Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa: Blues Continues Mastery of Lesser Sides

Today's match followed a familiar pattern. Frustrate early before overwhelming a lesser side at the Etihad. Sergio Aguero struck twice after Yaya Toure's opener and Raheem Sterling added a fourth to pace City.

Despite the impressive scoreline today's effort will do little to erase the doubts many Citizen supporters have about this club's title credentials. Having failed to defeat a top six side all season, the Blues are now just seven points from top with ten matches remaining in the season. Given the rescue effort of 2011-12 late on, many optimists will feel the same can happen this season with more fixtures remaining and a smaller deficit points wise.

But of course that season the Blues just had to catch and pass one team - Manchester United.  The Red Devils collapsed over a four game stretch that season leaving the door open for City. This season they will have to catch and pass three sides, Leicester City, Spurs and Arsenal. Still if a run is to take place it must start now and Manchester City got the job done today.

Much more on this match  and what lies ahead later at Bitter and Blue.