Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 0: match report

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 

      

They can almost reach out and touch it now. They can envisage the blue ribbons being tied, the dignitaries gathering and fireworks being lit.

Manchester City are closing in on the Premier League trophy and their utter confidence was reflected in Yaya Touré’s storming breakaway late on that brought City’s 100th goal of the season and mirrored the team’s own unflinching run towards the finishing line.

They just need a point. A draw against West Ham United on Sunday brings the title. Unlike others, City will not slip now. City will not slip now, not with Edin Dzeko in this sort of prolific form, scoring five times in his last three appearances, including City’s first two against Aston Villa, delivering at the business end of the season. Not with reserves of the quality of Stevan Jovetic stepping from the bench to score as with City’s third here.

Not with Touré driving them on through the middle, creating and also scoring, rounding off an astonishing final half-hour. Touré’s goal was his 20th in the Premier League this season, making him only the second midfielder to reach that mark along with Frank Lampard. Touré revealed in the programme that he was “disappointed” not to be voted PFA Player of the Year but praised the winner, Luis Suárez. He added poignantly “the most important thing is trophies for the team”.

So City will not slip now. Not with Pablo Zabaleta a force down the right, standing up to be counted when it mattered, putting in the ideal crosses when it mattered. Every team need a Zabaleta, the heart and soul, the non-stop dynamo, a leader without the armband. Others take the headlines but City fans know Zabaleta’s importance. They sang his name constantly last night. In times of darkness, the athletic Argentine lights the way.