City boost top five bid, Villa thrash Newcastle

Manchester City bolstered their bid to qualify for the Champions League with a dramatic 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday, while Aston Villa thrashed Newcastle 4-1.

- Agencies

LONDON:

City were heading towards a damaging draw before Nico O'Reilly's 84th-minute strike put them on course for a vital victory that was sealed by Mateo Kovacic's goal in the final seconds.

Pep Guardiola's side climb to fourth place, but still just one point above sixth-placed Villa, who they face on Tuesday.

At a stage of the season when they are usually embroiled in a battle to win the title, City -- champions in six of the previous seven campaigns -- have been reduced to scrapping for a Champions League berth after a dismal season.

They remain on course to achieve their bare minimum target of finishing inside the top five after a hard-fought success on Merseyside.

In the 84th minute, Matheus Nunes's low cross into the six-yard box was met by the 20-year-old O'Reilly, who got in front of Michael Keane to poke home from close range.