Sven: We'll get it right on the road

Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Manchester City will start to win away from Eastlands sooner rather than later if they reproduce the resilience shown during the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

Eriksson’s men went ahead through Rolando Bianchi’s third goal in as many league games and then dug in for a point after John Carew had equalised for the home side.

City have failed to win on their travels since the opening day of the season - in sharp contrast to their form at home which has produced nine successive league victories.

Now they face vital clashes with Blackburn and Liverpool if they are to sustain their European push in the new year.

The Swede said: “If the match had finished after 15 minutes we would have deserved to win. We started well and played some good football during that time.

“Villa came at us after that and you have to expect that playing away from home – but we stood up to the challenge very well.

“I was very happy today with the spirit we showed and the right things that we did. Carew is a difficult player to handle, he’s strong and has pace.

“But as long as we perform as we did today I will be happy and sooner or later we will win away from home if we go on like that.”

Eriksson is downplaying City’s hopes of breaking into the top four but is determined to sustain a challenge for as long as possible.

And he will be giving his players Christmas day off although, unlike most teams, they are not in action until December 27.

He said: “For someone to break into the top four will be a big surprise whether it is Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle or Portsmouth – but we want to fight as long as we can.

“We will see what happens in the next two games against Blackburn and Liverpool. They are extremely important if we want to be where we are at present in the table in the new year.

“We will be giving the players Christmas day off. I think we need that.

“It is good physically but also mentally and the players will be able to be with their families and open their presents.”

Villa manager Martin O’Neill saluted the performance of Carew after he had scored his fourth goal in an injury-hit season and also struck the post.

He said; “John was phenomenal. He was immense although he might not get the number of free-kicks he deserves when people are holding on to him.

“If he can stay fit, he will be a big plus for us. He has missed a chunk of the season because of injury but when he has been fit he has been terrific for us.

“His goal was wonderful and today he caused problems for some top defenders.”

O’Neill added: “I think it was a case of two points lost. You couldn’t fault the effort or determination but we had chances.

“John hit the post and we had another one cleared off the line. We should have been in front by half time.

“We’ve now got a tough period coming up but this time of the year is always critical because there are so many games in quick succession.

“You can recover from a poor Christmas but if you can do well it gives you an enormous spur.”