No Kidding, City will bounce back

MANCHESTER City assistant boss Brian Kidd is confident the team will bounce back after their surprise 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Darren Bent repaid the first slice of his club-record £18million fee with Villa’s winner and City, for all their pressure, could not find an equaliser.

With Roberto Mancini flying back to Italy to visit his ill father, Kidd faced the press and insisted City and new £27 signing Edin Dzeko, in particular, will find their range.

Kidd said: "Our aim at the beginning of this season was to get into the top four.

"We can't depend on other teams. All we can influence is how we play and perform. We lost against Everton and the response from that was very good.

"No doubt the boys will respond in the same manner in the forthcoming games. It is a blip.

"We are disappointed, but it is history and we will put it behind us."

Dzeko missed a couple of gilt–edged chances on his second full appearance for City, including a close–range header near the end which could have rescued a point.

Villa defender James Collins believes Bent will provide the quality and goal threat to propel the Midlands club up the Premier League table.

The former Sunderland player had barely a dozen touches of the ball throughout a 90 minutes dominated by the visitors, but he made the decisive contribution with his 18th–minute finish.

It moved Bent level onto 82 Premier League goals alongside Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney as the highest scorer among players still performing in the top flight.