Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to LIVE text commentary of Manchester City v Aston Villa at Eastlands on Bank Holiday Tuesday.

Incidentally, the mood in Italy is one of good-natured bemusement that anyone in England is at all surprised Balotelli has turned out to be a bit difficult.

Balotelli has now taken his scoring tally to seven for City in 10 games - not a bad return for a player supposedly struggling to fit in.

History has taught us not to say 'game over' in the first half, but really, this is game over.

GOAL!! Three for City, two for Balotelli! David Silva the creator, driving a low shot from 12 yards that Friedel could only parry into Balotelli's path for a tap-in.

So, so easy for City. You might have thought the reintroduction of Petrov and Reo-Coker would add some bite but it isn't to be...

Based on the first quarter of the game, Villa look a very poor side. A far cry from their wins against West Ham and Everton back in August.

Balotelli goes in overzealously on Petrov and that's a free-kick for Villa.

It's all a bit easy for City at the moment, who will go top of the Premier League for five hours at least - leaders Manchester United are playing at Birmingham tonight.

Good defending from De Jong to chase down Albrighton and win possession with a perfectly timed tackle. For all the stick De Jong gets, he's a fine player...

A late, frustrated challenge flies in from Warnock on Adam Johnson, and that's a yellow card.

Also, Villa have lost each of the previous six Premier League matches this season when they have conceded the first goal.

Villa have a mountain to climb, and recent form suggests they will not do it. They have lost five of their last six...

DOWNING!! Belts a free-kick from the edge of the area just over the bar! Plenty of power, poor direction.

A really odd goal, that. And the replay shows that Bannan, who was standing on the far post, might count himself a little unlucky. Adam Johnson with the assist, incidentally.

GOAL!!! LESCOTT MAKES IT TWO!! Controversy as Lescott heads the corner goalwards and referee Oliver adjudges that the ball crossed the line before Bannan headed it clear!

Cuellar has some medical treatment after that block, and he doesn't look ay all happy... Villa will defend the corner with 10 men.

BALOTELLI!! Silva plays him in, but the Italian's shot goes out off Cuellar. Corner.

Richards is up and about, and should be fit to continue.

Warnock barges into Richards, who stays down in some pain... it looks like he has hurt his shoulder or right arm..

The only possible complaint Villa can have about the penalty is that Lichaj's prolonged foul on Balotelli may have started outside the box. But he was grappling him inside and I reckon Michael Oliver got it dead right.

GOAL!! Unbelievably sarky penalty from Balotelli, who stops as he approaches the ball, lets Brad Friedel dive and rolls the ball into the opposite corner!