It was a good performance from Aston Villa who have been struggling to get some consistency in the early stages of the Premier League season. Richard Dunne put Villa ahead and refused to celebrate against the club that made his name.

However, it was not enough as Bellamy cracked in a spectacular goal in the later stages of the game to get his side a point. City carry their momentum forwards but would have liked to take all three points and some good away form.

Mark Hughes, City boss, said: “That was really special. The City fans were fantastic in terms of the reception they gave Richard Dunne. He was a fantastic player for City, in good times and bad, and our fans acknowledged that.”

Dunne himself added: “It’s amazing how these things happen. I don’t have a celebration. If I score, it’s very surprising. I enjoyed my time at City and respect everyone there so I just thought it was the right thing to do. I think we have got as good a chance as they have of getting into the top four.”

Villa’s , seemed a little frustrated by only taking a point away from the match, a match that he felt his side should have won. He said: “My opinion of Gareth Barry hasn’t changed in three years. He’s a very fine footballer.”

For City the next step is very clear. They need to carry this momentum on that they have started to build up. They are looking like a more complete football club with every match that passes and sooner rather than later, the consistency will come off and they will win something. It just won’t happen for a little time yet.

For Villa, they just need to keep working hard. Villa is a club that is based around all of the good things that football should be about. If they are to refind the ground they lost when they were a possible top four club then they need to give the manager time and space as well as a number of the players. It will be interesting to see how their seasons pan out.