MANCHESTER (AP) – Manchester City moved into second place in the Premier League yesterday with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Michael Johnson scored in the 48th minute with a diagonal shot while under pressure from two Villa defenders.

John Carew could have equalised soon after Johnson's goal, but he missed a close-range header. Aston Villa striker Luke Moore also had a goal disallowed in the 73rd.

The win kept City's perfect home record of three wins and helped the club coached by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson move up six places.

Villa, which had beaten Chelsea 2-0 in its previous Premier League game, had won its three previous matches in all competitions. It stayed in 11th place.