Aston Villa 1-1 Swansea City match report Saturday 28th December 2013

Aston Villa’s barren spell finally came to an end after they picked up their first point in five matches against a Swansea City side which totally dominated the match.

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s seventh minute strike was cancelled out by Roland Lamah’s 36^th minute reply and despite having 73% possession, the Swans just could not find the final killer strike – a point reflected on afterwards by manager Michael Laudrup.

“We lost two points as we should have scored more goals with all the possession we had,” he said.

The home team netted first as striker Andreas Weimann burst through the centre of the park and slotted a pinpoint pass through the Swansea defence ball to strike partner Gabriel Agbonlahor 35 yards from goal. The Villa captain drove forward and tucked the ball through the legs of Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel to score Villa's first goal in front of the home fans since November 9th.

However as soon as that goal went in Swansea slowly began to claw their way back into the match  and completely dominated the rest of the first half, Ben Davies heading over when it looked easier to score from six yards out. Influential midfielder Jonjo Shelvey ran the show for the visitors and the former Liverpool midfielder was instrumental in the equaliser on 36 minutes when he swung a fine pass to the left hand side of the box. Returning wide man Pablo Hernandez beat Villa defender Matthew Lowton and floated a fine cross to the far post where Roland Lamah rose highest to nod in his first goal for the Swans.

From then on in it was the team from Wales who dominated the game with Shelvey and partner Jonathan De Guzman in control of the midfield area but despite all the possession they couldn't find a winner and both teams were both happy to settle for a point each as the clock ticked down.

Both managers rued the loss of important players and Swans boss Laudrup said he couldn’t rule out delving into the upcoming January transfer market with star striker Michu out for a long spell with injury and his team not scoring enough goals in recent matches.

Villa manager Paul Lambert remained optimistic as ever about his team’s performance and praised their work rate. He said his problems weren’t helped by the loss of the ‘spine’ of his team thanks to injuries to Christian Benteke, Ron Vlaar and Jores Okore.

When asked about the recent managerial sackings in the Premiership Lambert said he did not feel secure in his job despite having reassurances from owner Randy Lerner. “We are a million miles from where I want to be but I spoke to Randy last night and he supports what I am trying to do,” he said.

Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace match report Thursday 26th December 2013

Dwight Gayle struck a superb curling effort in injury time to grab a vital three points which move Crystal Palace out of the bottom three but leave Aston Villa closer to the drop.

 The game looked to be heading for stalemate when Gayle was sent clear on the left by Palace full-back Dean Moxey. With only Villa midfielder Fabian Delph to beat, the 24-year-old second half substitute skipped inside on his right foot and curled a sumptuous effort into the top right corner leaving Villa ‘keeper Brad Guzan completely helpless.

 The 1 – 0 win means Palace move out of the relegation zone while for Aston Villa on a run of four straight defeats, the danger zone moves ever closer. The 37,000 home fans were quick to vent their anger at both the Villa team and manager Paul Lambert who left the pitch to a loud chorus of boos.

 The first half was poor with both teams struggling to create chances and both goalkeepers having little to do. The second half was a little more lively with former Villa player Barry Bannan forcing a fine save from Guzan and team-mate Jason Puncheon failing to capitalise on two very good opportunities.

 Palace boss Tony Pulis sent on Gayle and Moxey and the two substitutes combined for the winner which was a quick counterattack after Villa pushed men forward in a desperate attempt to try and secure the spoils.

 Villa have struggled to carve out openings in recent matches and two half chances from striker Andreas Weimann and a late header by substitute Jordan Bowery were the best they could muster.

 After the game Villa boss Paul Lambert said the fans had a right to vent their anger after his team’s current run of poor results which leave Villa just three points above the relegation zone. “The only way to bounce back is by winning," he said.

 “It’s a challenge I am not going to wilt under. I’ve never wilted. It’s a fight and I’m gonna fight it. I’m not going away from it.”

 Palace manager Tony Pulis praised his team who he said worked very hard to a man but with Manchester City next, he said it was too early to get carried away.

 

West Browich Albon 1-1 Hull City match report Saturday 21st December 2013

Managerless West Bromwich Albion scraped a much-needed point against Hull City with a late debut goal from on-loan striker Matej Vydra.

