City end losing run

Tuesday, 25, Apr 2006 10:25

Manchester City have ended a run of six straight Premiership defeats with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Darius Vassell's goal 19 minutes from time was enough to give Stuart Pearce's men the win on his return to his former club.

Despite creating the first chance when Sylvain Distin headed Albert Reina's corner wide of the post, City were on the back foot for much of the first-half.

Milan Baros was unlucky not to get on the end of James Milner's through-ball before the City defence went missing again as Gareth Barry created space inside the box but fired wide.

Olof Mellberg forced a good save from David James with a header from Barry's left-wing cross, while the goalkeeper almost gifted a chance to Juan Pablo Angel when he tried to dribble the ball out.

However, City got going in the second-half and began to create chances of their own.

Reina's shot brought a good save from Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen before Joey Barton put his effort over the bar.

And City's efforts were rewarded as the decisive goal finally came on 71 minutes.

Claudio Reyna's ball into the box found Vassell, who was allowed to turn, and despite not connecting with his shot properly, the ball trickled into the goal.

The Midlands' club almost snatched a dramatic equaliser in injury-time when Kevin Phillips reacted quickest when James kept out Barry's rasping drive.

However, the former Sunderland man was offside and the goal was chalked off.