Man City 3-1 Everton: Freak Howard Own Goal Banishes City's Midweek Blues

A freak Tim Howard own goal helped Manchester City put their Champions League misery behind them and put paid to Everton's unbeaten run in a frenetic game at the Etihad. The Toffees had beaten City nine times in twelve meetings before today's fixture but despite leading through Romelu Lukaku, they came unstuck courtesy of Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero before Howard's misfortune. The first meaningful chance went City's way after only five minutes as Yaya Toure attempted a measured finish from the top of the box, forcing Howard into a low palm save. Barely a minute later the hosts went close again after Sylvain Distin brought down Aguero just outside the box €“Aleksandar Kolarov's resulting free-kick swerved violently into Howard's side-netting. The visitors drew first blood through on-loan striker Lukaku on 16 minutes €“ latching onto Phil Jagielka's hoof up-field, the Belgian sprang the offside trap, cut inside Joleon Lescott and tucked it past Joe Hart. But Everton's celebrations were short-lived as City immediately responded €“ Negredo, put in by Toure's side-footed pass, dinked the ball over Howard from an angle to cap off an excellent counter-attack. City could have gone ahead after 26 minutes when David Silva capitalised on a set-piece to unshackle Aguero with an incisive through ball, but the diminutive Argentinean could only flash it across the Everton goal. The forward continued to threaten quarter of an hour later, first fluffing a one-on-one with Howard before spraying a left-footed shot wide from a difficult position soon after. Yet Aguero wasn't to be denied €“ rushing onto Silva's through-ball on the stroke of half-time, the former Atletico man skinned Distin before finishing just inside the far post from an acute angle. The second half started at a slower pace, with the first meaningful chance falling to Toure on 54 minutes €“ the Ivorian held it up just outside the box before blasting high and wide. City took a two goal lead on 68 minutes with a freak penalty after Seamus Coleman impeded Pablo Zabaleta €“ Aguero's effort hit the post and bounced off the sprawling Howard's back before rolling in. And they could've gone further ahead if Negredo had proved more clinical with nine minutes left, but Howard proved equal to the onrushing Spaniard's attempt at the bottom left corner. With the result beyond doubt in injury time, Samir Nasri took advantage of a clever Toure pass to cut inside the box before firing point blank at the Everton goal, but his effort cannoned off the American goalkeeper and away. The result puts the Citizens up into second place ahead of today's remaining fixtures, two points behind leaders Arsenal €“ Everton slip outside the Champions League places and into fifth place.