Aston Villa v Man City player ratings: Mings 5, Watkins 8; Silva 8, Jesus 7

Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva on target in 2-1 Manchester City win as City stay second in Premier League

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  ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez: 6 - The Argentina international did well when called upon, denying Rodri from range early on. He was unable to do anything for either goal, with both finishes taking him out of play. AP

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  Matt Cash: 6 - The 24-year-old had a battle on his hands when both Sterling and Silva got on the ball down his flank. He managed it well for the most part, with one move seeing him win the ball back then sprint up field to become the furthest forward attacking player. Getty Images

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  Ezri Konsa: 6 - The defender looked composed on the ball, as seen when he feinted Silva to carry the ball out from the back under pressure. He was left outnumbered for the second goal, having to close down Jesus and leaving Silva, who then went on to score. PA

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  Tyrone Mings: 5 - The England centre-back had little to do in the central areas, but was dragged out of position for the second goal, leaving Konsa in a two-on-one scenario to defend. Getty Images

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  Matt Targett: 7 - The left-back did a good job of containing Mahrez, with very few chances coming down his side. He also put his body on the line, throwing himself in front of a cross before coming off injured. PA

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  John McGinn: 6 - The Scotland international wasn’t heavily involved in the attacking play, but was key in supporting his full-back and pressing the visitors’ wide players to stop them creating overloads. Getty Images

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  Marvelous Nakamba: 6 - The midfielder saw little of the ball, but he was tangled in plenty of duels in the centre, pressing Fernandinho well to win the ball back and counter in the second-half. Getty Images

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  Douglas Luiz: 7 - The former Manchester City midfielder was the most attacking of the midfield three, playing in a box-to-box role. He made one attacking run where he managed to drive past three players before winning a free-kick. Getty Images

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  Emiliano Buendia: 5 - The summer signing was rarely involved in the game. He gave the ball away with a simple misplaced pass, breaking down a positive attacking chance for his side. Getty Images

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  Ollie Watkins: 8 - The England international had to do his best to hold the ball up and bring his team into play in the rare instances Aston Villa got a chance to attack. He then scored from a corner with a quick run towards the near post and a finish across the goal. PA

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  Leon Bailey: 4 - The winger had a poor showing with the few chances he got before coming off injured. His refusal to pass the ball in dangerous positions meant his side missed a few chances to attack. The main one being a chance to slip in Buendia, but he ran into traffic instead. AP Photo

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  SUB: Ashley Young (For Bailey 31’): 6 - The versatile player came on early and played a number of roles in the game. He pressed Zinchenko to force a corner for his side’s goal, then slotted in at left-back after Targett was forced off. Getty Images

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  SUB: Carney Chukwuemeka (For Targett 67’): 5 - The youngster struggled on the ball, carrying it for too long in several situations. In the final attack of the game, he failed to move the ball on early enough and nothing came from the opportunity. PA

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  SUB: Morgan Sanson (For Nakamba 77’): N/R - The playmaker came on to try and find a breakthrough late in the game. He had a few opportunities to drive forward on the ball but had no chances to create high up the field. AP Photo

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  MAN CITY RATINGS: Ederson: 6 - The goalkeeper was a spectator at times, but his passing was particularly impressive. He played a cross-field pass to pick out Sterling that stood out. He couldn’t stop Watkins’ goal, with the finish ricocheting off the post and into the corner. Getty Images

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  Oleksandr Zinchenko: 5 - The Ukraine international showed sparks of his quality, playing a fantastic switch to Mahrez in space. He was too weak defensively at times, allowing Young to outmuscle him and give away a corner rather than seeing the ball out of play. PA

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  Nathan Ake: 6 - The 26-year-old was neat on the ball, but defensively had an interesting duel with Watkins. He did well to block a cross that was going to land for the striker, but at times was beaten too easily by him with his back to goal. AFP

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  Ruben Dias: 7 - The defender was an unlikely goal scorer, hitting the ball from the edge of the box right into the bottom corner. Defensively he had little to do and he was key in building the Manchester City attack from the back. PA

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  Joao Cancelo: 6 - The full-back had a quieter evening by his recent standards, failing to create much in the final third. It was particularly highlighted when a cross from him was comfortably saved by Martinez. Getty Images

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  Rodri: 6 - The 25-year-old circulated possession well in midfield when looking to create opportunities. He could have opened the scoring with a ferocious shot from the edge of the box that was tipped over by Martinez. Reuters

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  Fernandinho: 5 - The Manchester City captain rarely broke up play in the middle as he so often does, with Villa bypassing the midfield and hitting it straight to Watkins. He was occasionally caught on the ball, giving it away once that sparked a dangerous counter for the home side. Getty Images

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  Bernardo Silva: 8 - The Portugal international picked up spaces just off Sterling successfully. He finished a fantastic volley in the first-half, even though he had enough time to take a touch and shoot. PA

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  Raheem Sterling: 7 - The winger was a nuisance for the Villa defence. He continually looked to drive into the box, doing so with a great run and pull back to Dias for the opener. Getty Images

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  Gabriel Jesus: 7 - The Brazilian was a big threat when he was allowed to dribble at defenders, beating three of them before having a shot in the first-half. He then grabbed an assist, playing a well-weighted pass to Silva for the second goal. Getty Images

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  Riyad Mahrez: 5 - The 30-year-old was the least involved of the front line, taking on his man occasionally but was well marked out of the game by Targett. PA

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  SUB: Jack Grealish (For Jesus 87’): N/R - The former Aston Villa talisman entered the game late on, with Pep Guardiola looking to see out the game for all three points. Getty Images

Sublime first-half goals from Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva helped Manchester City to a 2-1 win at Aston Villa in a pulsating Premier League clash on Wednesday with the home side pulling one back through Ollie Watkins.

The result left City second in the standings on 32 points from 14 games, one behind leaders Chelsea, while Villa stayed 13th on 16 points after their first defeat under new manager Steven Gerrard following two successive wins.

City dominated the opening half and took a 27th-minute lead through Dias, when the Portugal centre back beat goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a first-time shot from 20 metres after Raheem Sterling's cutback flashed across the penalty area.

Silva doubled their advantage with a breathtaking effort in the 43rd, volleying superbly past Martinez from 15 metres after City broke away from their own penalty area with Riyad Mahrez releasing Gabriel Jesus on the right flank.

Villa sprung back to life shortly after the break as Watkins found space in a crowded penalty area to drive in a half-volley inside the near post from 10 metres after he met a low Douglas Luiz corner.

The home side missed a gilt-edged chance to salvage a draw in the 75th minute when City keeper Ederson parried a sitter from substitute Carney Chukwuemeka and the visitors held on in the closing stages