Even though he has only been in charge for six matches, already it feels like the same old story under Iain Dowie. Too cautious, not good enough in defence, not enough players prepared to at least try to put the ball in the net and substitutions of spectacular witlessness.
Add to that an effective Aston Villa side who combined their usual mighty cynicism with a pace more at home on a training ground and soon the picture is clear. The mathematicians and the optimists will declare otherwise, but this felt like the biggest and rustiest of all the nails that will be taut in the Tigers’ coffin by the time the final Premier League table is decided.
Gabriel Agbonlahor steadied himself and picked his spot for a first half opener that owed as much to two dreadful attempts to clear by City defenders as it did to the morose England wannabe’s precise finish, then James Milner picked himself up after being tripped on a counter attack by George Boateng to slide in a simple second half penalty that secured the points for the visitors without too much sweat being broken.
City created little apart from a chance shortly after the opening goal for Kevin Kilbane, who managed to hit a defender on the line rather than the gaping net either side of him. It summed up the willing but incredibly limited Kilbane’s night as Dowie declared him fit to stay on the park when making his first unforced substitution and producing a fierce chorus of boos from the Tiger Nation when withdrawing Tom Cairney instead.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was knocked out cold early in the second half and it took an age and some careful medical intervention before it was deemed safe for the Dutchman to be stretchered away, although Dowie did confirm afterwards that the big centre forward was conscious when taken to hospital for a check-up. The agony was extended by ten needless minutes as a result.
Villa’s hopes of a Champions League spot remain alive while City now no longer have the game in hand that has acted as a false saving grace for the last five weeks. Three points adrift, plus the goal difference, with just nine to play for and most people predicting – with very good reason – that none will actually be forthcoming. Depressed match report later.
