Joey Barton was back in the starting eleven after his ankle injury, while Ben Thatcher lost the battle against his hamstring strain sustained in training. David Sommeil came into right back, while Distin shifted over to left back to replace Thatcher, with Micah Richards slotting into central defence.
The sun was out and the pitch looked in fine order despite the cup semi-final played here two days ago.
The Match
Angel and Baros both had slight opportunities in the opening five minutes, but were denied by Distin and James respectively, while the City skipper headed wide from a corner after just a few minutes had gone.
Darius Vassell, still the target of boos from some parts of Villa Park, scuffed a chance on 10 minutes, but five minutes later David James was on hand to deny the home side. Olof Mellberg, rising to head a corner alongside Angel, forced the ball downwards but the City keeper was exactly where he needed to be and palmed the ball to safety.
A minute later, Liam Ridgewell was booked for a clumsy challenge on David Sommeil, but thankfully the defender was back on his feet after a bout of treatment.
City, playing in their dark blue away kit, began to make inroads, and on 20 minutes a nice move nearly brought rewards. Reyna chipped to Riera on the left, and the Spanish winger’s left-footed shot was only wide of Sorensen’s near post.
Riera was in the thick of it on 32 when he went on a mazy dribble from near the touchline and into the Villa area, but just when he got in front of goal and looked ready to pull the trigger, Cahill’s last-ditch tackle deflected the ball over the bar.
Confusion between James and Dunne with five minutes to go to the break led to the keeper scuffing a clearance into the path of Angel, but thankfully for James his blushes were spared with the ball going out off him again for a corner, from which the hosts made nothing.
There was little else to stir the blood before half time, which came with the score at 0:0.
Antoine Sibierski replaced Samaras after the break.
City had the better of the opening exchanges after half time, and after three minutes Vassell combined well with Sibierski to find Barton, but he got underneath the ball and it went a long way over, although Vassell may regret not having had a go himself.
The game had livened up, and with 54 on the clock City had another good chance. Sommeil wriggled free in the box to find Riera, who’s fierce shot brought a good save out of Thomas Sorensen. The keeper was called upon shortly afterwards to collect a downwards header from Sibierski.
With just over an hour gone, Agbonlahor, on for Baros, raced in towards goal but James dived at his feet to save. The rebound flew into Milner, but thankfully for City the ball went away from goal and safe.
The substitute’s pace was worrying City, and he forced James to make another save on 65 minutes. Sibierski was in action just after, firing into the side netting.
It had felt like a goal was coming all half, and it finally came on 71 minutes! Sinclair passed to Reyna, who found Darius Vassell in the box. The former Villa man span around and shot with his left, but despite it not being cleanly hit, it was too good for a flat-footed Sorensen. A sweet moment for Vassell, who had been booed throughout the evening by some Villa fans.
Kevin Phillips came on as Villa sought the equaliser, but Aaron Hughes spurned a chance when he fired a long way wide, and as time began to run out the home fans began to show their displeasure as passes went astray.
City were not just sitting back, and a Sinclair shot bobbled just wide with five minutes to go.
Goalscorer Vassell was replaced by Sun on 86 to some more boos but also some applause from Villa fans with longer memories and a bit more grace.
Agbonlahor had another chance with two minutes left, but his header from Milner’s bouncing cross flew over the bar.
There was drama in the stoppage time, when to the dismay of the home support Phillips’ goal from a rebound off James was called offside. A sign that the luck that had been against City at Upton Park had finally turned?
Seconds later the whistle went, and a chorus of boos for the home side rang out, but the City team got an ovation from the travelling fans who had fought through a snarl-up on the M6 to see their side finally get a thoroughly deserved win, thanks to a much improved second half performance in particular.
