City Suffer First Home Loss

When it came to having complete control over its Champions League destiny, City straight-up choked. 

Heading into Wednesday's clash with Everton, City was only two points behind fourth-place Tottenham with a game in hand. Now, following City's first home loss of the season, the Blues sit firmly in fifth and if the Spurs win out the remainder of the season; it will be the London club competing for European glory next season. 

Had City been victorious against the visiting Toffees, it would have leapfrogged Tottenham for sole possession of fourth with eight league matches remaining. And if it was to win the eight consecutive upcoming matches, City would be Champions League bound. 

But that scenario is no longer the case.

And for the second time this season, a dismal City performance was upstaged by a better Everton side en route to yet another 2-0 victory for the Liverpool club. The home loss was City's first in 11 months since falling to Fulham last April, 3-1. 

But Everton has clearly had City's number for quite some time now; having won five of the last six meetings. But City's performance midway through the first half at the City of Manchester Stadium appeared to be overpowering the sturdy Toffees defense. 

But a strong header from Tim Cahill in the 33rd minute and a clinical finish from Mikel Arteta in the 85th guaranteed maximum points for the visitors who've lost only twice in its previous 17 matches. 

Dominating for most of the game, City's first scoring threat came from Kolo Toure who dashed through the defense until former Blue Sylvain Distin put a halt to the attack. Micah Richards forced keeper Tim Howard to step up and save a header and Carlos Tevez kept Howard on his toes but unable to score off multiple first half chances. 

Unfortunately for the home side very little changed in the second half. There were plenty of score opportunities with nothing to show for it.

Shaun Wright-Phillips came on for an injured Stephen Ireland and City boss Roberto Mancini subbed Roque Santa Cruz for Adam Johnson only 12 minutes in.

City again possessed well in Toffee territory but the story of the match was the Blues inability to test Howard and get decent shots on net. And when Vincent Kompany threaded a beautiful lead ball to Santa Cruz for what could and should have been a City score, the Paraguayan fired a shot that sailed well wide of his target. Another blown chance for the home side. 

But with only a few minutes remaining, the proverbial icing on the cake came when Arteta scored off a beautiful ball from Jack Rodwell to put the Toffees up two. 

And in extra time frustrations flared when Everton manager David Moyes picked out the ball as it rolled out of bounds and briefly held onto it. To Mancini's obvious dismay, the Italian stormed over to Moyes side and ripped the ball from him. Tempers erupted and both managers were sent off.

In a post match interview Mancini said, "I've spoken now with David and if I made a mistake I'm sorry. I wanted to get the ball because there was another five minutes of time at the end."

Moyes said to ESPN he only picked up the ball because he was making a substitution and thought it would help Mancini, if anything. He also admitted to holding the ball for a second or two longer than he should have and next time he'll let it roll through. 

So with only eight matches remaining for the Blues, thankfully five are in the confines of Eastlands. The next of which is against Wigan on Monday at home followed by a trip to Turf Moor to take on all-but-relegated Burnley. 

Wigan is coming off a magical win against Burnley at the DW Stadium, 1-0. Hugo Rodallega was the hero who broke the hearts of the Clarets following 90th minute stunning score.

Wigan and City met in mid-October for a relatively lifeless match. Martin Petrov equalized two minutes into the second half to force a draw at the DW.