I wouldn’t blame you if you’re not that interested in the stats from this one, it might feel a little anti-climatic now I suppose. Nevertheless, I’ll chuck the usual statistics in and for the “feature stats” I’m going to break our passing down into 10 minute chunks graphically which demonstrates how the game evolved quite nicely I think.

Wingers

One quick point about Downing and Ash; they spent much more time on their natural wings during this game, they usually swap a lot more. This must have been for strategic reasons, but it’s interesting that the goal actually came from Downing cutting in from the right to a position where he could have unleashed a shot with his left foot, but found Carew with the reverse ball instead. You’d think they’d have done that a bit more.

Of course, Downing did spend the last 16 or so minutes more or less as a left back, but Villa were pressing a lot for the equaliser and spent most of that time in City’s half. However, I’m still not sure I see the logic. I know Warnock wasn’t having the best of games, so I understand sacrificing him for Delfouneso, but why not go to a genuine 3-4-3? We had nothing to lose and if we’re going to play three centre halves, we may as well use it to our advantage.

Ah well.

Passing Breakdown

00-09 mins	10-19 mins	20-29 mins
30-39 mins	40-49 mins	50-59 mins
60-69 mins	70-79 mins	80-90 mins

Average Position Map

The lack of wing swapping means that for once numbers 6 & 7 are not placed in the middle of the pitch and you actually see some semblance of our true shape.

As subs, Heskey and Delfouneso are not shown, but young Nathan played high up on the left, with Ash adopting the same role on the right, and Heskey played in the middle, just behind Gabby.

You can also see how Carlos Cuellar was kept busy demonstrating his defensive benefits with James Collins actually getting forward more on average, notably towards the end of the game. Carlos did a fantastic job keeping Craig Bellamy in his pocket for most of the game and, despite the last goal coming through his patch, he’s rightly receiving a lot of shouts for Man of the Match.

3	Man City	May 1st 2010	Aston Villa	1
	53%	Possession %	47%
	20	Shots	11
	6	On Target	4
	13	Corners	5
	2	Offsides	0
41′ Tevez (pen), 43′ Adebayor, 89′ Bellamy		Scorers	16′ Carew
Kompany		Booked	Petrov, Collins
		Sent Off
	322	Good Passes	256
	56%	CPS %	44%
	85	Bad Passes	64
	79%	Completion %	80%
	25	Interceptions	20
	32	Tackles Won	38
	33	Tackles Lost	25
	3	Blocks	10
	10	Free Kicks	8
Starting XI: 1. Friedel 24. Cuellar 25. Warnock 29. Collins 5. Dunne 19. Petrov 8. Milner 7. Young 6. Downing 11. Agbonlahor 10. Carew Subs: 22. Guzan 14. Delfouneso 4. Sidwell 20. Reo-Coker 2. Young 23. Beye 18. Heskey
Average Position Map

You can find Statshacks from other games here.

[Original data and graphics courtesy of ESPN and The Guardian]

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