Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa show strain at Manchester City in defeat
Villa's Champions League destiny is still in their hands, but the doubts are growing, bodies starting to tire. An Elano penalty and an excellent Shaun Wright-Phillips goal condemned Martin O'Neill's side to deserved defeat here. They have done well to last the marathon, but they may not have the legs for the sprint. O'Neill insists there is no anxiety. 'It's exciting for the players,' he said. 'They have never been in this position before. If that doesn't excite you then you shouldn't be playing. The top four who are there may have more know-how but that shouldn't stop us from sticking with it.' Related ArticlesBellamy blow leaves City shortTelegraph player raterFabio Capello will see defeat in Seville as cathartic not catastrophicSulley Muntari exit may pave way for arrival of Shaun Wright-PhillipsPaper View: Barca bid £30m for AdebayorCarson's chance on McClaren day of reckoningVilla depart for a break in Dubai today in a bid to reinvigorate weary bodies and minds. 'We don't have the biggest squad in the world,' O'Neill said. 'We looked a bit leggy against Chelsea and this is a chance for everyone to rest up. We have a 10-game season now and we want to give it a go.' After all of their Champions League rivals won on Tuesday, the onus here was on Villa to prove they could shake off recent sluggishness. Instead, they froze. O'Neill has just a handful of players who have experienced the stresses and strains of qualifying for the world's biggest club competition. The rest are young hopefuls. It is starting to show. City's European hopes are not as lofty, but here they were vastly superior. Despite missing Craig Bellamy and Robinho, they played with the sort of verve and freedom Villa can no longer muster. 'It was one of our best performances of the season,' said Mark Hughes. 'It was very accomplished. It was a performance of pace, skill and technique.' Wright-Phillips, restored to the side after his three-game suspension, had energy to burn. Hughes was effusive in his praise of the winger, as he was of Stephen Ireland. The real star, though, was Elano. The Brazilian is loved and loathed in equal measure by City's fans. His undoubted talent is tempered by a tendency towards sloth. He is a source of inspiration and dressing-room discontent. Hughes, reportedly, mostly sees him as trouble. O'Neill would probably agree. One beautifully crafted through ball gave Ireland a gilt-edged chance within 10 minutes, only to see Zat Knight deny him on the line. The Brazilian then robbed Curtis Davies and laid on a shot for Vincent Kompany which he dragged wide. After Wright-Phillips somehow shot wide when put clean through by Ireland, it was Elano who made and scored the opener. Ireland beat two men and picked out the Brazilian, whose reverse ball set Wright-Phillips in. James Milner tangled with the winger in the box and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot, allowing Elano to convert calmly. Even in an improved second-half display from the visitors, it was City who had the better chances. Villa went close through Ashley Young, his shot deflected away, and Gareth Barry, his volley from the subdued Gabriel Agbonlahor's chip smothered by the flawless Shay Given. The hosts went closer, though, Felipe Caicedo just failing to convert Wayne Bridge's cross and Elano forcing a superb sprawling save from Brad Friedel. When the decider came, it arrived in the style City's performance deserved. Wright-Phillips exchanged a clever one-two with Ireland and calmly curled past Friedel. Eastlands exulted, but their joy will have been nothing compared to that at Arsenal, now just one win away from fourth. The fear is setting in.