Aston Villa's nickname is the Villain's but on this showing you'd think it was Manchester City's. The usual Sky Blue kit was discarded for their new all Black number, a fitting colour for any villain.
As with all pantomimes, a chief villain is needed. Step forward Gareth Barry the former Villa captain and their own Prince Charming was subjected to a chorus of boos and bank note waving from start to finish.
The first half, had everything you'd expect from 2 teams in form and wanting to make a statement to the rest of the league. Respect was shown from both sets of players apart from 2 cynical challenges, one from De Jong on Young and the other from Petrov on SWP. Neither victims of the challenges were the same afterwards and both instigators were lucky not to have been more harshly dealt with than the yellow cards they received.
In a very tight affair in which City edged possession defences were on top until the only goal was scored from a corner. Like at the derby City's genius strategy of lining up on the six yard area allowing the opposition strikers to attack the ball at will paid dividends ... for the opposition. Just as we'd conceded 2 goals to Ginga Fletcher 2 weeks ago, this time Richard Dunne stole a jump on Gareth Barry. Yes Barry again and YES I said RICHARD DUNNE scored with his HEAD from a SET-PIECE!
City came close to equalizing when Carlos Tevez saw his 30-yard drive go inches over the bar.Tevez again tried his luck from long range but dragged the shot wide, before Stephen Warnock floated a ball into Steve Sidwell who could only direct his header well over the crossbar.
In fact the well oiled attacking machine of previous weeks looked out of sink tonight with Adebayor not on the same wavelength as the terrible twins and even they got in each others way half of the time.
The Second Half, began brightly enough, with City firstly taking the initiative and then Villa having a go at the Blue's back line. Young and Milner's willingness to run the channels was a constant wake up call to the inspired Zabaleta and Bridge who got forward as much as they could.
An injury brought about a significant change to the game when De Jong hobbled off allowing the more attack-minded Steven Ireland onto the field of play.
In a 15 min spell Ireland was the difference with his Fabregasesque passes cutting through Villa at will. Nobody's suggesting that Villa were the Three Little Pigs here, but City were certainly the Big Bad Wolf as they huffed and they puffed and finally blew the Villa house down courtesy of a crisp passing move.
It was Ireland's defence splitting pass that found Adebayor who cut back for Bellamy to lash his shot into the roof of the net and show Villa how a counter attack should be played.
After the goal a period of giving the ball away began. Even Superman was engulfed in the physical battle and his cameo contribution was halted there as he was assimilated into the war of attrition.
Hughes decided to go more direct and threw Santa Cruz up front in an attempt to take advantage of Villa's encampment in their own half. Villa had began to sit further and further back in their own half trying to catch City on the break, which almost worked a couple of times.
It must have been worrying for the Villa fans to see their team play so negatively after a resilient first half performance. Collins and Dunne had been immense all game at the heart of a well drilled defence and they were needed on more than one occasion in the last 25 mins as City pushed up the pitch trying to force a winner.
The physicality of the game was no more evident than an elbow by Bellamy on Collins during a 50 - 50 aerial challenge. One could be forgiven for thinking that the fiery Welshman's words whilst stood over his prostrate former teammate were reminiscent of Roy Keane's to Alf Inge Haaland in their infamous rematch. But it is more likely that he was letting his Welsh International team mate know that it was a challenge out of 100% commitment and not malice.
The last ten minutes was a show of commitment if nothing else by most on the pitch, with tired legs beginning to show after immense physical battle. Craig Bellamy shone in this period to seal his Man of the Match performance with 2 lung busting runs down the by-line that should have been converted, but ultimately weren't.
Verdict
Richard Dunne for Villa is worth a mention as were all 4 centre-backs on show, as he scored a goal and got rid of his Pantomime Fool tag... for this week anyhow. Both he and the City fans showed more class than the booing Villa fans as he didn't celebrate his goal and they even cheered him after it!
A mention must go to the City defensive coach who's placement of defenders for set-pieces has been woeful in the last 3 games. 2 goals from Ginga Fletcher in the Derby together with another carbon copy tonight should be evidence enough that Gareth Barry should not be marking key opposition players in aerial battles.
But maybe there's more to it than just Gareth looking like a Sumo wrestler doing the high jump. The jumping start that opposition players get on our static defensive line as they attack the ball on set plays means that there can only be one winner. It happens so often that I'm amazed that we've got a defensive coach at all. Up until now it has cost us 4 points.
The woefully match unfit Santa Cruz was not at the races all night and Hughes' inability to replace Wright Phillips, who was carrying a knock all 2nd half, with the recently impressive Martin Petrov was perplexing to all City fans to say the least. After all, Petrov is the best crosser of the ball at the club and would have had 2 towers to aim for tonight.
Overall, a fair result but can't help think that our tactical ineptness at set plays lost us 2 points in the end. Good luck to Villa as we've always had a good rapport with them. Hope they finish in the top 4 with us but maybe that's just another fairy tale.
Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy never gives up and got his well deserved goal.
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