City were on top from the off, and within five minutes were in front. A clearance from Nathan Vaughan was flicked on by Amadou Bakayoko, and Jordan Murphy’s cut back from the left found West Brom loanee Donnellan whose side footed strike deflected away from the Villagers number one Adam Nicklin and in.

United had two opportunities to equalise but could not make the most of them. A low corner was flicked wide at the near post by Nathan Hotte, then a free kick from captain Liam King hit the City wall and was gathered easily by Vaughan.

City then doubled their lead halfway into the first half, as good work again from Murphy down the left resulted in a cross which was cleared, but only to Connor Gater whose header found Donnellan six yards out, and he tapped in for his second of the game.

The rest of the first half was fairly quiet, and the only real clear chance fell to the visitors where City were nearly caught out as the ball reached Danny Clarke on the edge of the box, but he volleyed over whilst off balance.

Clarke arguably could have easily been sent off, as he was involved in two incidents in the dying moments of the half. He seemed to kick Wayne Thomas which went unpunished, then he went in for a late challenge on Vaughan, which did bring him a yellow card.

As the second half got underway, it was clear City wanted it more than the visitors. Donnellan played a brilliant cross field pass to Murphy on the left, who cut inside and his curling shot was turned behind by Nicklin. Then moments later Daniel Nti broke down the right, and he squared it for Bakayoko but his shot went over.

After the hour mark City had more chances to kill off the game, but couldn’t take them. Murphy’s cross found Nti who headed wide, and an even better chance fell to Bakayoko who forced a brilliant one handed save from the Villagers number one after good work from Donnellan. Nti had another off target as his shot from the edge of the box went wide.

The Villagers came back into the game, and had two chances to pull a goal back. King surged into the City box but his toe poke was easily saved, then Ash Palmer’s header from a corner went over from six yards out.

Great link up play between Murphy and Donnellan resulted in the latter picking out a pass for Nti, whose shot hit the inside of the post and agonisingly went across goal and wide.

United were arguably unlucky with two efforts in the last fifteen minutes, as both struck the woodwork. A shot from Curtis Bateson hit the post then hit Vaughan and went behind, and the resulting corner led to a shot which went over. Minutes later, substitute Mark Gray’s header from a free kick hit the post and Vaughan reacted quickest to catch the ball.

In the closing minutes, Lee Hughes’s chest and shot on the turn was tipped behind, and from the corner both Thomas and Bakayoko had efforts which were blocked, and some half-hearted penalty appeals came with it.

City were on top in every department, and deserved the three points which moved them up to 16th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.

Match Report By Keiren Bullimore.