Vassell (r) has scored five goals against Villa since leaving the club
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Manchester City picked up their first away win of the season at Aston Villa.
Former Villa striker Darius Vassell put City ahead on 18 minutes when he angled a half-volley past Stuart Taylor.
Just past the half-hour Taylor was picking the ball out of the net for a second time when Joey Barton swept a shot home after a flowing City move.
Midway through the second half Gavin McCann's long-range shot made it 2-1, but Sylvain Distin capped a fine display with a superb individual goal.
This was only the second defeat Villa have suffered this season, testament to their steady progression under Martin O'Neill, but they paid the price for a lacklustre first-half performance.
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606: DEBATE
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Vassell, whose every touch was booed, must wish he could play against his old side every week.
This was his first goal of the season, but his fifth against Villa since leaving for City in the summer of 2005.
City's 2-0 lead at the interval was a reward for a bold tactical plan that involved playing three strikers in Vassell, Georgios Samaras and Bernardo Corradi.
Swamped by that attacking triumvirate, Villa quickly found themselves on the defensive and Taylor had to save long-range efforts from Samaras and Vassell.
But Taylor could do nothing about Vassell's goal as the City striker rattled a half-volley past the Villa keeper after Corradi flicked on Hatem Trabelsi's cross.
Vassell also played a part in City's second goal as the visitors extended their lead.
He flicked the ball to Distin, who split the Villa defence with a wonderful pass to Samaras played with the outside of his foot.
Samaras cut the ball back to Barton, who sidefooted past Taylor.
While City's attacking trio moved and linked with verve, Villa's forward duo of Juan Pablo Angel and Milan Baros were virtually anonymous.
Stiliyan Petrov came mightily close to scoring for Villa when he arced a free-kick over the City wall only for the ball to crash against the bar.
Villa made a brighter start to the second half, but it was not long before Taylor was back in action as he made a double save to thwart Corradi and, inevitably, Vassell.
McCann's goal provided Villa with a flicker of hope the game could be rescued.
There looked little danger when Barry passed to McCann, but the former Sunderland midfielder unleashed a shot that swerved past Nicky Weaver.
For 10 minutes Villa penned City in their own half until Distin restored the visitors' two-goal cushion.
The City defender broke up a Villa attack, swapped passes with Samaras, before outsprinting Liam Ridgewell and deftly slotting the ball home.
It was a goal Franz Beckenbauer would have been proud of and rounded off an impressive City display.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"I think Mr Lerner has seen a number of our games now. He has watched us do well and not so cleverly.
"He will be disappointed but he knows what needs to be done.
"There's still a lot to be done to even become a decent Premiership side. We didn't play well enough and frailties can be shown up on nights like this."
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce:
"I have been getting fed up with questions about our away form and I think the media have also got bored with asking me the same question.
"Hopefully we will now have something different to talk about.
"The performance of the players was magnificent, collectively and individually. It is one of the best performances we've put on this season."
Aston Villa: Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Davis 63), Agbonlahor, Petrov, McCann, Barry, Angel, Baros.
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Whittingham, Hughes, Gardner.
Booked: Barry.
Goals: McCann 66.
Man City: Weaver, Richards (Onuoha 90), Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Trabelsi (Dickov 85), Reyna, Barton, Vassell, Corradi, Samaras (Hamann 76).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Miller.
Goals: Vassell 18, Barton 32, Distin 75.
Att: 30,124.
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).
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Interview: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill
