29/11/06: Villa 1 City 3Updated: October 3rd, 2007
Are City fans psychic?
I’m asking the question in all seriousness, as a look at the talkboards before the match revealed an overwhelming belief that we were going to win this one.
Sure, we’ve been Villa’s bogey team, but the combination of our away form and Villa’s improvement under O’Neill made this game far from a certainty.
The bookies put City at 10/3 for the win, yet 13 out 16 predictions (81%) on the Bluemoon talkboard were for a City victory.
Looking at the team Pearce put out, you suspect he was highly confident too.
“Since the bloody nose we had at Wigan there’s been a steely determination. We need to build on days like today, ” Pearce said after the match.
Three away points, 12th in the table and a wonder goal from Distin. I’ll settle for that right now.
~ Despite all the predictions for a City win only one person, blue man dan at Mancityfans, got the correct score. Bet he didn’t put a fiver on it though.
~ Match highlights video
~ Pearce’s post-match interview
~ Getty Images photos
~ Latest Premiership table.
Match stats
The stats (below) are compiled from the live commentary and differ slightly from Sky’s stats.
I’ve just noticed that Petrov’s effort that stuck the bar is missing from the graphic, so apologies.
Match reports
Aston Villa 1 City 3 (MEN)
City dominated in all departments with Georgios Samaras outstanding upfront, Barton impressing in midfield and Hatem Trabelsi over-lapping to good effect on the right effect.
Vassell shows his teeth to bite the hand that once fed him (The Guardian)
Stuart Pearce has seen his side’s away record ridiculed over the past 12 months but the City manager could have been forgiven for picking out this fixture as the evening when everything would change.
‘Ghostly’ Vassell starts Villa horror show (Daily Telegraph)
Success on the road for Manchester City has been about as likely as Sylvain Distin, very much a centre-half, though of the cultured variety, running the length of the pitch to score a goal of which George Best would have been proud. A blue moon rose over Villa Park and both unusual occurrences took place on the same evening.
Distin strike adds gloss to slick City show (The Times)
“He’s like a Rolls Royce when he gets in his stride,” Pearce, the City manager said. “I’d like to say he does that in training, but normally he can’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo.”
Vassell has Villa in tatters once again (The Independent)
City performed with a confidence that belied their wretched results on the road, and it was significant that Villa’s outstanding performer was their reserve goalkeeper, Stuart Taylor.
Villa 1 City 3 (Man City Mad)
Vassell’s opening goal was the vital turning point of the game as City went from strength to strength and made a mockery of their away form this season.
Are the wheels falling off the wagon? (Villa Talk)
Arguably, the team put out to face Citeh was the best O’Neill had available to him. However, at no stage of that first half did Martin O’Neill’s team look anything but second best.
Season-on-season table
No extra points in the season-on-season table, which compares results to the corresponding fixtures from last year.
City won this fixture 1-0 last season, so at least we picked up +1 in goal difference. Fulham’s 2-1 win over Arsenal - a game they lost 4-0 last season - means they move above us to 16th.
(Results against last season’s relegated clubs - Sunderland, West Brom and Birmingham - are compared to Sheff Utd, Watford and Reading respectively)
Here are the next three fixtures with the results from last season:
(H) Mon Dec 04: Watford (drew 0-0)
(A) Sat Dec 09: United (drew 1-1)
(H) Sun Dec 17: Tottenham (lost 2-0).
Player ratings
Ratings come from Mancityfans’ AFKAE, the MEN and Sky.
Weaver: 7, 7, 7
Kicking was immaculate again and one vital second half save low to his right kept Blues two in front just when they needed it. (MEN)
Not very busy. (AFKAE)
Richards (Onuoha 90): 7, 7, 7
Returned back to his familiar station at left back and looked as though he enjoyed himself linking cleverly with Trabelsi. (MEN)
Good work with Trabelsi. (AFKAE)
Dunne: 6, 8, 7
Can seldom remember him being more fired up. Animated and talkative he led by as example as always. (MEN)
Mostly untroubled. (AFKAE)
Distin: 8, 8, 8
Poised and commanding in equal measure. Set up one goal and then used scorching pace to score fantastic third. (MEN)
Great goal and very composed throughout. Calm at the back. (AFKAE)
Thatcher: 7, 7, 6
Not had any trouble settling back into the side since enforced lay off the back four continues to look solid. (MEN)
Played well. Had the young speed merchant under control. (AFKAE)
Trabelsi (Dickov 85): 6, 8, 8
For a man who has played so many years as a right back he has looked terrific as in attack. His crossing was impeccable. (MEN)
Overcommitted for the goal but good 1st half with Richards. (AFKAE)
Reyna: 8, 8, 6
If anything was more impressive in first half here than he was as MOM at Liverpool. Confident and assured at all times. (MEN)
Brilliant 1st half, looked a complete player. Faded a bit. (AFKAE)
Barton: 7, 7, 8
Took his goal with almost nonchalant aplomb and was otherwise neat and tidy. Another mature midfield display. (MEN)
Pretty much like Reyna but not as controlled. (AFKAE)
Vassell: 6, 8, 9
Didn’t deserve the stick he got from the home fans who once adored him but did however deserve his first goal of the season. (MEN)
Effective, did some decent defensive stuff as well. (AFKAE)
Corradi: 6, 8, 7
Led the line with style and panache and made the first with great cushioned header into path of Vassell. Best yet. (MEN)
He’s got the touches. An extended run could help him. (AFKAE)
Samaras (Hamann 76): 6, 7, 8
Not seen the best of him in away games this season but was nimble, composed and linked well with Italian Corradi. (MEN)
Same as above. Makes lots of mistakes but can do a fair bit of chasing and disrupting. (AFKAE)
Subs:
Hamann (Samaras 76): 6, 6
Added solidity to midfield. (MEN)
Meant Barton could go forward more, but game was won at his stage. (AFKAE)
Dickov (Trabelsi 85):
Onuoha (Richards 90)
Subs not used:
Hart, Miller