and he slaps his thigh in frustration.

Villa can barely get hold of the ball, let alone work a chance. The Cash sending off has really scuppered Smith’s plans for this second half.

Walker and Mahrez combine brilliantly to open up Villa, but the latter’s cross is cut out well by Konsa with Foden lurking unmarked at the back post.

City have done a good job of controlling this game since Cash's red. They've slowed the tempo, denied Villa much of the ball, and kept things nice and simple to try and play out the game while keeping legs fresh for Sunday.

More fresh legs for Villa as they hunt for an equaliser. There's not been much of a hint of one though in truth, aside from that Davis headed chance.

The game is almost at walking pace now, with City looking to play it out and keep some legs fresh for the cup final on Sunday.

Walker is played into space down the right and Foden makes a run into the box, but the full-back opts for a very strange cross instead that loops out of play on the far side.

City are nearly caught out as Davis makes a run across the near post but fails to make decent contact with his header. That was a great chance.

Zinchenko shoots high and wide from range.

Ross Barkely comes on as Villa look to try and get something going to snatch a draw here. You have to commend the hosts’ attitude, but it’s going to be hard work.

Laporte catches an arm in the face and is down receiving treatment. He’s fine to continue and there was nothing untoward in the challenge for any further action.

All of the pace has gone out of this game and it’s hardly surprising with two players off the field.

Dean Smith shrugs and chomps down on some chewing gum on the touchline. He would have really fancied getting something from this game with City down to ten, but that’s probably gone now.

It’s 10 vs 10 as Cash goes in late on Foden and picks up a second yellow card. He lost possession and looked to rescue the situation, but it’s a clear foul, a clear yellow, and the referee has no other choice.

You wouldn’t know that City are down to ten as they cut through Villa again. Foden does well to play Zinchenko into space out wide, but the cross is too close to Martinez. Foden gestures to the full-back that he should have looked to cut it back like with the opening City goal (and he’s probably right).

Zinchenko strangely ducks under the ball and Villa work possession in-field to Douglas Luiz. His effort flies well over the bar.

Gundogan is in and looks to square the ball to Mahrez, but Martinez makes a crucial stop. That would have been a tap-in for Mahrez.

Laporte comes on for City and he will presumably also play at Wembley on Sunday now, with John Stones set to be suspended.