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At the half: City finding footing vs. Aston Villa on NBC (Live stream)

Charles N'Zogbia, Aleksandar Kolarov

Aston Villa’s Charles N’Zogbia, left, and Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park, Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

AP

Manchester City has woken up after a sleepy, sloppy 15 minutes to start the game, but has not been able to find a way past Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan at Villa Park on NBC this Saturday afternoon.

WATCH THE SECOND HALF LIVE ON NBC AND ONLINE VIA LIVE EXTRA

It’s scoreless at the break, and this adequately sums up the first 15 minutes:

15 minutes gone and we’ve still had just 2 shots, both of which have been blocked. Wake up lads. pic.twitter.com/GzaNSxOywy

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 4, 2014


Manchester City started to find their attack in the next 10 minutes, though, and Aleksandar Kolavor’s brilliant cross was nearly headed into the upper 90 by Sergio Aguero. It sailed teasingly wide.

They kept knocking, but the last touch on their wonderful combinations was missing. Edin Dzeko sent one skyward in the 34th minute.

Former Villa attacked James Milner had a shot deflected out for a corner in the 45th minute, and the ensuing deadball was deflected wide after Kolarov found a low shot. Two more Villa clearances led to more corners, but the hosts held on for halftime.

Lineups

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Senderos, Baker, Cissokho, Delph, Westwood, Cleverley, Richardson, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor

Subs: Given, Bacuna, Clark, Sanchez, Bent, Weimann, Benteke

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Kompany (C), Mangala, Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero

Subs: Caballero, Demichelis, Sagna, Lampard, Navas, Jovetic, Fernando

Follow @nicholasmendola