Eriksson delivers perfect response

Man City 3 Portsmouth 1

Sven-Goran Eriksson delivered the perfect response to the warnings of owner Thaksin Shinawatra as Manchester City won on home soil for only the second time since December to keep the pressure on Aston Villa for a European berth.

Darius Vassell and Martin Petrov struck within three first-half minutes of each other before Benjani Mwaruwari’s first City goal on home soil finally finished off 10-man Portsmouth and probably killed off their hopes of overhauling fifth-placed Everton in the process.

But while Pompey, who had Hermann Hreidarsson sent off for a cynical block on Vassell after John Utaka had halved the early deficit, must surely be starting to let their minds wander to a Wembley date with Cardiff in May, City, and Eriksson, in particular still have plenty to play for.