Villa avoid landmark as City crumble at home again

AFP - 28 April 2007 18:37

Thanks to a first half goal from Norwegian striker John Carew, seen here in March 2007, and Scottish forward Shaun Maloney´s 75th minute clincher Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-0.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Aston Villa banished one undesired statistic and avoided another on Saturday with a 2-0 away win at Manchester City.

Before this mid-table match-up Martin O'Neill's side were the only team among Premiership's top 14 not to be in double figures for games won.

But thanks to a first half goal from Norwegian striker John Carew and Scottish forward Shaun Maloney's 75th minute clincher Villa banished that unenvious statistic and now boast 10 wins from 36 games - though they were helped by City's England midfielder Joey Barton missing a penalty.

With two games to go it will at best move the Midlanders into contention for a top ten finish.

The more attentive fans will be aware however that it allowed Villa, who have become the Premiership's draw kings this season with 16 so far, to avoid notching up what could have been their 1000th draw in League football.

Villa broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when ex-Lyon striker Carew got his head to an Ashley Young cross from the left wing to beat City's Andreas Isaksson.

A foul by City defender Sylvain Distin on Maloney allowed the former Celtic front man a free kick opportunity, and he capitalised by sending his effort low to beat Isaksson from 25 yards inflicting the hosts 16th defeat of the season.

City manager Stuart Peace has been under-fire throughout this season but the former England defender had managed to appease his detractors by leading his side to only one defeat in their last seven Premiership outings.

At home, however, City are struggling. This was their eighth home game without a win at Eastlands.