A Joleon Lescott goal in the 63rd minute of Sunday's match at Villa Park proved enough for City to take all three points, and return to the top of the table ahead of reigning champions Manchester United.

The visitors had to bide their time before forcing the winner, and Mancini paid tribute to his players' approach.

"We were there (at the top) from August because we deserved this," Mancini said.

"It was a difficult game. We knew this before the game but the guys played fantastic football."

"It is normal (to be patient) because we had a lot of chances to score first half, second half and it was a difficult game as all teams defend very well and we had to be patient."

"I think Joleon played a fantastic game, but not only Joleon or Gareth (Barry) I think first half we played fantastic football and we were missing only a goal," he added.

"Second half we scored one goal, but we have other chances and all the players played very well."

City had to rely on an excellent save from goalkeeper Joe Hart to deny Darren Bent a late equaliser.

Mancini played down suggestions Hart was among the best shot-stoppers in the business, but acknowledged the 24-year-old's considerable potential.

"He's very young and there are other keepers with more experience," Mancini said.

"I think he is one of the best, but he needs to improve because he is young. He has many years in front (of him), but he could become one of the top keepers."

Questioned further about the possibility of Carlos Tevez's return to the club, Mancini admitted that the striker could be back in training next week.

The Argentine has been a controversial figure since apparently refusing to enter the field of play in a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and has since been the centre of constant transfer speculation, with Inter, AC Milan and Paris Saint-German interested.

Mancini said after the Bayern defeat that Tevez would never play for the club again but has since softened his stance and will offer him another chance to resume his City career.

"It's up to him, Carlos knows everything. We are here, we didn't change in this three months. Carlos is a City player," he said.

"I spoke to Carlos a week after) the Bayern Munich match). Carlos knows everything. This is normal and after he can play and train if his condition is good."

"I forgive all the people every time."

When asked whether Tevez could be in Manchester next week, he added: "I don't know, I hope so."

Meanwhile, Villa manager Alex McLeish bemoaned his team's ill-fortune after they lost centre-back Richard Dunne to a dislocated shoulder.

"I thought the game plan was excellent but the players were unlucky," he said.

"We're getting a lot of luck at the moment but it's all bad. Richard (Dunne) has hurt his shoulder, we lost Ciaran Clark yesterday with a knee ligament strain."

"The Villa fans stayed right behind us for the entire game and I thought we were very unlucky not to get anything."