A good win, but a relief more than anything. City have struggled on the road lately, but today's performance was much more comfortable against a usually stingy home Villa squad. City were unlucky to not grab a goal in the first half, which saw them dominate in spells. For a time, fears of Everton arose, where City would be the better team on the pitch but lose to a scrappy goal. But a similarly dominant second half performance saw City's efforts pay off, with a well-worked corner kick resulting in a goal for Joleon Lescott, assisted by Gareth Barry, who was arguably the man of the match for City, an unlikely theme of the season thus far.

The back four were rock solid tonight, barring the final few hectic minutes where Villa bombarded forward in search of an equalizer. Few would have expected a lineup that did not feature Gael Clichy or Micah Richards, but Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov filled in well. Neither did anything particularly spectacular, but rather provided some ample defending when needed and a bit of support going forward. Vincent Kompany was his usual stern self; Lescott too. Nigel de Jong's return to the starting lineup helped in this regard as well, playing the anchor man role between midfield and defense.

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The more things change, the more they remain the same. The past few seasons have seen City build themselves into genuine title challengers, so much so that they top the Premier League heading into February - a position that the last eight Premier League winners have occupied - yet season after season they have returned from Goodison Park empty handed against a spirited and determined Everton side, where tonight after falling behind they lacked the drive and urgency until too late in the game to be take something from the game.

It was perhaps no surprise that it was goalless at the half. After all, between the two sides they had conceded only ten goals (City four and Everton six) in the first forty-five minutes of games this season. City certainly looked the better side; David Silva and Samir Nasri instrumental in midfield, Nasri in particular continuing a recent spell of good form and the expectation was that after the break City would kick on and make the possession and territorial advantage count. It was Everton who took the lead though and falling behind certainly rattled City, who (not the first time when conceding) lost their composure for a spell, were at times ill-disciplined and lacked the assurance needed to get back into the game.

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On such days can title bids be made. The old adage of grinding out wins when not quite at your best is often bandied around, but perhaps as telling (if not important) is to come away with the points from a game that should have been won, was thrown away and almost lost before snatching a late winner out of nowhere and rescuing points that in the context of the day (with United subsequently winning) that could provide so important.

Whilst an injury time winner will always be tinged with fortune - added to this Jermain Defoe's miss a matter of minutes earlier - it was a game City contrived to throw away, ceding both advantage and momentum to Tottenham with Stefan Savic's mis-placed header that allowed Defoe to stop them in their tracks when they appeared to be completely dominating. So far at The Etihad Stadium City have swept all before them: 10 wins from 10 games, 31 goals scored and only four conceded heading into the game, but this was a Tottenham side that would not be fazed by the reputation City have forged, nor be cowed as some visiting teams have been. It was a remarkable second half to a game that promised much but delivered little over the first forty-five minutes before a moment of David Silva quality sparked the game into life that saw City go two goals ahead, only to be stunned as Tottenham draw level - all within the space of ten minutes at the start of the second half.

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The heady days of Autumn may have given way to winter, and with it, the cavalier approach from City during the early part of the season appears to have given way to a more functional and pragmatic approach. Less flamboyant, certainly, but even shorn of some of the key cogs in their side City apace in their bid for the title and yesterday's 1-0 win at Wigan saw them reach the 50 point mark after just 21 games; in doing so becoming just the fifth side to achieve such a landmark.

It was certainly a more positive first half from City, but it was a game for the most part was far too flat and resulted in a laboured and at times lethargic display. In many ways it had the feel of a home game; City having the edge in terms of possession and territory with Wigan threatening on the counter attack. Despite Wigan at times providing a spark, their lack of a final ball or clinical edge in the final third was no surprise looking at their record over the season to date. City themselves have not been as proficient in this area of late as they have been earlier in the season but both Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko looked sharp and worked well as a partnership (the one mishap aside). Dzeko's goal was well timed after a recent barren run, showing excellent technique and the hope will be that the goal triggers a run of goals (as has been the case this season) that allows Roberto Mancini to go with the hot hand.

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Down, but not out. A first half that ended with City lethargically trudging from the field fortunate to be only a goal down ended with at least some hope of being able to recover the tie at Anfield in a fortnights time. Liverpool are clearly in the driving seat however and will be buoyed the stat that shows only two of the past 27 semi-finals has seen the victor from the first leg not progress to the final.