Steve Bruce’s Tigers side looked to have taken all three points until the 86^th minute when a slick move between Baggies players Shane Long and Zoltan Gera sent Vydra clear and the Czech player slotted home coolly from eight yards out.

After the game Bruce said he was disappointed his Hull team did not hold out for all three points after on-loan midfielder Jake Livermore had given the visitors the lead in the 28^th minute following excellent work by team-mate Danny Graham.

All of the pre-match gossip around The Hawthorns was speculation on who would take over the manager’s job following the shock departure of Steve Clarke. In the meantime, the task of lifting the Baggies up the table after a run of four straight defeats fell on caretaker boss Keith Downing.

Like his predecessor, Downing named a defensive line-up with Ben Foster back in goal after a four month lay-off and James Morrison replacing Claudio Yacob. However, just as in their previous home game against Norwich City, Albion found themselves a goal behind after 28 minutes. When a claim for a foul on Albion midfielder Morrison was turned down by referee Jon Moss on the leftt edge of the Hull box, the Baggies players were still protesting when the ball was pumped downfield to Graham who held things up until Livermore ran past him on the right hand side of the penalty box and slotted his slick pass under the advancing Foster.

West Brom offered little in the first half and Downing decided to start the second period by introducing England under-21 sensation Saido Berahino for the ineffectual Scott Sinclair. Hull sat back and invited the home team to attack and Berahino forced a fine save from Hull ‘keeper Allan McGregor who was happy to deflect away a powerful left foot shot from the striker.

At the other end England goalkeeper Foster kept his team in the game after a fantastic double save from first Tom Huddlestone and then Ahmed Elmohamady.

The Hull defence supported by the excellent Huddlestone in defensive midfield looked impenetrable until the 82^nd minute when the fortress was finally breached. A killer ball down the right by Baggies midfielder Youssouff Mulumbu was collected by striker Shane Long – the target of a £5 million pound bid by Hull on transfer deadline day – and the Irishman laid the ball back to substitute Zoltan Gera on the right of the box. The midfielder flicked a perfect pass into the path of substitute Matej Vydra on the left of the penalty spot and the striker slotted the ball into left side of the goal much to the relief of the thousands who had forsaken the Christmas shopping to see their Albion team.

After the game caretaker boss Downing said he had no intention of going for the manager’s job full-time even though he admitted he had enjoyed his 90 minutes in the hot seat. “In the second period the players responded well and showed some heart. It was a well-worked goal and I'm pleased for Matej Vydra," he said.

Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United match report Sunday 15th December 2013

Manchester United’s recent dip in form came to an end in a comfortable 3-0 win over Aston Villa thanks to a double by Danny Welbeck and a rare goal by Tom Cleverly.

Manager David Moyes said his team’s performance was ‘much more like it’ as they cruised past a Villa team that offered little in what proved to be an easy afternoon for United goalkeeper David De Gea.

Welbeck’s first goal on 15 minutes came from a throw-in tight against the right hand touchline. Rafael De Silva threw the ball to Antonio Valencia who flicked the ball towards the right hand corner and from the tightest of angles, Rafael crossed the ball which was met by the unmarked Adnan Januzaj. His powerful header hit the left hand post and was turned in by Welbeck from six yards out.

Januzaj thought his chance had come three minutes later when the ball was whipped in from the right by Valencia. But just as the young Belgian winger was about to pounce, Welbeck nipped in front to poke the ball home again for his second poacher’s finish.

The game was over seven minutes into the second half when Villa once again gave the ball away from their own throw-in on the United right. A one-two between Yacuba Sylla and Antonio Luna was miscued which allowed Wayne Rooney to intercept. The England striker powered into the box and slid the ball to the right were Cleverly tucked the ball inside Brad Guzan's left hand post for his first goal in a year.

The second half saw the long awaited return of United midfielder Darren Fletcher who received a thunderous welcome from both his own fans and some of the Villa supporters after being out for a long spell with a chronic bowel problem. Every pass from the Scot was met with a loud cheer and it was clear Fletcher was delighted to be playing again.

United boss Moyes said Fletcher was an inspiration to others who have suffered career threatening problems. "To people who do have illnesses, it says to keep going and believing, and Darren has done that. I thought when he came on it looked like he had never been away.”

