FT:A Villa 1-1 Man City: An eye-catching game at Villa Park has ended with a share of the spoils but in truth Villa had plenty of chances to secure all 3 points

This game now appears to be heading for a draw which is a result I am sure Sven-Goran Eriksson would take.

Joe Hart again denies Villa as Agbonlahor uses his pace to latch onto a long hoof upfield but the keeper is there to get his body in the way.

Kelvin Etuhu has shown promise of late and he is on again here, in place of Bianchi for the final few minutes.

Superb defending from Ball but Reo-Coker has wasted a great chance having outmuscled Gelson he had Agbonlahor free to his left but his pass only found Ball's legs and the City man clears.

Great play from the substitutes Corluka and Garrido with the latter looping the ball to the far post where Petrov arrives and almost finds the bottom corner.

However, the same player now makes a clumsy challenge on Martin Petrov and he is booked - probably for persistent offending.

Nigel Reo-Coker has just made the most important tackle of the game. The ball was bouncing around the halfway line and foru City players were in attack with the midfielder all on his own but he beats Gelson to the ball and Villa escape.

Elano is now coming off for City with Garrido coming on in his place in what appears to be a defensive change from Sven.

Shaun Maloney hasn't been able to really influence things in midfield and he will be replaced by Petrov who has recovered from a hamstring strain.

City break really well form back to front and Petrov delays his delivery a touch too long and Bianchi, who was free, is denied by Bouma who gets back in front of him.

City are making a change as Hamann goes off and Corluka is on and the right back will play in central midfield.

The home fans are ahppy as Vassell picks up a booking for persistent offending.

Elano has barely had a kick in this second half and he is visually getting a little frustrated by the fact he can't influence things in attack.

Villa are back to enjoying the lion's share of possession and although they haven't been able to create the same openings as in the first half they are beginning to threaten to do just that.

Another yellow card this time for Ball as he trips Ashley Young after the winger played a clever one-to with Barry on the right side.

WIth Dunne out of position Laursen sprints forward to give Carew an option but the striker elects to keep the ball for himself and is eventually muscled out of it by Hamann and Richards.

And he has to be careful now Gelson because he has just brought down Maloney and although it would have been harsh he could have been in serious trouble there.

The game has got a little scrappy now and Gelson scythes down Agbonlahor rather deliberately a picks up a caution.

Gareth Barry has been booked for his reaction towards the referee after Carew goes down under challenge from Dunne, although their appeared to be little contact.

Good skill from Agbonlahor as he latches onto Maloney's forward header and immediately flicks it over Dunne but his shot is not well struck and it dribbles wide.

The Villains fans are up in arms as they believe the referee is favouring the men from Manchester - although their claims look to have little substance to be honesst.

The visitors are now looking a little more dangerous up front and Dunne is finally managing to get somewhat of a measure of Carew.

City starting quickly again as Petrov somehow curls a superb cross in from the left and Vassell rises at the back post but its just too high as the former Villa striker loops it onto the top of the net.

The second period is underway and it will be interesting to see how the respective managers' words will be taken on board by the players.

HT:A Villa 1-1 Man City: City began well and deserved their lead but Villa have enjoyed the better of the half in general and John Carew has given a masterclass

There will be just one minute of added time.

Carew is putting on a masterclass in how to play as a target man as he again holds off Dunne and Richards before slipping Young in behind but for once his ball in is not quite good enough as it evades the oncoming Maloney at the back post.

A bit of relief for City as Villa take their foot off the gas for a few moments as the game edges towards the break.

Dietmar Hamann is deservedly given the game's first yellow card as he trips Agbonlahor before he could get into his stride.

City finally manage to get themselves into the Villa half but Bianchi can't bring it under control and Villa bring it clear with Bouma.

Joe Hart is proving to be the scourge of John Carew as he comes out to smother the ball after the big striker had made Richards look like a statue. However, he needs treatment as Carew clattered into him as he fell.

Agbonlahor works hard against Richards as he stabs it through for Carew to smash one from the edge of the box and Hart does superbly to get a fingertip to it as the ball glances wide off the post.

City have gone right into their shell since that Carew strike and at the moment it appears only a matter of time before the home team take the lead because City are inviting them onto them.

Agbonlahor is in behind again and this time he is hauled down surely by Richards but the referee isn't interested as the pacey striker falls - if he had given it then Richards would have been in real trouble.

Again Young puts in a superb ball and Agbonlahor this time stabs it goalwards and it is off the line again by Ball - the debate over goal-line technology may start again after this, as it looked very very close.

Ashley Young with the dangerous delivery from the corner and Dunne beats Laursen to it this time and he almost heads it into his own net.

Gareth Barry this time curls in a free-kick and Dunne - who has looked a little shaky - is beaten in the air by Laursen and Ball is forced to hack it off the line.

Great battling from Reo-Coker and the through pass is good as well and Carew goes through again but this time Micah Richards is able to use his pace to cover the Norweigan and clear.

It is amazing the difference that a goal makes because suddenly Villa are quicker to the loose ball and Man City are now unable to find the fluid movement they had earlier.

Villa are suddenly wide awake and the likes of Young and Agbonlahor are seeing so much more of the ball in the last few moments than they had before that equaliser.

GOAL:A Villa 1-1 Man City: (14mins) What a way to do it! John Carew controls it brilliantly before setting off on a superb individual run before beating Hart with a cool finish.

That goal was coming for the visitors because they have been the far superior side and Villa really need to step their game up a few gears because Elano and Petrov are seeign too much of the ball.

GOAL:A Villa 0-1 Man City: (12mins) Superb play from Elano and Petrov who bends it across the box and Bianchi could hardly miss it.

Villa have really struggled to get the ball at all, City have started very brightly and their passing is crisp making them look the most likely to break the deadlock.

Elano chances his arm with a long range free-kick and Carson is scrambling across to his right to tip it wide. That was close.

Vassell looks very lively at the moment and Bouma is being made to look a little foolish as the former England international steels in to intercept the Dutch full back's throw.

Elano with an early half chance after good work from Vassell gives the Brazilian a half volley which he scuffs wide.

Lee Mason is the man in the middle this afternoon and he gets the game underway on a freezing cold day in the Second City.

Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Vassell, Hamann, Gelson, Petrov, Elano, Bianchi

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Maloney, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew

Man City are sticking around in the Champions League places for longer than many believed they would but Sven's men have Elano back, however they did lose to ten-man Spurs in midweek's Carlong Cup quarter final.

Villa have been on a wretched run of late, since the unfortunate defeat to Arsenal really, but Martin O'Neill keeps faith with the bulk of his side although last weekend's hero Shaun Maloney is in from the off.

Welcome to Villa Park as two sides with European ambitions go head-to-head as the always crucial festive period gets underway.