Win is all that matters for City

PABLO Zabaleta claimed victory was all that mattered as Manchester City moved closer to securing a Champions League spot with a last–gasp win over Aston Villa.

Sub Fernandinho struck in the 89th minute as lacklustre City claimed three Barclays Premier League points in a frantic finish at the Etihad Stadium.

Villa had fought back from 2–0 down to level at 2–2 with an 85th–minute equaliser from Carlos Sanchez.

It seemed the least the FA Cup finalists, battling against relegation, deserved but City, who have unexpectedly been dragged into a fight for a top–four place, had the final word.

Zabaleta said: “It was not our best game, we didn’t play our best. But we must recognise when you win games playing badly it is always good, especially at this moment when all we need is to keep winning games to secure the Champions League spot. Football sometimes is like that.”