City see off 10-man Pompey
Sven-Goran Eriksson delivered the perfect response to the warnings of owner Thaksin Shinawatra as Manchester City won 3-1 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.
