Martin Petrov gets sent off

City 0 Everton 2

MANCHESTER City's European hopes were dented against Everton at Eastlands where Martin Petrov was sent off late on.

The Blues failed to recreate the derby form that carried them to victory against United, and Yakubu and Joleon Lescott both scored in the first half to settle the points in the visitors' favour.

City’s misery was complete in stoppage time when Petrov was dismissed for kicking out at Leon Osman and the Bulgarian will be banned for three games.

England manager Fabio Capello continued his tour of top grounds by taking in the game, and although City enjoyed spells of possession, it was Everton who looked more dangerous.

City, who sent out the same side that beat United, had already had one early scare when Everton had claims for a penalty dismissed by referee Rob Styles when a shot from Tim Cahill came off the elbow of Micah Richards.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring in the 28th minute when Steven Pienaar latched onto a pass from Cahill. He cut inside and steered his effort beyond Hart only to see it come back off the post.

City were struggling to make an impression, and their lacklustre peformance cost them after half an hour.

Cahill showed good skill in the area and released Yakubu, who prodded the ball home with City's defenders haplessly appealing for offside.

Everton made it 2-0 eight minutes later when Lescott got goal-side of Richard Dunne to head in a cross from Lee Carsley.

City looked stunned and were heading for a second successive home defeat after losing to Arsenal.

The Blues put on Elano in place of Dietmar Hamann, and the Brazilian did make City look more lively.

However, Everton almost made it 3-0 in the 54th minute after some sloppy defending by City.

Yakubu got the better of Micah Richards and found Cahill in the six-yard area but his shot was cleared off the line by Dunne.

City had increased the tempo and were playing with more confidence but still finding Everton hard to break down.

Petrov tried his luck after 64 minutes but his powerful effort from 20 yards was blocked by Carsley, while Dunne headed a free-kick from Elano over the bar shortly after.

Play broke back down the other end and Everton made another unsuccessful penalty claim four minutes later.

Richards was again involved when he inexplicably handled Lescott’s throw-in. However, referee Styles opted to award a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Osman whipped in a vicious shot that Hart did well to beat away before City scrambled the ball clear.

Everton were carving out numerous chances and Hart stood tall to block Johnson’s effort in the 84th minute before Petrov was sent off for a moment of madness

Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Vassell (Castillo 75), Gelson, Hamann (Elano 46), Ireland (Caicedo 68), Petrov, Mwaruwari. Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Corluka.

Sent Off: Petrov (90).

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Carsley, Osman, Pienaar (Fernandes 56), Cahill, Yakubu, Fernandes (Johnson 67). Subs Not Used: Wessels, Nuno Valente, Anichebe.

Booked: Carsley.

Goals: Yakubu 30, Lescott 38.

Att: 41,728

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).