Aguero saw another attempt go well wide of the post, and just before the half-hour mark, he saw Ruddy pull off a terrific save to stop a low strike across the goalkeeper from finding the bottom corner
Browsing: Sergio Aguero
Aguero’s near miss almost proved to be a turning point in a half dominated by the hosts, as Villa went up the other end and fired in their first shot through Jordan Ayew, which Joe Hart got down well to keep out at full stretch
The match was only 15 minutes old when City got their first away goal, with Yaya Toure knocking David Silva’s corner down to Sergio Aguero, who controlled the ball before rifling it past the keeper from close range
The 19-year old striker has another top contender for the award, Sergio Aguero, and defender Bacary Sagna to contend with
The Hammers looked on course to complete the league double over Man City for the first time since the 1962-63 season after Valencia scored his second in the 56th minute, but Aguero completed his brace late on to ensure that the visitors left with a point
Sergio Aguero scored either side of half time and set up a third late on, as an at times inconsistent Citizens side returned to winning ways by cruising past their sorry opponents
The teenage frontman — a rare successful graduate from City’s Elite Development Academy — has impressed in patches so far this season, but is yet to truly convince that he is ready to lead the line for the Citizens
Sergio Aguero finally found a way past an inspired Asmir Begovic to give the hosts a slender lead following a one-sided opening half
One major trophy that has eluded Aguero, who has helped City to two league titles, during his time at the club is the Champions League, and he admits that it is a “big dream” to lift the trophy with the Sky Blues
However, that proved to be as good as it would get for them, as their form took a dip for the worse in January and enabled the Blues to open up a seven-point lead over them by the end of January, as Jose Mourinho’s side eventually romped to the title
There was controversy with just over a minute gone when Gareth McAuley was sent off by mistake after Neil Swarbrick dismissed the wrong player, believing the midfielder to be responsible for Craig Dawson’s last-man foul on Wilfried Bony
City must now score at least twice when the two sides meet for the second leg at the Camp Nou next month
The visitors had the first opening of the match as David Silva tried to tee up Aguero inside the penalty area, but the Argentine could only fire his strike straight at the body of Asmir Begovic
Following a relatively rocky patch in late October and early November, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have found form of late – winning four consecutive games in all competitions
The result sees City move within just six points of league leaders, Chelsea
United played with 10 men from the 39th minute after centre back Chris Smalling’s sending-off, and Aguero broke down stubborn resistance from the visitors’ makeshift defence when he turned in Gael Clichy’s cross in the 63rd
Spurs’ luckless striker, Roberto Soldado, was also out of luck from the spot, as Joe Hart capped another superb display with a brilliant save
Pellegrini said: “The doctor has said he has at least one month or eight weeks