Villa v CITY

So it was pretty much to be expected although that doesn’t make it easier to take. Aston Villa, low on confidence really in a position in the league that doesn’t do credit to the talent in their squad. Also the debut of one Darren Bent who, as many City fans know seems to like scoring against us but not as much as he loves scoring on his debut. The game against Aston Villa had a trio of reasons why we would not win this game and so it was to prove.
City enjoyed to majority of possession, almost double the amount of shots on target and five times as many as Villa off target and all of this away from home. We would have had more than an inkling that this wouldn’t be our day early on as the usually reliable (from anywhere BUT the spot) front man for City saw the ball go through his legs when surely the tap in was easier to do. Then on the 18th minute Bent was free to tap in a parried ball from Hart and this will be the main thing that concerns Mancini and the City faithful. There is no doubt that Hart is a great keeper but this is now too many errors that have led to vital goals that he has made in recent games. Later on he was to palm another shot around the post rather than back into play as he had done previously. Shay Given must be surely expecting to see his name on the team sheet next Sunday when the mighty Blues face off against Notts County in the FA Cup.
Positives from the game is that City still looked good, and on another day it could have been so different with Barry heading agonizingly wide. Later on DeJongs powerful drive was deflected onto the base of the post and soon after Kolorovs similar attempt was deflected TWICE with the second one taking it away from Friedel but also the goal. Dzeko still awaits his first City goal but does look the part once he gets into full flow. He too saw a header go just wide after out jumping the Villa defense to meet a Johnson cross.
My personal opinion is that teams like Villa now look to get their nose in front if they can but then get all bar one body behind the ball. That shows that City are now recognized as a real threat and it is now up to Mancini and City to figure out the solution.