Both sides had chances to win this match with City guilty of a string of horrendous misses as well as last-gasp defending to stop the visitors taking the lead.
City eventually did take the lead 11 minutes from time in controversial fashion as Rodri came back from an offside position to lay off Silva, who fired in from just outside the box.
The goal was allowed as Villa defender Tyrone Mings had chested the ball into Rodri s path, which signalled the end of the original move and meant the Spain international was allowed to interfere with play. Villa manager Dean Smith was red carded for his protests.
Manchester City s Bernardo Silva celebrates after scoring his side s opening goal during the English Premier League football match against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Jan.20, 2021. (Martin Rickett/Pool via AP).
Bernardo Silva scored a controversial first English Premier League (EPL) goal of the season as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 2-0 to go top of the table.
City dominated much of an entertaining encounter on a miserable evening but looked set to miss out on the chance to take over at the summit until Silva struck 11 minutes from time, albeit in contentious circumstances.
Villa boss Dean Smith was sent off for his protests after he felt Silva s goal should have been ruled out for offside against Rodri, who had won the ball back from Tyrone Mings.
Man City 2-0 Aston Villa: Hard-earned win gives Pep Guardiola s brief run at top
By Chris BevanBBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
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Late goals from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan ended Aston Villa s resistance as Manchester City led Premier League for the first time this season - for a couple of hours before neighbours Manchester United regained top spot.
Pep Guardiola s side were knocked off the summit later on Wednesday when United beat Fulham, but the determination they showed to claim their sixth successive league win underlined that they are here to stay in this title race.