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Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 01 May 2010 |
The Villa's slim hopes of finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League were finally snuffed out at Eastlands by the new money-men of English football.
O'Neill picked his usual starting XI including 7 players who have already contested 30+ league games each this season.
The hiome side bossed the first half but against the run of play it was Carew with his 17th goal of the campaign who put the Villa on the board just after the first quarter of an hour.
Despite conceding possession in the ratio of 2 to 1 it was the Villa who looked likely to score the second goal albeit from long range.
Milner and Downing might have beaten stand-in goalie Fulop and the Villa were guilty of not putting the Middlesbrough loan player under more pressure.
Freidel had to palma deflected shot away for a corner but the Villa rearguard were keeping things very tight.
The game changed dramatically in the space of 90 seconds five minutes before the break.
Johnson was brought down by the rashest of challenges by Warnock. The winger had got a heavy touch at the edge of the box and was going nowhere.
Tevez' spot-kick was blasted under the diving Freidel.
The Villa response was immediate and Carew turned Toure and beat the goalie only to see the ball bounce back of the bar.
The ball was played quickly to the Villa area and it was Johnson again who beat Downing and had time to wait to set up Adebayour who prodded home from close range unmarked.
The Villa started the second half on the front foot and took the game to the Citizens but clear cut chances were at a premium.
It developed into an end to end affair and Freidel had to be smart to beat out a curling Bellamy effort.
Ashley Young almost caught out the loanee 'keepere with a clever chip but he manged to swipe the ball clear.
Carew and Warnock were replaced by Heskey and Delfouneso with 20 minutes left as the Villa and MON chased the desperately needed win.
Another Young corner was beaten out and a towering Dunne header from 15yds was easily collected.
As the clock ticked down substitute Wright-Phillips, a player who has taunted the Villa on more than one occasion, did it again setting up Bellamy to drive home the clincher with 3 minutes remaining.
Cuellar had a stellar game at right back continually getting the better of Bellamy in what became something of a personal tussle.
The season finale is next Sunday when Blackburn Rovers are the visitors as the Villa look set to make it three seasons in a row with a sixth place finish.
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