MANCHESTER City had one striker back from injury, recalled another to the first XI and were awarded a penalty but they could still not find the net as Aston Villa ran out 2-0 winners in their Barclays Premiership match at Eastlands.
City, who have not scored at home in the league since New Year's Day and have done so just 10 times this season, are now perilously close to claiming an unwanted record by 'beating' the 11 scored by Sunderland in front of their own fans in 2003.
Villa had no such problems and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with goals from John Carew and Shaun Maloney, while Joey Barton missed City's spot-kick.
Belgium striker Emile Mpenza was restored to the home side after missing the last two games with a hip injury, while fellow striker Georgios Samaras was also recalled alongside Stephen Ireland.
Pearce's hand was forced by injuries to DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Johnson. Villa boss Martin O'Neill had no such fitness worries but opted to recall Ashley Young in place of Patrik Berger.
The hosts started positively and less than a minute after a round of applause for former City manager Alan Ball, Joey Barton's through-ball made room for Mpenza down the right.
Dietmar Hamann was on hand when the ball squirmed free but his shot, on the half-volley, went comfortably wide from 20 yards.
Two minutes later the German midfielder could have shot from similar distance but instead laid the ball to Barton whose curled effort lacked the power to beat Thomas Sorensen.
Villa hit back with a chance of their own when Gareth Barry headed over from Young's corner but in the 12th minute, City's Darius Vassell had a wonderful chance to score a sixth goal past his former side in as many matches. Instead he shot straight at Sorensen from a wonderful position.
Gabriel Agbonlahor failed to make the former England man pay when he produced an equally wasteful effort at the other end just seconds later.
But the opener soon came when City's concentration faltered the three minutes later.
Young showed some nice footwork on the left flank before teeing up a cross for Carew, who left two defenders flat-footed as he rose to power home his header.
Agbonlahor missed another great chance on the half-hour mark and when Sorensen paid too close attention to Vassell on the stroke of half-time City were handed a lifeline.
The decision marked the former England striker out for some booing from the away end but when Barton, his side's best player for long spells, stepped up he blasted high over the crossbar.
The ineffective Nedum Onuoha was sacrificed at the interval for Sun Jihai and the China defender was soon in action, winning a header under pressure from the lively Agbonlahor.
Stephen Ireland curled in a teasing cross for City in the 53rd minute and while Samaras did well to win the ball, his glanced header lacked power and direction.
With an hour gone centre-back Sylvain Distin was the next to try his luck for the hosts, but he could not force a save from Hamann's searching cross.
Agbonlahor exchanged passes with the surging Wilfred Bouma as Villa counter-attacked but the Dutch defender lofted his finish high and wide.
Mpenza then had a glorious chance, breaking into yards of space before drilling straight at Sorensen when one-one-one with the Dane.
Pearce hauled off a tired-looking Hamann after 68 minutes, giving Trevor Sinclair a chance to change things from the bench, while goalscorer Carew made way for Maloney soon after.
The changes did not change the flow of play, though, with Richard Dunne, Sun and Samaras all losing possession with lazy passes.
Villa eventually took the hint and pressed home their advantage in the 75th minute when Maloney bent a free-kick past Isaksson to ensure the points.
What did you think of City's performance? Have your say.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
stuart malcolm (28/04/2007 at 17:42)
Kenny Clements Perm, france (28/04/2007 at 17:50)
Edski Vega, Nottingham (28/04/2007 at 17:52)
Paul Davidson, Los Angeles (28/04/2007 at 18:07)
There was no surprise when I got up and saw the final score.
I feel much better that I got my head down for another 2 hours.
st helens blue(exiled) (28/04/2007 at 18:13)
stretford blue, gorse hill (28/04/2007 at 18:17)
Njinsky Blue, Spain (28/04/2007 at 18:26)
¿We owe our home fans a performance, a win and some goals,"
"Scoring the lowest number of goals in a season is not a record we would be proud of. We feel as though, if we beat Villa in this game, then we have a chance of finishing above them in the league. There is still the carrot of a top 10 place and our target is still to achieve that.¿
"There is no complacency about us. We have lost one in the last seven and we want to make it one in eight. And, if I deem it necessary, I will change the one up-front formation.
