Aston Villa Vs. Manchester City: Hosts Lead 1-0 at Halftime

Gerard Houllier’s struggling Aston Villa side may be starting to turn things around. Having lost 4-0 to Manchester City just three weeks ago (the scoreline flattered the flat Midlands side), it wouldn’t have been hard for the Villans to roll over and play dead on their home turf. Instead, the manager put his faith in the Villa attack, drafting in new signing Darren Bent to act as the spearhead while Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor, Stewart Downing, and Marc Abrighton all provided support. Bent repaid his new boss’s faith – and some of his gargantuan transfer fee – with a goal on his debut, following up a spilled Ashley Young shot with a low finish from close range.

Despite Manchester City’s control of the central midfield the visitors have had very few chances in open play, with neither Carlos Tevez or Edin Dzeko getting much in the way of service. Villa’s back line features all four of their senior centre-backs, presumably in order to make up for their attack-minded midfield, and the defenders have been hurling themselves at anything and everything that comes their way.

Still, Villa’s lead is just one goal and they look strangely vulnerable on set pieces. Brad Friedel’s goal has been troubled on more than one occasion by free headers from City players, and if Roberto Mancini can find a way to exploit this vulnerability he should be able to get his team back in the game. City will also be looking to target Villa’s weak left flank, where Ciaran Clark will have to restrain himself after picking up a booking for a series of nasty fouls.