Man City boss Mancini reluctant to hype up Hart qualities

Manchester City needed Joe Hart to secure three points at Aston Villa.

Centre-back Joleon Lescott's 63rd-minute strike was enough to send City back to the top of the Barclays Premier League in a game they largely dominated until the closing few minutes.

After barely conjuring a chance worthy of the name for 88 minutes, Villa should have levelled, only for Carlos Cuellar to plant a free header over the bar while Hart pulled off a stunning save to deny Darren Bent.

Despite that, Mancini refused to suggest Hart is one of the best in the world as he said: "Joe is a good 'keeper.

"He is young, he needs to improve, and he can become one of the best 'keepers in the world."

Asked if he was not up there already, Mancini replied: "No. He has played three seasons in the Premier League, so how is it possible?

"When a player is young he needs to work a lot, to improve every day, and although he has improved a lot in the last three years, he is only 24, so he needs time.

"If we say he is now one of the best keepers then it's bad for him."