Aston Villa kicked off the new Barclays Premier League season in style as they hammered c. The attention on the transfer saga involving Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry was temporarily cast aside, with winger Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring a hat-trick to help his side clinch an opening day victory over Manchester City.
Agbonlahor, who signed a new four-year deal with Villa two days ago, repaid the faith Villa manager Martin O’Neill showed in him with three well-struck goals in the second half.
Norwegian striker John Carew also clinched a goal in West Midlands.
City clinched consolation goals through a penalty conversion by Elano on 64 minutes and a late goal from Vedran Corluka in the 89th minute. Citizens manager Mark Hughes endured a miserable afternoon at Villa Park, as the home side turned on the style to clinch all three points.
Hughes, who recently insisted that he is in control of matters at City, had little charge over the lackluster display by his players.
The former Blackburn boss is currently facing a shortage of strikers, and the situation was made worse when Valeri Bojinov injured himself during the warm-up. The Bulgarian was replaced by youngster Ched Evans.
The first half saw Villa and City creating several scoring opportunities. But both sides failed to make a breakthrough.
Barry, who angered the Villa faithful with his desire to leave the club, could have redeemed himself on 26 minutes. Nigel Reo-Coker danced past Jose Garrido on the right flank to deliver a cross into the City box.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart could only palm the ball away, as Barry followed up with a weak volley from 10 yards landed at the side netting.
City missed a golden opportunity to take the lead before the stroke of half-time, when Elano played Kevin Etuhu into space on the right. Etuhu unleashed a cross which swerved towards goal, as Villa custodian Brad Friedel was alert to tip the shot over the bar.
The goal-less first 45 minutes was certainly not a clear indicator of things to come in the second half, as Villa came out firing on all cylinders.
A minute after the restart, Carew connected with Barry’s cross from the left to head the ball into the net and give Villa the lead. Seven minutes later, the Norwegian international had another chance to do the same again. However, his effort off a corner was well wide.
City were handed a controversial lifeline in the 64th minute, when the referee awarded a penalty.
Villa player Ashley Young was adjudged to have tripped Michael Johnson in the box. Elano restored parity by making no mistakes from the spot.
Agbonlahor however, had plans of his own as he fired Villa ahead again just five minutes later. The England Under-21 international blasted his volley past a helpless Hart from close range following a well-taken corner by Young.
Villa secured their win in the 74th minute as Barry continued his runs on the left, and crossed for the unmarked Agbonlahor to send in a powerful header into the net off the bar.
And Agbonlahor continued his rampage in quick session, picking up a good pass from Barry, rounding the City keeper and let fly his shot into the right-hand side of the net to clinch his hat-trick on 76 minutes.
City netted a late goal in the 89th minute when Corluka side-footed his effort into goal off a corner.
The goal however, was scant consolation for Hughes as he has to return back to the drawing board in what it appears to be a long season ahead.
Villa, on the other hand, kicked off their campaign with a morale-boosting victory for manager Martin O’Neill.
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