City 2 Aston Villa 0
March 4th 2009 att.40,137
Without three of their 'stars' City put on a fine team display showing some great inter passing flowing football in the first half and great defensive ability in the second half when Villa woke from their slumber. With Villa's fine away record having won 10 games on their travels and City lacking Robinho, Bellamy and Richards many City supporters must have had some doubts about a positive result. However almost from the first minute City showed just what they are capable of. In fact it could have been game over by half time and had Bellamy being playing I am sure it would have been. Caicedo lacks experience and pace and in Bellamy's injury absence I hope Evans will be given a run with Bojinov as a back-up. Elano for once really played his part and showed the good form we had come to expect. Shaun Wright-Phillips worked his socks off and popped up all over the field. Dunne was back to his very best in defence and Onuoha played well. Zabaleta having played well in midfield dropped back to right back and was rarely beaten by Young. Another fine display by him.
Injuries to Robinho, Richards and Bellamy enforced several changes. Elano came in for Robinho, Caicedo was the lone striker and Zabaleta went to right back for Richards.
After just 6 minutes SWP wriggled his way past several defenders but his final effort went wide
Nedum Onuoha had the dubious duty of marking Heskey and what a good job he made of it
On nine minutes City had a great move with de Jong putting through a good pass to Elano .........
......... who passed to Ireland whose double effort was finally blocked by Knight but the quality of City's football was looking good
Caicedo goes down after a tackle
Ireland clears from Cuellar
Heskey clears an Elano corner under pressure from Dunne
Kompany shoots wide after a run forward
In the space of two minutes City missed a couple of opportunities. First a Zabaleta run down the right wing gave Caicedo a half chance and then SWP missed a great chance when put through by Ireland putting the ball just wide. Villa were just not in the game
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. SWP took a great pass from Elano and was brought down by Milner in the penalty area.
It was an easy decision for referee Foy to make as he pointed to the spot and Milner got a yellow card for the offence.
Elano took the perfect penalty driving the ball high to the keepers right and City had a well deserved lead
Knight heads clear from Caicedo
Catching this free kick was one of the first things Given had to do in the first half and almost 30 minutes had gone by
It looks as though Brad Freidel wants to leave the room - Hold on Brad its almost half time!
Kompany and Agbonlahor battle for the ball.
Just before half time City almost made it 2 . Caicedo held onto the ball despite several tackles and after the ball ran to SWP the resultant cross was just missed by Stephen Ireland.
A half time chat obviously gave Villa a lift and they were soon on the attack giving the City defence some work to do
Fernandes on for the injured De Jong after half time clashes with Petrov
A cross by Milner eludes Bridge........
..... but is brilliantly headed clear by Richard Dunne back to his best form
Fernandes about to block an effort by Ashley Young
Zabaleta 's turn to block Young
Manager Hughes watches SWP in action at close range
In the 70th minute Given had to make his first difficult save pushing a shot from Barry round the post
Given has to punch clear to clear this Villa corner
This dangerous cross from the left was missed by all and sundry
Young Ched Evans had only been on the field a minute or so -replacing Caicedo - when he chested the ball down for Elano to crack in a good shot that produced a brilliant save from Friedel
The dancing disco six - another contribution.
There was a great welcome for the return of Bojinov who replaced Elano.
This corner by Villa ended with three players on the floor needing attention.
With a couple of minutes to go City sealed their win with another brilliant move and goal. Bojinov got the ball from Evans on the right, passed to Ireland who did a 1-2 with SWP ...........
...... who whipped the ball past Friedel to give City a second goal. Brilliant!
Well now it was celebration time City winning their 5th home win in a row
City played out time without too many wobbles. A great team display. Why can't we do it away!!!!
Team:
Given 7.5: Zabeleta 8, Dunne 8, Onuoha 8, Bridge 7.5: Wright-Phillips 8, Ireland 8, Kompany 7.5, De Jong 7 (Fernandes 7 )
Elano 8 (Bojinov 7), Caicedo 6 ( Evans 7.5)
