It’s Bellamy to the rescue as Dunne returns to haunt City
ASTON VILLA (1) vs MANCHESTER CITY (1)
CRAIG BELLAMY struck a second-half equaliser to rescue a point for Manchester City after former captain Richard Dunne had threatened to derail their impressive start to the season.
Ex-captain Dunne, who moved to Villa on transfer deadline day to make way for City’s melee of big-money stars, headed his new side in front on 15 minutes after out-jumping Gareth Barry, who was booed on his return to his former club.
But in-form Bellamy rescued a point for resurgent City after smashing home a pass from Emmanuel Adebayor on 67 minutes.
Ironically, Dunne was actually applauded by some sections of visiting City fans for his fine finish but, unlike Eastlands striker Adebayor, the Irishman chose not to celebrate scoring against his former employers.
“I don’t have a celebration, when I score it’s usually a surprise,” the centre-back admitted. “I really enjoyed my time at City and I really respect the club and the fans and not celebrating seemed the right thing to do.
“It just seems to happen playing against your former club, people seem to score. I wasn’t expecting to score tonight.”
Dunne also followed that up with a warning to the Premier League big four, insisting that both Villa and City have a chance of breaking into the elite this season.
“Manchester City are a real good team and they’re going to push the top four this season,” he added. “We feel we’ve got as much chance as teams like Man City, Everton, Tottenham – we feel we’re as good as them.”
The point saw City leapfrog Arsenal into that fourth spot, but Mark Hughes’ men were denied all three by an outstanding performance from Dunne, who is clearly enjoying leading the Premier League’s tightest defence.
Dunne gave his side the lead from Stephen Warnock’s corner and might have added a second after the break, heading James Milner’s corner just off target. City played their part, however, in an end-to-end game and were worthy of an equaliser when the lively Bellamy turned Adebayor’s cross high beyond Villa keeper Brad Friedel.
Hughes was full of praise for his former captain Dunne afterwards, joking: “We’re pleased Dunny has come to another club and he’s doing well but we’d have preferred he hadn’t scored against us.”
TOP FIVE
PLD W D L F A PTS
Chelsea 8 7 0 1 18 6 21
Man Utd 8 6 1 1 19 8 19
Tottenham 8 5 1 1 19 12 16
Man City 7 5 1 1 15 8 16
Arsenal 7 5 0 2 21 10 15