90 seconds was all it really took, but the dream of qualifying for the Champions League next year is finally over after we lost 3-1 at the the City of Manchester stadium today.

City dominated the first half, but we opened the scoring with the first attempt on goal to cap a quite beautiful passage of play. Stuart Downing cut in from the right and found just the right reverse ball to match Carew’s intelligent diagonal run. Carew shot early to the far post and temporary goal keeper Fulop was left helpless.

Villa were possibly fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against us after Tevez blasted a shot which clearly hit Stephen Warnock on the hand, although there was nothing deliberate about it, they’re often given. Perhaps that was an omen because minutes before the break Adam Johnson tricked Warnock into a desperate challenge with a deft touch and the penalty was inevitable as the youngster was brought down.

Tevez blasted his effort from the spot low and just to Friedel’s right. He guessed the correct direction, but actually dived over the ball.

Villa responded immediately and Carew found himself with the ball in the box before turning smartly and unleashing a thunderous effort that cannoned into the crossbar.

City countered, again picking out Adam Johnson in the right channel, this time he found himself shadowed by Stuart Downing who fell for his dummy cross a little too easily. With Downing out of the way Johnson calmly took his time at the byline as Dunne and Collins were unable to resist being drawn to the ball. Johnson picked out Adebayor in the centre who had the simple job of tapping in.

Sucker punched just before half time with two goal in 90 seconds. How these games hang on an knife edge. Carew was literally inches away from making it to 2-1 to Villa, instead City go up the other end and make it 2-1 themselves.

Villa didn’t come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders in the second half, but instead built the pressure up slowly always wary of City’s ability to fire back on the counter. Bellamy being the main outlet, but kudos has to be given to Carlos Cuellar who did what many a full back fails to achieve by keeping the Welshman in his pocket.

The game was eventually becoming a stalemate with Villa unable to find a way through so MON brought Heskey on for Carew and Delfouneso on for Warnock with 20 minutes left. Curiously, this wasn’t a 3-4-3 system though, Downing actually slotted in at left back.

However, the changes made a notable difference and City were forced to sit deeper and deeper as Ashley Young began to find some space and time to send some fine crosses into the box. Frustratingly though, nothing quite connected and the equaliser couldn’t be found.

City continued to give cause for concern as Villa committed more and more men forward and it was almost inevitable that City would find the killer blow in the final minute of normal time. Substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips broke down their left and managed to do what Bellamy had been unable to do in selling Cuellar short. With the Spaniard sent the wrong way, Phillips found Bellamy inside in space and he ruthlessly put the ball past a helpless Brad Friedel.

And so it finished 3-1 and City remain in the fight for 4th with Tottenham, who beat Bolton 1-0 at home today. 5th is still possible for us, but we need City to lose their last 2 games, which means Tottenham will get the Champions League place.

Whatever happens, we have the Europa League next season (which means I should get on with that piece entitled “Why The Europa League Matters” which has been on my list for a couple of weeks) and we have the best performance in the Premier League since 1992/93.

We have lots to be proud of with this team. It’s been a fantastic season, it really has. However, I can’t help feeling the need to go find somewhere quiet to sulk for a while.

UTV

[Photo: Fanfeedr]