So the stage is set for the kind of night that we have not experienced too many times recently at Eastlands and what a way to get there.
There were some early moans and groans about the team selection which was more or less forced upon us because of late illnesses to some players, notably Ireland and Barry. Furthermore the City faithful wondered what effect Viera would have in midfield against a much more youthful Villa.
We go 1-0 down early with a goal that stand-in keeper Fulop should really have saved, and once again the great expectations looked to be turning to frustration.
Add to that the fact that Mark Clattenburg seemed to be making wrong calls, denying us a clear penalty for hand ball, half time approaching and us not really being in the game much..then (as the Batman in the Villa end says on his card sign) Kapow. Wham.
Johnson for me was man of the match. He drew a clear foul from Warnock and up steps Tevez 1-1. Friedel almost gets there but the arc of the diver meant that he actually provided space for the ball.
An immediate scare with Carew hitting the woodwork, then back dow their end Johnson again torments Warnock, waits patiently for Adebayor to get open, 2-1 City.
Nobody deserved a goal more than Bellamy and the place erupted when his rather special goal appeared right at the end. The adrenaline fuse went off like an Icelandic Volcano.
We were happy, the Club is happy, Mancini is happy and everything lines up for a nightmare on Rowsley Street on Wednesday. Surely our time has come to beat Spurs?
How interesting was it to hear the BBC pundits say that if we get into the Champion League we will win the Premier League within 2 years? Is that really an epitaph to 2 ageing squads in London and just outside Manchester?
How ironic that City & Spurs could be contesting the most important match since the 1981 Cup Final without their goalkeepers. Maybe we should let them have our under-15 on loan?
I can’t wait for Wednesday night, but please City ….deliver
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