Caroline Weir's opener was her second Women's Super League goal of the seasonManchester City relieved some of the pressure on boss Gareth Taylor with an emphatic win over Aston Villa in the Women's Super League.
City, who had won one of their past six league games, were frustrated in the first half but Caroline Weir curled home three minutes after the break.
Georgia Stanway hooked in three minutes later, before two goals by substitute Hayley Raso and another from Lauren Hemp sealed a big win.
The win lifts City to sixth.
Villa, who made one change and altered their formation to five at the back in an attempt to frustrate City, drop one place to seventh.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Man City Women
Formation 4-3-3
34Benameur
10Stanway8Scott5Greenwood3Stokes
12Angeldal24Walsh19Weir
16Park18White15Hemp
34Benameur10Stanway8Scott5Greenwood3StokesSubstituted forMaceat 80'minutes12AngeldalSubstituted forLosadaat 73'minutes24Walsh19WeirSubstituted forCoombsat 80'minutes16ParkSubstituted forRasoat 64'minutes18WhiteSubstituted forShawat 64'minutes15HempSubstitutes
7Coombs11Beckie13Raso17Losada21Shaw30MaceAston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
1Hampton
2Mayling3Sargeant5N'Dow33Pacheco
21Ewers4Allen6Asante
8Arthur7Lehmann10Petzelberger
1Hampton2Mayling3Sargeant5N'Dow33Pacheco21EwersSubstituted forMcLoughlinat 69'minutes4Allen6Asante8ArthurSubstituted forBoye-Hlorkahat 45'minutes7LehmannSubstituted forGielnikat 69'minutes10PetzelbergerSubstitutes
9Gielnik11Boye-Hlorkah12Hutton15Haigh16McLoughlin18Gregory19Blindkilde-Browne23Rogers31LittlejohnLive Text
Match ends, Manchester City Women 5, Aston Villa Women 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City Women 5, Aston Villa Women 0.
Attempt saved. Lauren Hemp (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Keira Walsh with a through ball.
Foul by Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women).
Olivia McLoughlin (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Lauren Hemp (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Hayley Raso with a cross.
Foul by Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women).
Remi Allen (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Manchester City Women 5, Aston Villa Women 0. Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner.
Lauren Hemp (Manchester City Women) hits the bar with a left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Sarah Mayling.
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Laura Coombs replaces Caroline Weir.
Substitution, Manchester City Women. Ruby Mace replaces Demi Stokes.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Hannah Hampton tries a through ball, but Emily Gielnik is caught offside.
Goal! Manchester City Women 4, Aston Villa Women 0. Lauren Hemp (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hayley Raso.
Goal! Manchester City Women 3, Aston Villa Women 0. Hayley Raso (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Vicky Losada (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayley Raso.
Attempt saved. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Vicky Losada.
Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Hannah Hampton.
Attempt saved. Khadija Shaw (Manchester City Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