Aston Villa’s topsy turvy winter period continued with little for the 42,000 plus crowd to cheer about. Despite a bright start they seemed to run out of ideas very quickly and were left to chase the game without really threatening the United goal.

Striker Christian Benteke had another off day and was replaced by Libor Kozak but Villa manager Paul Lambert was quick to defend the Belgian saying he would get over his fallow period which stretches back to September.

Lambert said he was more disappointed by the way his team gave the ball away. “The first goal was poor as we should have stopped the cross and the second and third goals, we were in possession before they scored,” he said.

West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Norwich City match report Saturday 7th December

Norwich ended their dismal run of results with a convincing 2 – 0 victory which plunged Steve Clarke’s West Bromwich Albion side closer to the relegation zone.

Leroy Fer and Gary Hooper grabbed the goals in a perfect away day win which saw The Canaries climb above The Baggies for the first time this season.

West Brom dominated the game but simply couldn’t fine the net while Norwich made the most of their limited openings, scoring twice out of three chances.

For thirteen minutes, the home team were on top and looked odds-on to take the lead but Norwich broke the deadlock with a classic counter attack. Leroy Fer broke up an attack in the middle of the park before slipping a pinpoint pass through the West Brom back four to Gary Hooper on the right hand side of the box. The former Celtic striker powered the ball into the left hand corner of the net across goalkeeper Boaz Myhill much to the delight of the travelling Norwich fans and co-owner Delia Smith.

The home team responded with wave after wave of attack but they all faded out in and around the six-yard box. The best chance fell to midfield dynamo Stephane Sessignon early in the second half but the Benin player pushed the ball wide of the left hand post when it looked easier to score.

Norwich weathered the storm and hit West Brom once again with a killer counter in the 89^th minute. Nathan Redmond collected the ball in midfield and played a quick ball to the left where Fer easily turned Baggies defender Diego Lugano to wrong foot Myhill inside his right hand post.

The full time whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos from the angry home fans clearly frustrated at the decision to play two defensive midfield players and one striker against a team who have conceded 22 goals in their last five games. After the match Baggies boss Steve Clarke said he was disappointed to lose his second home game on the trot.

“We created enough chances but could not get the goal that would change the game in our favour,” he said.

Canaries boss Chris Hughton said his team played well and praised performances from his goal scorers Fer and Hooper and the hard work of Nathan Redmond. After a turn-around in form for both teams, Norwich now sit two points above West Brom who now linger two points above the relegation zone in 15^th position.

West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Manchester City match report 4th November 2013

Manchester city kept their title hopes alive with a comfortable 3-2 victory over a West Bromwich Albion team who put up a brave fight in the latter stages of the game.

The mancunians took control of the game from the off and despite a few half chances from the home team, they struck first after nine minutes. The sheer speed of the passing by the home team was too much and a long ball from the returning captain Vincent Kompany fell into the path of Yaya Toure on the edge of the box who played a perfectly weighted ball to the full back Pablo Zabaleta on the by-line. The Argentinian cut the ball back to his fellow countryman Sergio Aguero and he fired the ball past keeper Boaz Myhill who was left helpless in goal.

The away team doubled their lead on 24 minutes as another long ball from central defender Martin Demichelis was controlled by Toure. He played another perfectly weighted ball but this time to the left hand touchline where full back Aleksander Kolarov played a cutting ball across the box and the big Ivory Coast man Toure was there again and cleverly opened up his body to guide the ball past  keeper Myhill to state City's dominance of the game.

And to kill the game off they added a third with just 18 minutes of the game left. A bursting and powerful run into the left hand side of the box by Koloarov resulted in a mistimed challenge by Baggies defender Steven Reid. Referee Chris Foy pointed straight to the spot much to the disgust of the home fans. Toure stepped up and converted cooly into the bottom left of the goal and ensured that the away fans were heading back up the M6 with all three points.

Despite this seemingly insurmountable score line the home team, who were without treasured midfielder Youssuf Mulumbu who was absent due to suspension, mounted a comeback with six minutes of the 90 remaining. Some creative work on the edge of the box by substitute Matej Vydra released Liam Ridgewell on the left corner of the 18 yard box. His dangerous cross along the floor was too much for the city defence and substitute Victor Anichebe poked the ball against six feet eight goalkeeper Costel Pantillimon who was in the wrong place at the wrong time after sprawling for the original cross and the ball rebounded off him for a consolation goal for the Baggies.

