Manchester City are still at the crossroads where they have been since the turn of the year, when they fell into the bottom three. The arm of theory offers hope; the arm of realism points to the First Division.

If they win their last seven games, they will survive easily. As they have won two of their last 21, they may sooner fly to the moon.

On Saturday, though failing in their search for a second home win since mid-October, they lost no ground, thanks to Middlesbrough’s defeat, but chiefly the chance to raise morale and edge along the road to survival. Even their faithful booed.

If March came in at Maine Road like a lamb, with defeat by Southampton, it went out like an ass. At 1-1 and half-time imminent Nick (the) Weaver lost a back-pass in his feet and Dion Dublin, seemingly in trivial pursuit, took advantage. The City defender Steve Howey had said earlier: “Sometimes lumping the ball forward is the best option.” The lump later was in the keeper’s throat. As Bottom said: “I see their knavery; this is to make an ass of me.”

Joe Royle was benevolent: “The kid’s been big and brave and come out and held his hands up.” When Paul Merson beat the offside trap 20 minutes later, putting Lee Hendrie clear, Weaver still had his hands up, barely attempting a save.

Merson, celebrating before Hendrie shot, is possibly the first man to punch the air for a through-ball. As John Gregory said: “Sometimes he is two or three passes ahead of everyone else.” Perhaps Merson, given a standing ovation by the home fans, was expressing relief from frustration. Villa were as loose as City in mind and touch.

The referee Rob Styles, unable to distinguish between malevolence and incompetence, caught the malaise, booking nine and sending off Danny Tiatto for two more yellow cards in four late minutes. City will miss their most dynamic force. He is the third Premiership man to be sent off twice this season, joining Hendrie and Patrick Vieira. Styles did for him the first time too, against Arsenal in October.

For two minutes it looked as if March might go out like a goat. Tiatto’s quick release of the excellent Jeff Whitley on the left led to Shaun Goater scoring City’s third goal in seven home games. But Hendrie at once set up Merson’s equaliser.

The quality in Villa’s squad speaks of huge potential unfulfilled. Gareth Southgate said as much in confirming his wish for one last move: “I feel the club has underachieved and I don’t see it challenging in the next few years.” Under Gregory he is probably right.
On Saturday David James got away with his regulation fumble; Dublin raised his strike rate to a goal per 345 minutes; Julian Joachim (154 min) was on the bench with David Ginola; and Juan Pablo Angel was out altogether despite his two midweek goals for Colombia. Presumably Gregory had revised his Friday impression, “bright as a button”, to bright as a flash in the pan.

Royle says team spirit is no problem. On a short break in Spain - City barely troubled the national selectors - “the lads all went around together”. At times in defence they still were. Royle is reported to be releasing 10 this summer; he calls it “housekeeping”. But these are the ones he is keeping. Judging by some of the rumps in defence he might try lining them up, head to toe, like sandbags. It could be the bottom line.