Agbonlahor inspires Villa win

Gabriel Agbonlahor bounced back from his England snub with an eight minute hat-trick as Aston Villa poured more misery on Mark Hughes' Manchester City with a 4-2 win at Villa Park.

Agbonlahor was left out of the squad by Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly with the Czech Republic but took out any disappointment he may have been feeling on City in devastating fashion.

Little went right for City after they suffered a pre-match setback when striker Valeri Bojinov was injured in the warm-up and he was replaced by 19-year-old Ched Evans with Felipe Caicedo being drafted in as a substitute.

The first half was goalless but Villa needed only two minutes of the second period to break the deadlock through John Carew - last season's top marksman with 13 goals.

Gareth Barry found Ashley Young who sent over a pinpoint cross which Carew headed past Joe Hart from six-yards out.

It needed a mix-up between Luke Young and Nicky Shorey to present City with an equaliser after 63 minutes. There appeared to be little danger but the two full-backs hesitated and let in Michael Johnson who was eventually brought down by Luke Young and Elano sent Brad Friedel the wrong way from the spot.

But Villa needed only five minutes to regain the lead through Agbonlahor. A Young corner was turned back across goal by Curtis Davies to Agbonlahor who beat Hart with a right-foot volley.

Five minutes later Young picked out the overlapping Barry and his cross was headed home by the England Under-21 player.

And in the 76th minute Agbonlahor completed his first senior hat-trick when he raced onto a Barry through-ball and clipped the ball past Hart.

Corluka scored an 89th minute consolation goal for City but they were well beaten by the final whistle.