There was a team who looked destined for the Champions League at Eastlands – but sadly it wasn’t Villa.

It won’t be this year that Manchester City, now the world’s richest club, reach Europe’s premier competition. It might not even be next.

But on the evidence of 90 minutes here at Eastlands, it is a wait which could extend to Martin O’Neill’s side too.

Their first-half display was as poor as anything they have produced all season. Not since the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October have they been subjected to such an onslaught by their opponents.

O’Neill conceded the shock of Sunday’s demoralising draw against Stoke had taken its toll. Certainly, it took their winless streak to six.

Right now, Villa have lost that aura, the invincibility that comes with an unbeaten streak. Good habits have become bad.

But although they were much improved after the break, creating a handful of decent opportunities, question marks remain at both ends of the field.

The sooner Martin Laursen returns to shore up the defence the better. It always looked vulnerable against City’s razor-sharp football, which was both incisive and inventive.

Down the other end, goals are a problem. Villa are not getting the rub of the green they recently enjoyed but both Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey look low on confidence.

Talisman Ashley Young is some way short of the form which earned him three Premier League Player of the Month awards in 2008.

To get away with the on-field histrionics that are becoming an increasing sideshow to his game, he must deliver.

But most concerning of all for O’Neill will be the table. To think Villa could have been eight points clear of Arsenal last weekend had they held on for another couple of minutes against the Potters.

Suddenly, that advantage sits at three. It will have done little to appease those still seething at O’Neill’s decision to leave eight players rested up at home for last week’s UEFA Cup defeat.

The return of just one point from six since has hardly justified O’Neill’s reasoning. Still, it is not all doom and gloom.

Offer this scenario to anyone connected with Villa at the start of the season and they would have jumped at it.

A break they now have could not have come at a better time – they now have 10 days to revitalise bodies and minds for their 10 remaining matches.

What they cannot afford is a repeat of last night’s opening 45 minutes.

City were stronger, sharper and speedier, which was all the more galling considering they were without arguably their two most dangerous forwards in Robinho and Craig Bellamy.

In their absence, the tricky trio of Elano, Stephen Ireland and the outstanding Shaun Wright-Phillips still routinely made Villa’s defence look like mugs.

Wright-Phillips looked odds on to score when he latched on to Ireland’s clever pass but somehow the winger fired wide. But seconds later he atoned, getting goal side of James Milner inside the box only to be tripped by the ex-Newcastle man.

Elano stepped up to drill home the penalty. Villa could have no arguments.

Every time Wright-Phillips was in possession he looked capable of causing damage. It was the best individual display against Villa this season.

The response to a tepid first half was for O’Neill to introduce John Carew for Curtis Davies to start the second, a substitution that triggered a number of positional changes, including Agbonlahor going wider.

Villa improved markedly but City had an answer to every question thrown at them.

Agbonlahor picked out Barry at the back post but the midfielder’s volley was superbly saved by Shay Given. As Villa bombed forward, gaps began to appear in their defence, City countering in the sort of fashion which has become a hallmark of Villa on their travels this term.

It took a save of the highest order from Friedel to prevent the home side doubling their lead. Ched Evans chested Wayne Bridge’s cross down to Elano and his stinging volley was finger-tipped around the post.

It was thrilling end-to-end stuff.

Ashley Young saw a fierce drive beaten away by Given while seconds later O’Neill’s men had a shout for handball when Petrov’s fierce strike was blocked by a City defender.

The majestic Richard Dunne did superbly to cut out Agbonlahor’s cross to the back post with Carew ready to pounce. Villa just couldn’t make a breakthrough and with two minutes left it was over.

Wright-Phillips and Ireland played a slick one-two around the Villa defence and the ex-Chelsea man curled low into the corner.

That was that. Villa’s club-record seven-game winning streak on the road had been brought to a resounding halt. In the words of Sir Alex Ferguson, it’s squeaky bum time.

As if to rub salt into the wounds, came the evening’s final tannoy announcement: “Tickets go on sale for the next round of the UEFA Cup at 9am tomorrow.”

That was the last thing Villa fans wanted to hear.

By Brendan McLoughlin