Manchester City defeated Aston Villa at Wembley to claim their third straight English League Cup on Sunday.

It was City’s fourth League Cup triumph in the last five years and the Citizens have now won eight out of the last nine domestic trophies in England (including the Charity Shield).

Pep Guadiola’s side won an historic treble of domestic trophies last season with the Premier League and FA Cup, and they thoroughly deserved their triumph despite a spirited effort from Aston Villa.

Sergio Aguero and Rodri put City two goals up inside 30 minutes and it appeared Guardiola’s side were set for a stroll on the lush greens of the Wembley pitch.

Villa, who were second best for much of the first half, however, offered themselves a lifeline when Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta headed in from Anwar El Ghazi’s cross following a calamitous piece of defending by John Stones four minutes before the interval.

The defending champions dominated proceedings in the second half and probed Villa’s back line in search of a third goal but they where nearly taken to extra time when Bjorn Engels nearly scored from a corner but Claudio Bravo reacted superbly to turn the header on to the woodwork.

That was as close as it got for Villa as City held on to become just the second side to win three consecutive League Cup titles after Liverpool between 1980-81 and 1983-84 (4 in a row).