Aston Villa 0 - 1 Manchester City - Match Report
Manchester City claimed the all important three points against Aston Villa thanks to a goal from Joleon Lescott, but it was ultimately a game that will be best forgotten by players and fans alike.
A cold day at Villa Park was in no way warmed by the football on show. Manchester City claimed the all important three points against Aston Villa thanks to a goal from Joleon Lescott, but it was ultimately a game that will be best forgotten by players and fans alike. An important win regardless though as it puts the Sky Blues back at the top of table. A terrible performance by the hosts though they need to improve considerably and fast too if they want to stay clear from the drop zone. Hardly a must watch game by anyones standards Manchester City havent looked as irresistible as they did in the first half of the season since, well, the first half of the season. Thats not to say Roberto Mancinis men have been bad though, and City fans would undoubtedly be spurred on by the comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham in their last fixture. Add to that their impressive 3-2 win over Tottenham... Just ignore the 1-0 loss to Everton in-between. For Aston Villa its been an unremarkable season. Alex McLeish hasnt really got the Villains going, and thered likely be more than a few groans amongst the home fans when they saw that Emile Heskey was being inexplicably employed as a winger. Im not quite as critical as Heskey as some people, but a winger he most certainly is not (saying that though Ive written this prior to kick off so the big man might surprise me). Though the Midlands club sit in a lowly 15th place thanks to West Broms 5-1 spanking of Wolves, theyre still 7 points clear of the drop zone. Only a couple of McLeish out banners so far, though if they carry on at this rate those banners will become bigger, brighter and more imaginative than the half-hearted A4 sheets of paper, without even an imaginative word art font. So, top against 15th, a betting man would go for an away win youd be mad not to. However, despite rarely causing much of an upset, they did beat Chelsea on New Years Eve (though beating Chelsea isnt even all that much of a scalp these days is it?) Anyway, Gabriel Agbonlahor wasnt quite fit enough to make the bench but Marc Albrighton did start. This was also to be Robbie Keanes last game before his return to the glamour and rather poor standard of soccer in LA. For City, the Toures were at the African Nations, Samir Nasri made the bench and Mario Balotelli was still serving a four match suspension (and we could really have done with someone to brighten this one up a bit.) No handshake drama, but on the subject of racism, Micah Richards has had to shut down his twitter account due to racist messages posted on his page, which is disgraceful idiots with too much time on their hands. Anyway, Sergio Aguero had the first attempt on target, excellently bringing David Silvas pass down on his chest before hitting it on the turn. Easy for Shay Given, though he couldnt quite gather it first time. The opening 15 minutes lived up to their billing in that they were incredibly tedious. City had a lot of the possession and Villa were already looking like they were trying to see out a 0-0 - some horrific long ball football that belies their attacking talent. With the likes of Marc Albrighton, Darren Bent and Robbie Keane youd think they could make a go of this one. We were spoilt with a second chance that came around the 18th minute. David Silva had time to saunter into the box, calmly side stepping James Collins who had fallen over, before attempting to roll it into the far corner. It was a pretty weak attempt though and Given, diving to his right easy held it. The veteran keepers diving practice continued as ex-Villa man Gareth Barry got away a weak effort from around 20 yards out. The Irishman kneeled down to scoop it up with ease. Not much going on in terms of football, but youd undoubtedly liked to know about the kits. In fact it was quite difficult to actually tell what was going on due to the similarity of the two strips. City were in dark blue shirts and white shorts, and Villa were in claret and blue shirts with white shorts. God knows whose decision that was. Another effort from City, far better this time. Adam Johnson couldnt find a way past Stiliyan Petrov so fired away a low daisy cutter from just outside the area. It skidded off the turf before clipping the base of the post on its way out of play. The Aston Villa players had an air of resignation about them they were creating next to nothing. Sergio Aguero worked his way past Collins and Richard Dunne after some clever play by Silva. Youd think he might have curled it in the corner but alas, he pulled off one of the worst shots in recent history and sliced it high and wide by a distance. Awful effort. Emile Heskey made his first contribution of the game and it was a predictably poor one. During a rare spell of play in the City half, Alan Hutton broke down the right and passed it into the feet of the right winger, but he miscontrolled it before making a poor pass that was easily cut out by Aleksander Kolarov. Adam Johnson was becoming a bit of a handful. He skinned Albrighton, and cut it low across goal but no-one could get on the end of it and in the end it was an easy clearance for Hutton (though he still made a bit of a meal of it). Carlos Cuellar wasnt proving very good at keeping tabs on the City winger. Aleksander Kolarov can strike a free kick on his day. Unfortunately however, his day seems to come quite rarely and this sort of game is no-ones day. He lofted it over the bar mediocre effort amidst a mediocre game. Michael Oliver put the crowd out of their considerable misery what a dull match. The fans trooped off for their pie and drinks no doubt contemplating something a little stronger than a coke. The one consolation for Villas faithful their team is still in it. HALF TIME The visitors could have finally taken the lead in the opening minutes of the first half were it not for the commendable reactions of Alan Hutton, who did well to clear it after Vincent Kompany had leapt well to connect with James Milners corner. It looked like McLeish may have rattled a few cages in the hosts dressing room though as they were looking a lot more lively. Carlos Tevez news apparently the Argentine is returning to Manchester City on Tuesday. Allegedly the Sky Blues have no idea what state he is in (after all what has he been doing all this time?) So he will have to undergo a medical. Smacks of desperation I think. Obviously you want to get value out of someone youve spent millions on, but Roberto Mancini appeared to be taking a no player is bigger than the club stance. Theres no doubt though that with his ability hed be of use to City now though they were looking pretty toothless in this match. Petrov was the first to pick up a yellow for seeming to purposefully bring down David Silva on the edge of the area. The Spaniard dusted himself off to take the resulting free kick but Collins managed to clear over his own bar. That wasnt the end of it though as from the corner City took the lead. Villa fan Joleon Lescott was the scorer - the ball went to the back post where Gareth Barry was waiting, he nodded it back into the danger area and Lescott scrambled it in. This seemed to spur the visitors on and it was Adam Johnson who had looked so threatening so far who created the chance. He ran a great distance with the ball at his feet, evading the challenge of Cuellar before cutting it back to Sergio Aguero who couldnt quite get it past Given. Im not sure as to whether Aston Villa had created anything at all in the opening 70 minutes they looked completely incapable of scoring. You cant rule them out of being sucked into the relegation battle at this rate. In the 75th minute everyone had to stand around awkwardly as a very brave streaker livened up the game a little, or at least s/he would have had the sky cameras not prudishly refused to show him/her. I assume it was a streaker anyway... Stephen Ireland was then introduced, a former Man City man who has never again lived up to some of the performances he showed at Eastlands. Perhaps the first chance of note for the hosts. Carlos Cuellar with a free header from around the edge of the six yard box, it could have been a massive goal but he headed over. That wasnt it though, another corner led to a shot on goal by Darren Bent that was terrifically saved by Joe Hart. A remarkable stop by the City keeper the first thing hed had to do all game. And that was it. Not much more to say, City returned home with the three points. Referee: Michael OliverAston Villa (4-4-2): Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, (Baker, 90 + 3) Cuellar, Petrov, Gardner, Albrighton, Keane, Heskey (NZogbia, 69), Bent Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Johnson (Nasri, 85), Silva, (Richards, 90 + 1) Milner, Aguero (Dzeko, 89)