Villa´s Champions League bid falters again

Aston Villa suffered another blow in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as Martin O’Neill’s team were beaten 2-0 at Manchester City on Wednesday.

Villa have now gone six games without a victory after goals from Elano and Shaun Wright-Phillips punished them for a lacklustre display at Eastlands.

Elano opened the scoring with a first half penalty and Wright-Phillips sealed the points in the final minute. It was no more than City deserved but Villa’s credentials as serious contenders for a top four finish are looking increasingly dubious.

They are now just three points ahead of fifth placed Arsenal and in danger of blowing a golden chance to gatecrash the Premier League’s top table.

With Robinho and Craig Bellamy both sidelined, City’s attack wore a threadbare look. Hughes was forced to play Felipe Caicedo as a lone striker and asked Elano and Wright-Phillips to support from midfield.

Considering the reported feud between Robinho and Bellamy, perhaps it was no surprise that City looked more dangerous without their expensive stars.

Wright-Phillips scuffed a shot wide in the early moments before Stephen Ireland wasted a glorious chance. Elano’s pass gave Ireland a clear sight of goal but the midfielder shot straight at Villa defender Zat Knight.

After dropping two points by conceding two goals in the last minutes against Stoke on Sunday, Villa desperately needed to get back to winning ways.

But O’Neill’s team struggled to find any momentum in the first half and City threatened again through Vincent Kompany’s raking drive.

The hosts should have been in front when Ireland played an excellent pass through to Wright-Phillips. The England winger looked certain to score but somehow slipped his shot wide.

City wouldn’t regret that miss however as they took the lead in the 24th minute.

Elano unhinged the Villa defence with a pass through to Wright-Phillips. Villa’s James Milner made a desperate attempt at a tackle but only managed to send Wright-Phillips tumbling, giving referee Chris Foy no option but to award the penalty.

Elano stepped up to calmly stroke his spot-kick past Brad Friedel.

Hughes’s team appealed for another penalty soon after when Caicedo went down under Carlos Cuellar’s strong tackle but Foy said no.

O’Neill sent on Norway forward John Carew at half-time in a bid to spark his side into life and they gradually started to turn the tide.

Ashley Young’s low shot from an acute angle bounced across the City six-yard box, then Pablo Zabaleta headed a Young cross away from Emile Heskey.

Carew got his head to Gabriel Agbonlahor’s cross but could only flick it over the bar.

City hit back and Caicedo slid in to meet Wayne Bridge’s curling cross but could only prod it wide.

Then Agbonlahor picked out Gareth Barry with a fine chipped pass to the far edge of the area. Barry did not hit his volley completely cleanly but it would have crept in if Shay Given had not got down to shove it away.

Caicedo was replaced by Ched Evans 17 minutes from time. The Welshman’s first touch was a chested lay-off to Elano, whose shot was brilliantly kept out by Friedel.

With Villa throwing more and more players forward, City were able to hit them on the break and Ireland set up Wright-Phillips to seal the win in the 89th minute.