As Fernandinho ran down upon Guzan as the 89th minute struck, the Villa faithful collectively had their hearts in their mouths after just minutes before Benteke was clear through with only Joe Hart to beat – the linesman had different ideas and adjudged the Belgium to be offside. 3-2 the final come the blow of the whistle from th ref with the team agrieved not to have left the Etihad with at least a point, which seems all to similar story to the games against Newcastle and Stoke, so close but yet so far.
The game started terribly for Villa, Guzan who has been a rock for at least 3 seasons since resigning during Paul Lambert’s time at the club, completeley miss kicked a pack pass meaning to go to Jores Okore, instead handing it to the argentine Sergio Aguero who doesn’t need any invitation to score a goal at the best of times. 1-0. A former villa side may have let themselves deflate and gone in at the break 2-0 down and played damage limitation, but Villa stayed in control, unlucky not to go in level but for an on form Joe Hart and a tired Benteke.
The second half started and the same trend was followed with Westwood, Delph and Sanchez controlling the midfield with the likes of Yaya Toure looking more and more pedestrian to the game. Jack Grealish tried to make things happen down the channels using the width offered by Bacuna who had a great game, and Richardson who is improving and arguably keeping out Aly Cissokho from that left back position. After minutes of knocking a lack of bravery from the Villa wall saw Kolarov curl in a cheeky left footer into the bottom left corner. Richardson to blame for the gap in the wall which allowed the ball to pass under Guzan’s near post. 2-0 and Villa looked to have no real way back into the game.
Although they kept pressing, forcing a corner. Man City looked unorganised and couldn’t deal with Vlaar and Okore competing for the ball, before long Man City were in the wilderness defensively and Cleverley hit the ball into the crowd, it creeped in and Villa ran to the centre circle. 2-1, the fight back was on. It didnt take long for Villa to keep pressing wanting something out of the game after all the effort, again from a corner Man City were unable to cope and Carlos Sanchez wiggled free, he managed to stretch the ball above a pre-occupied Joe Hart and level the scores, 2-2 and Villa seemed to be pressing for a 3rd when Benteke went through on goal – Hart arguably brought down the Belgium but the offside flag drew president decision.
Man City went up the other end and recieved a corner after good work down the left, the corner came in and Fernandinho was left in the open, it didnt take an invitation to let him bang it in past Guzan – harsh.
Football is a tough game to us smaller teams with less money, but hell did we give a good account of ourselfs.
TVV’s MOTM : Carlos Sanchez