The comeback looked to be gathering steam on 90 minutes. After receiving a pass on the edge of the box, Anichebe spun off his marker Demichelis and thumped the ball into the bottom right corner past Pantillimon to ignite some hope for a West Bromwich Albion team who looked beaten until that stage of the game.

However the referee blew his whistle a few seconds later to record a second win in seven on the road for title chasing city. The Baggies seem to have hit a blank spot in recent times without a win in four games

Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland match report 30th November 2013

“The future king of England won’t be watching this game on Match of the Day”. That was the verdict of Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert after his team’s 0-0 bore draw against bottom club Sunderland at Villa Park.

Villa fan Prince William was in the crowd to watch his favourite team but even his Royal support could not influence a match which was pretty poor entertainment for the 32,000 who escaped the Christmas shopping frenzy.

The best chance of the match fell to Sunderland midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini just before the stroke of half time after some good play on the wing by former Liverpool man Fabio Borini. The ball was headed across the box to the Italian on the six yard line but with Villa keeper Brad Guzan closing in on him Giaccherini put the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Sunderland could have a had a penalty in the first half when Black Cats’ defender Wes Brown scooped a shot into the box from the left which hit the arm of Villa defender Ciaran Clark but referee Neil Swarbrick waved away the Sunderland players’ frantic claims for a spot-kick.

In the second half The  Mackems had another chance to clinch the three points from a barren match when former Birmingham man Sebastian Larsson put in a good delivery from the left hand side but Fabio Borini’s header hit the woodwork with Guzan well beaten.

Arguably the best chance for the home team was a header from Gabriel Agbonlahor. After slipping his man right back Leandro Bacuna played the ball down the line into the path of Andreas Weimman who put a cross in from the right corner flag but Agbonlahor headed wide after pressure from the Sunderland defence.

Villa's treasured front man Christian Benteke ran riot in last season's fixture scoring a clinical hat trick in a 6 – 1 thrashing but since returning from an early season injury the Belgian striker has struggled to hit anywhere near his best form. In the first half, full back Leandro Bacuna whipped in a cross from the right and as it fell to Benteke on the left of the area the Holte End faithful waited for the net to burst. Unfortunately, the dream finish did not materialise as the big Villa striker blasted over. Benteke was later replaced by Libor Kozak and showed his frustration by proceeding to chuck his gloves on the floor and slouch into the dugout.

Sunderland were much improved from the team’s turbulent start to the season. Despite creating only two clear chances they looked impenetrable with the former Manchester United defender's Wes Brown and Jon O'Shea providing a stable platform at the back aided by an understated performance from defensive midfielder Ki Sung Yeung.

Sunderland’s flamboyant manager Gus Poyet described this game as his team’s best away performance this season and reiterated his intentions to keep his solid centre back pairing as fit as possible throughout the upcoming busy Christmas period. When told that the Duke of Cambridge was in attendance at the dreary game he replied jokingly: “Did I upset him?”

 

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Aston villa match report 25th November 2013

Ashley Westwood and Karim el Ahmadi inspired Aston villa to a remarkable comeback against a West Bromwich Albion side that looked to have the game wrapped up after 11 minutes.

Shane Long netted a brace with just 10 minutes of the game gone. His first goal came on three minutes when the Irishman brought down a long Chris Brunt pass with a Bergkamp-like deft touch  on the right side of the box before cutting past Villa defender Nathan Baker and  firing past ‘keeper Brad Guzan with a powerful left foot drive. Long’s second goal on 10 minutes was gifted to him by Villa's right back Leandro Bacuna who’s square pass was latched upon by the Baggies striker who elegantly chipped past  Guzan from a narrow angle on the right.

Stephane Sessignon should have added a third but missed a simple tap-in at the far post which proved costly in the second half.

After the break however, West Brom continued to dominate until the hour mark when a triple substitution by Villa boss Paul Lambert changed the game. On came Andy Weimann, Gabby Agbonlahor and Fabian Delph and Villa were a different team.  The Baggies’ lost their grip and on 67 minutes a right-wing cross by Bacuna was headed forward by Weimann and Karim El Ahmadi found himself behind the Baggies defence from where he coolly lifted the ball over keeper Boaz Myhill from the right hand side of the six yard box.

