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

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!

PENALTY!! Eric Lichaj upends Balotelli and that's a spot-kick. Crass challenge from the Villa man, who was all over the Italian...

Patient start from City, who are dominating possession...

Nigel De Jong has taken the captain's armband for City today, with Carlos Tevez on the bench.

There are quite a few empty seats at Eastlands - it seems an overturned lorry has slowed traffic to the ground.

City pass the ball patiently around midfield... now Zabaleta accelerates down the left and Cuellar puts the ball out for a throw. In fact, it's Villa ball...

All eyes are on Mario Balotelli even though he has hardly had a touch yet. The man is an absolute firecracker.

Villa have been in absolute freefall in recent games, but take on a more familiar look than they did against Spurs, with Nigel Reo-Coker and Stiliyan Petrov coming in.

Game on! Manchester City kick off, playing from left to right in sky blue. Villa in a very dark change strip.

Villa have lost three of their last four away matches in the Premier League, failing to to score in all three defeats. Marc Albrighton’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Fulham on 6 November is their only away goal in their last four Premier League matches away from home.

Also for City Zabaleta comes in for Kolarov, Richards for Boateng, Vieira gets a start in place of Barry, and Adam Johnson comes in for Milner as Mancini dips into that deep squad for the second game in 48 hours. Villa sure enough are without Heskey and the Youngs. Reo-Coker comes into the midfield, as does Bannan and Petrov, while Delph and Hogg drop to the bench. Agbonlahor is on his own up front as Villa look set to go 4-5-1.

So Balotelli gets a start for City and Tevez is benched. That's the headline news from the two teamsheets - how will the sulky Italian respond to this opportunity?

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Toure Yaya, De Jong, Vieira, Adam Johnson, Balotelli, Silva Subs: Given, Bridge, Milner, Boateng, Barry, Jo, Tevez

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Lichaj, Collins, Cuellar, Warnock, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing, Bannan, Agbonlahor Subs: Guzan, Pires, Delfouneso, Delph, Clark, Hogg, Herd

FACTS: Villa have only won two of their last 15 Premier League games against Man City. Good news for the Sky Blues, who could be top for a few hours at least if they win this one.

TEAM NEWS: Kolo Toure will return from a one-match ban for City, despite Joleon Lescott performing creditably in Toure's absence at Newcastle. Villa striker Emile Heskey is a major doubt having twisted an ankle in a collision with Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes in the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park which forced him off after 39 minutes. Ashley and Luke Young are also doubts.

Villa are having a rough time. Defeat at home to 10-man Spurs will have hurt Houllier and his side, but there'll be easier places to get a result than the City of Manchester Stadium - and Villa desperately need a result as they languish 15th in the league.

City bounced back from the disappointment of a home loss at Everton eight days ago with an impressive win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day. Carlos Tevez scored two and made the other. Back to second, things are looking a little rosier for Roberto Mancini.