Villa slipped to a narrow defeat on a frustrating afternoon at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Clear chances were at a premium for both sides, but Michael Johnson converted the one real opening for the visitors to secure the points.

Martin O'Neill's men worked hard in the torrential Manchester rain, but were unable to find a way past keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

A scrappy start saw both sides struggling to retain possession in the opening few minutes.

Carew cut into the box from the right on seven, but his flick goalwards was deflected into the arms of Schmeichel.

Corluka tried his luck from distance after breaking over the halfway line three minutes later, but his rising shot flew past the post.

Mellberg fired wide as he met Agbonlahor's cut back on 15 as Schmeichel failed to deal with Barry's cross from the left.

Former Villa favourite Vassell headed wide as he met Petrov's inswinging free-kick two minutes later.

Bulgarian Petrov then fired across the face of goal as Laursen blocked a long range effort from Vassell.

Carson was called into action on 19 and did well to palm Johnson's rising drive wide for a corner.

At the other end Carew saw a header cleared off the line from Barry's right-wing corner on 21.

Agbonlahor's cross cum shot was cleared by Garrido on 24 as the Villa youngster met Carew's flick.

Another effort from Agbonlahor was deflected wide on 27 as Villa started to apply pressure. Laursen headed narrowly wide from the subsequent corner.

Mpenza flashed a dangerous ball across the edge of Villa's six-yard box on 31, but there was no-one there to apply a finishing touch.

A minute later Moore fired straight at Schmeichel from an acute angle as he raced onto Barry's through ball.

Onuoha cut in from the City right on 36, but saw is left-foot effort deflected wide.

Carew, who scored Villa's opener here in April, fired wide as he met Mellberg's right-wing centre on 43.

Johnson opened the scoring for the hosts on 48, racing into the Villa box and slotting a low shot past Carson.

Richards headed clear from Carew on 52 as the Villa striker rose to meet a Young cross from the left.

Villa's response was positive and Carew almost levelled matters seconds later, heading wide from Bouma's left-wing cross.

Mpenza fired wide from Petrov's through ball on 55. Laursen headed over from Young's left-wing corner four minutes later.

Agbonlahor was the next to go close, heading wide from another Young centre on 61.

As Villa searched for an equaliser, Maloney was denied by keeper Schmeichel on 72.

Moore had the ball in the net from a Barry free-kick on 74, but the referee had already blown for a foul.

Schmeichel raced off his line to beat Agbonlahor to a Moore flick a minute later.

Schmeichel parried Young's cross cum shot on 81 as the Villa man cut in from the right.

Maloney's angled free-kick was intercepted by Schmeichel on 85.

Gardner slid in to deny Johnson a second on 87 as the England Under-21 international powered through to the edge of the Villa box.

With Villa throwing men forward, Barry cleared off the line from Bianchi deep into stoppage time.

City: Schmeichel, Richards, Onuoha, Johnson, Mpenza, Elano, Vassell, Petrov, Corluka, Hamann, Garrido. Subs: Hart, Ball (for Elano 83), Bianchi (for Mpenza 86), Sun (for Vassell 65 - booked 68), Fernandes.

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Barry, Young, Reo-Coker, Agbonlahor, Carew, Moore (booked 77). Subs: Taylor, Davies, Petrov (for Reo-Coker 82), Gardner (for Bouma 82), Maloney (for Carew 66).