By Alan Duffy
While Aston Villa may have an FA Cup final to look forward to, they remain in real danger of relegation after going down 3-2 at the Etihad on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s under-performing side were handed an early lead, after Brad Guzan’s sliced clearance allowed Sergio Aguero to net his 27th goal of the season.
Despite that early goal, the Villans impressed for large periods of the game.
However, on 66 minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage courtesy of a fine Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick.
Under Tim Sherwood, the Villans have carried a much greater goal threat, and the Birmingham giansts got themselves back into the game soon after Kolarov’s goal, with Tom Cleverley firing home after poor goalkeeping from Joe Hart.
Villa then completed the comeback with Carlos Sanchez volleying home on 85 minutes after Hart could only palm the ball in the Colombian’s direction.
Indeed, the visitors could have won the game, when Christian Benteke found himself one on one with Hart, only for the Belgian to be rather harshly flagged for offside.
The visitors looked set for a precious point when Fernandinho netted a last-gasp winner after poor defending from the Villans.
The result sees the Citizens leapfrog Arsenal into second-place, albeit having played two games more than the Gunners. Villa, on the other hand are now just two points clear of the drop-zone, having played a game more than all three sides below them (Hull, Leicester and 18th-placed Sunderland).
Highlights to follow…
Photos: Getty Images
Highlights:
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