Tim Sherwood says Joe Hart should have been sent off

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood said refereeing decisions cost his side a probable victory at Manchester City.

With the score 2-2 in the 87th minute, Villa's Christian Benteke was flagged offside before City's Joe Hart appeared to foul him as play was halted.

Seventy-five seconds later Fernandinho hooked home City's winner.

"I could see Benteke was onside from where I was. It is a penalty and a red card for Joe Hart - we should have won the game," said Sherwood.

Christian Benteke had scored nine goals in his previous seven games for Aston Villa before today

"I'm satisfied with the performance, but I can't be satisfied with the decisions that have gone against us."

Villa enjoyed more possession (55%) and had more shots (13 to 11) than City, and seemed to have rescued a point when Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez's goals cancelled out Sergio Aguero and Aleksandar Kolorov's earlier efforts.

However, Fernandinho's late winner - combined with wins for Leicester and Hull earlier in the day - leaves Villa just two points above the relegation zone.

Villa had beaten Liverpool and Tottenham in their previous two matches and Sherwood is confident that they will comfortably survive if they maintain their current form.

"Today's results do not concern me. What? We play like that and get relegated? You are having a laugh aren't you?," he added.