The exertions from Sunday (playing for almost eighty minutes with ten men) would have an effect on the side but this factor has been strangely absent from much of the post-game analysis. City only really sparked into any sort of life with the introduction of Samir Nasri for the ineffectual Mario Balotelli. Even with a midfield trio of Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry and James Milner, City laboured for the most part with the returning Steven Gerrard a huge influence for the visitors. Nasri's arrival provided the required impetus in the absence of David Silva as City sought to get back into the game after the break.

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A strange game in many ways, and one largely defined by a contentious incident that shaped the narrative of a compelling match. After waiting so long to once again taste success City's hold on the FA Cup was all too brief, defeat a disappointing and frustrating end to their defence of the famous old trophy. The spirited second half display (which - despite Alex Ferguson's post match comments - was more about City's efforts than United's failings) has left behind many positives (and rightly so), but for all the talk of a 'moral victory' or 'winning in their heads' the bottom line is that a defeat is a defat - regardless of how it is dressed up. The question now is how the side responds to this defeat. Can it be used a galvanising and motivating force? The evidence from setbacks this season very much suggests so.

Either side of the opening goal and red card City were the brighter side, with United cautious and wary in their approach. But once United settled against City's ten men they finished the half with some devastating play and City found themselves 3-0 down and left stunned at some clinical forward play by United as the benefit of extra man told. Time and again United had a man extra out wide (particularly on the right) and Wayne Rooney roaming between defence and midfield to great effect. Credit Roberto Mancini at half time though. His tactical switch - Stefan Savic and Pablo Zabaleta on for David Silva and Adam Johnson - saw three central at the back with the full backs pushing forward, nullifying the space and threat of Antonio Valencia and Luis Nani and allowing City to start their possessions at a far higher point on the pitch. This brought into play the midfield (particularly Nigel de Jong) and helped seize an unlikely initiative - one that almost paid dividends and highlighted again quite what a savvy operator Mancini is.

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A comprehensive victory without ever being an accomplished performance. But with a requirement to get back to winning ways following the defeat at Sunderland it was an impressive response and underlined the resilience and strength that the side has to turn round a performance only forty-eight hours after the trip to North-East and helped quell any murmurings regarding their mental fortitude in being able to respond to setbacks. With the Carling Cup semi-final only a week away it also helped perhaps gain a psychological advantage ahead of the first leg at The Etihad Stadium.

Interestingly, City posted by far their worst numbers of the season in terms of possession (36%), attempts (331), completions (256) and accuracy (77%). Much like the game at Anfield Liverpool were able to control the midfield for large parts of the game and at times City were restricted in terms of territory and unable to build their possession game due to some wasteful play. Was this tiredness and fatigue though or could this have been a tactical approach in part from Roberto Mancini? Whilst James Milner came back into the midfield, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero all played significant minutes at Sunderland and it was asking a lot to expect the high tempo and high line pressure that City usually play. Perhaps City were aided by Liverpool opting not to start Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy, which meant that being content to sit deeper (attacking half and final third numbers were also season lows) than usual and allow Liverpool more of the ball would not hurt them if the defence retained their shape, as they managed to do.

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A big opportunity missed. With City inactive yesterday they were able to sit back and watch key rivals all drop points unexpectedly, which, after stuttering of late presented them with an unlikely opportunity to once again establish a lead at the top of the Premier League table. It was not to be though, as City were caught with a sucker punch mere seconds from the end of injury time as they themselves hunted hard for a late winner. It was the second season in succession City fell to a late goal at Sunderland and started 2012 on a deflating note.

Did results from yesterday change the mindset? If United, Tottenham et al had all won then there would have been the necessity to achieve victory merely to keep pace at the top. Yesterdays results though may well have also convinced Roberto Mancini to make significant changes to the side. Out went David Silva, Sergio Aguero and the injured Mario Balotelli, but within five minutes of the second half both Aguero (at half-time) and Silva had been introduced by an unhappy Mancini. With the fixture list meaning the game against Liverpool was a mere forty-eight hours later, combined with the fact that so many others at the top were defeated may have resulted in the team looking a little past the Sunderland game.

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