"I can tell you that we do not want that record of scoring the lowest number of home goals in a season¿
So what excuses SP have you got for that abysmal performance because you totally failed to deliver? You said you changed the routine and gave them time off because you were not prepared to accept the poor performance they gave against Watford and thought that would change the team¿s attitude towards the Villa game (a strange decision indeed to say the least). Well you are a total failure and the sooner we get new owners and a decent manager the better. There is no doubt a lot of truth in what Barton had to say (although after that pathetic attempt at a penalty, it may be sensible for him to keep his mouth shut in future) and I really do not think that Pearce has the dressing room. His tactics and team selection leave so much to be desired. Why on earth was Samares in the team and what was Trevor Sinclair doing in the squad today when we have the likes of Sturridge, Grimes etc waiting for their chance? Out now Pearce-you are clueless as a manager and I have my doubts about even your coaching ability.
Prophet of Doom, Heaton Moor (28/04/2007 at 18:27)
allen wales, frodsham (28/04/2007 at 18:32)
BLUEMOONER, MIDDLETON (28/04/2007 at 18:38)
AFTER WATCHING THAT.I WOULD RATHER GIVE MONEY TO SUPPORTERS TRUST.THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE !! LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SATURDAYS GOAL FEST !
st helens blue(exiled) (28/04/2007 at 18:45)
st helens blue(exiled) (28/04/2007 at 18:46)
st helens blue(exiled) (28/04/2007 at 18:47)
Steve the blue, Manchester(not Nottingham,London or Malaysia) (28/04/2007 at 18:47)
UWE's Grandad, South Wales (28/04/2007 at 18:52)
Pearce needs to go, he has had enough time to take the club forward and he has not even come close to that. We need experience in now, someone who can grab the bull by the horns, get rid of the dead wood, bring in some quality and organise the team for the start of next season. END OF!!
stuart malcolm (28/04/2007 at 18:57)
Neil Youngs Mik Float, Somewhere in Stockport, Stockport (28/04/2007 at 18:58)
Jesper, Copenhagen (28/04/2007 at 19:02)
Jesper, Copenhagen (28/04/2007 at 19:07)
ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (28/04/2007 at 19:11)
Kev The Cod, Worthing (28/04/2007 at 19:16)
I've been writing on here for over a year that you are incapable of being our manager( and getting lots of stick for saying it) but you simply are not up to it.
What have you done to Samaras, for example? Last year he was a terrace hero, this year the poor kids a nervous wreck. He's a young lad who we bought as a CENTRE FORWARD, but have you played him in his correct position ONCE, this year? Isaksson looks like his confidence is shot too. He was diving about 30 seconds too late at Fulham and today his starting position for the 2nd goal was hopelessly wrong.I expect Flowers knew and jumped ship, like most of our back room staff have done over the last few months.Still, there's always you ex team-mates from Forest, is there? I keep hearing how wonderful our centre defenders are, but play a big lad against them ( Carew, Caleb Folan for example)and they can't cope. Both Ball and Mpenza have got that "i've done enough to get a contract so I'll stop bothering" look. As for Barton, somehow you have gained this elevated position at the club, when you should have been chucked out a few times. You should not go around criticising other players when you haven't managed to get a cross past the oppositions first player all season. As for today's penalty it sums up your actual talent level. It's one thing being your teams mouthpiece, but to do that you need to lead by example, not just being mouthy.
What a mess this whole club is in. I truely dread next weeks derby. As for those of you who think that Pearce is in anyway comparable to Martin O'Neill I suggest you seek medical help. In 2 years Villa will be a power again, God only knows where we will be if we carry on like this.Sack Pearce tonight, put Kenny Jacket in control for the next 2 games and completely overhaul the club starting May 14. Will that happen, or will we still be in a complete mess this time next year? What do you think?
SB23, Wilmslow (28/04/2007 at 19:16)
But Pearce is in no fear of losing his job.
He said: "I'm very confident to be honest, I don't feel there's a better man out there to do my job.
"I know what constraints I've had to work under for the last two years at this football club and I know what needs to be done.
"If you're suggesting my job is under threat then nobody has suggested that to me at board level.
"I actually had a board meeting on Thursday morning and it was very constructive and pointing in the right direction.
"If the chairman feels another manager is better than I am then I'm behind the chairman, but he doesn't. He feels I'm the best man for the job.
"I think there's seven or eight managers below me (in the league table) who will go before me."
Let's hope Wardle goes sooner rather than later!!
g1lly, droylsden (28/04/2007 at 19:34)
bluealf (izzet), carlisle (28/04/2007 at 19:36)
sneakitawc, none (28/04/2007 at 19:41)
it's astonishing that pearce has failed to fathom that a footbal team won't score that many goals if they don't at least tease the opposition with their approaching play. i think pearce relies far too heavily on the sanquine philiosophy of "wait long enough and your chance will come". the pitfall being that city rarely take advantage of their chances.