Villa v City

Craig Bellamy's 2nd half equaliser earned City a much deserved point and lifted them to 4th in the league after former captain Richard Dunne had put the home side in front on the quarter hour. Dunne held back his urge to celebrate in front of the away support when he out-jumped Barry to Milner's corner to bullet head Villa into an early lead.


Dunne could have added to his tally before City's growing superiority was rewarded when Bellamy turned Adebayor's cross into the roof of the net beyond Friedel on 67 minutes. A most bodacious goal.

City looked the more likely to claim the three points in the later stages of an rip roaring encounter between two clubs with high ambitions.

The game began with Villa in the ascendancy and they almost opened the scoring inside two minutes. Collins touched on Young's corner and Given was forced to scramble in front of Carew to save with his legs at the near post. City responded with Adebayor almost cashing in on slick exchange play between Bridge and Bellamy.

The Brummies broke the deadlock on 15 minutes, and it was a goal heavily laced with irony as it was Dunne who rose above Gaz Baz to head powerfully beyond Given. The Dunney Monster repaid the respect shown to him by City's fans before kick-off by declining to show his joy as he was congratulated by his team mates.

City searched for the equaliser, and Tevez tested Friedel with a long range rocket, which flew straight into the arms of the American shot stopper. De Jong was booked 10-minutes before the interval after a crunching tackle on the dangerous Young, who was never the same threat again.

The lingering ill-feeling surrounding Barry's summer switch was illustrated when he went towards the touchline to take a free-kick, only to be greeted by an angry Villa fan waving fake £50 banknotes with Barry's face printed on them.

Ireland replaced De Jong in the 58th minute, which signaled Hughes' intent for City to go further on the front foot.

Dunne, not exactly renowned as a marksman, almost doubled his tally with a replica of his first goal after 58 minutes. He met another Milner corner with his head, with Barry again beaten, but this time his downward header fell wide.

City made the most of the reprieve with an equaliser on 67 minutes in a passage of the game that provided the perfect illustration of the attacking riches at their disposal.

The jet propelled Bellamy lashed a finish high past Friedel on the turn after marvelous approach play from Ireland and Adebayor. RSC then came on for the fading Tevez. City's reaction after the break had been impressive, and the arrival of Ireland had provided more creativity in midfield. The game played out with some end to end stuff but neither team could manage to force the winner.

A fair result at 1-1.

ManTwitty.