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Man City pick up all three points at Villa Park to keep their Uefa Cup dream alive.
Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kiki Musampa combine well and Musampa sees his hot go past Thomas Sorensen only to see it rebound off the post.
Bradley Wright-Phillips drags his shot wide of Thomas Sorensen's post from 18 yards out.
Joey Barton is booked for a clumsy challenge on Eric Djemba-Djemba.
Nolberto Solano hits his free-kick towards goal but David James is equal to it and palms it out for a corner.
Lee Croft replaces the impressive Jonathan Macken.
Lee Hendrie is replaced by Luke Moore.
Nolberto Solano is booked for a strong challenge on Joey Barton.
Bradley Wright-Phillips comes on to replace Antoine Sibierski.
Shaun Wright-Phillips bursts into the box and lifts his shot over Thomas Sorensen and over the bar.
Eric Djemba-Djemba fires a shot just wide of David James' left hand post.
Lee Hendrie steps over the ball and Juan Pablo Angel finishes brilliantly from an acute angle.
Juan Pablo Angel is needlessly caught offside following a promising Villa move.
Stephen Davis plays a lovely ball over the top for Darius Vassell to chase but Nedum Onuoha diverts the danger.
Darius Vassell uses his pace to get in behind the Man City defence but hits his shot against David James.
Aston Villa look a completely different side in the opening minutes of the second half.
Eric Djemba-Djemba heads Nolberto Solano's corner over the bar.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is replaced by Nolberto Solano and Eric Djemba-Djemba comes on in place of Jlloyd Samuel.
Mr Beeby sounds his whistle and the first half is over.
David James makes a fantastic save from a Stephen Davis shot after a defensive error by Man City
Lee Hendrie controls the ball well and slides Stephen Davis in but he blasts his shot into the side-netting.
Lee Hendrie hits a right-footed shot straight at David James to register Aston Villa's first shot on target.
Jlloyd Samuel scuffs his right-footed shot and fails to trouble David James.
The Villa supporters make themselves heard by booing this below-par Villa performance.
Darius Vassell plays a very sloppy ball looking for Gareth Barry and the ball runs out for a Man City throw.
Thomas Hitzlsperger wastes a free kick from a good position.
Martin Laursen falls over and gives the ball to Jonathan Macken who pulls it back for Antoine Sibierski but he wanted to much time.
Nedum Onuoha puts a strong challenge in on Darius Vassell and is lucky to escape without a booking.
Thomas Hitzlsperger puts a fantastic ball into the box but Juan Pablo Angel heads wide of David James's goal.
Martin Laursen makes a timely intervention to thwart another good Man City move.
Kiki Musampa smashes his shot past Thomas Sorensen making the most of a mistake by Gareth Barry.
Thomas Hitzlsperger and Jlloyd Samuel combine well but Samuel's shot is blocked by Nedum Onuoha.
Danny Mills handles the ball and is lucky to escape without a yellow card.
Shaun Wright-Phillips drives past Gareth Barry and into the penalty area and slots his shot past Thomas Sorensen.
Jonathan Macken plays Kiki Musampa in but he blasts his shot wide of the goal.
Joey Barton smashes a free kick into the wall from 30 yards out.
Match official R Beeby gets things underway at Villa Park.
Manchester City set themselves up for a real cliff-hanger final game of the season against Middlesbrough to determine who will win the final UEFA Cup place. Stand-in manager Stuart Pearce admits that when he took over from Kevin Keegan eight games ago his main hope was that he would not see Manchester City relegated. In the space of eight games Pearce has transformed City and on the strength of being unbeaten in their last seven games he is likely to be appointed as manager in the summer. After beating Villa to record their first win on the road under his control Pearce said: "This victory has put a real edge on the game against Middlesbrough. "We should have beaten Villa more convincingly. We came out of the blocks and played really well with two quick goals. "Later we had other opportunities to have killed off the game, but in the end it was the character of my side which finally enabled us to win. "I was delighted with the result and Shaun Wright-Phillips is a great asset - and I am pleased I'm retired! He produced a sensational goal and now he is in double figures and most have been solo efforts." Villa boss, David O'Leary, was not so happy. He said: "We gave them two gift goals but afterwards we should have scored quite a few goals. "It has been that type of season. Over the last few weeks we have been vulnerable at centre-back, giving away too many silly goals and generally making life hard for ourselves. "We have created enough chances but have not been scoring enough goals and that has been the story of our season." O'Leary may have a £20million war chest to spend on new players but this is of little consolation in their present predicament. O'Leary has chanced his luck a little too often and all his shortcomings are coming home to roost in a dramatic fashion. Hammered 5-1 at Tottenham in their previous game Villa found themselves trailing by two goals in the first 12 minutes and seemingly not in with a hope of redeeming themselves until the second half. Villa's fans at the Holte End were far from impressed and expressed their feelings about the current situation as their team struggled to get to grips with a high flying City side that has rapidly climbed the table. Jlloyd Samuel and Juan Pablo Angel, who have both had a miserable season for Villa, again came in for heavy criticism. Samuel, later substituted, was plainly at fault with the opening goal after only five minutes. He stood off Wright-Phillips and the little England winger is never slow to exploit such a situation. Turning quickly he gathered pace to take him first past Samuel and then the lunging Gareth Barry before scoring with a low shot to the right of a helpless Thomas Sorensen. The Villa keeper was similarly transfixed when Villa's defence was again split open with embarrassing ease by some smart passing between Antoine Sibierski and Jonathan Macken which left Kiki Musampa ample time to line up his powerful shot past Sorensen. Villa's defence continued to be an embarrassment but Steve Davis gave them hope with a couple of efforts which were both saved by David James. The introduction of Nobby Solano produced a massive improvement by Villa as he pressurised the City defence. He set up Angel's 62nd minute goal to revive Villa but City held on for their vital win and the showdown with Middlesbrough next week. Man of the Match: Nobby Solano The Peruvian winger transformed Villa after coming on as a second-half substitute, but an inspirational display was still not enough to rescue his side.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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