That goal lifted the Villa and on 76 minutes their pressure was too much for the team in dark blue and white. Defender Goran Popov's headed clearance fell into the path of Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood who controlled superbly before lashing the ball home from 25 yards to complete the unexpected comeback.

Villa manager Paul Lambert was the happier of the two bosses after the ‘game of two halves’ while Baggies manager Steve Clarke said he was disappointed with his team’s loss of concentration which led to the two Villa goals. ‘From 2- 0 up at home, we should win the game,’ he lamented.

Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff city match report 9th Novmber 2013

Aston Villa finally ended their four game goal drought as Leandro Bacuna and Libor Kozak struck late to ensure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

For 74 minutes the game looked odds-on to be a bore-draw as both teams toiled away but created few real chances. Then on 75 full-back Bacuna was moved into midfield and curled in a beautiful free kick from the right of the penalty area, leaving Cardiff ‘keeper David Marshall stranded.

Minutes later a cross from the left by Aleksandar Tonev found its way to the far post where it was headed back by substitute Matthew Lowton for Kozak to head the ball into the net.  

The double strikes were a great relief to manager Paul Lambert, his players and the Villa faithful who had suffered for over seven hours without seeing the ball hit the net at Villa Park.

The first half of the game started off as a typical Villa performance of recent weeks with a bright start which saw both Kozak and fellow striker Christian Benteke going close. But for the rest of the half Villa were wasteful with their chances. Karim El Ahmadi had two shots from outside the box but both were wide of the goal.

Villa’s squad was incredibly different to the one that faced West Ham last week as key players Gabriel Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann and Antonio Luna were all missing through injury and in form midfielder Fabian Delph absent due to illness. The bench showed how stretched Lambert’s team was with youngsters Daniel Johnson, Calum Robinson joining Jordan Bowery in the first team line-up.

Bowery later replaced the goal scorer Kozak and had a good chance to make it 3-0 but the best he could muster was a shot that hit the side netting.

The depleted team didn’t stop the Villians from securing the victory and more importantly a first clean sheet in 17 matches.

Villa manager Paul Lambert described the free kick by man of the match Bacuna as "world class" and said he was proud of his team's performance. Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay refused to blame his defence saying ‘sometimes you just have to say it was a brilliant strike’.

Dutchman Bacuna, who scored another spectacular free-kick against Manchester City in September, said he had been taking set piece kicks, including penalties, all the time back in his native Holland where he originally started as a striker. However, he was quick to add that he had no intention of taking the spot-kick role from next-door neighbour Benteke.

“I am happy taking the free-kicks but will leave the penalties to Christian unless the gaffer says otherwise,” he joked.

West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Crystal Palace match report 2nd November 2013

Saido Berahino came off the bench to set an average West Bromwich Albion team on the road to victory and root Crystal Palace firmly to the bottom of the Premier league table.

The England under-21 international replaced the injured Billy Jones and on the stroke of half time controlled a great pull back from Stephane Sessegnon from the left edge of the penalty area before poking the ball home with a left foot volley. The goal was the home team’s first shot on target in a poor first half which saw Palace striker Adlene Guadiora go close with a left foot volley which was saved well by Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill.  Guadiora was later stretchered off after a mid air collision with Myhill left him with what looked like damage to his ribs.

 The second chance demonstrated why the Eagles are currently facing a long stretch in the relegation zone. Striker Marouane Chamakh received the ball after Baggies midfielder James Morrison was dispossessed in his own half. He strode forward and instead of pulling the trigger, the former Arsenal player attempted to run through two defenders and lost the ball.

The second half started exactly the same as the first with both teams struggling to create openings. Palace grew in confidence and captain Mile Jedinak nodded a corner narrowly wide.

The game was settled in the 83^rd minute when Baggies midfielder Chris Brunt whipped in a pinpoint corner from the left and defender Gareth McAuley rose above the Palace defence to power the ball  home with his head.

The away team finished the stronger but couldn’t convert any of their chances, a point which caretaker manager Keith Millen highlighted after the match. He said his team were unlucky to leave the Hawthorns empty handed but the defeat leaves Palace firmly fixed to the bottom of the table with just three points to their name. When questioned about a possible successor to the recently departed manager Ian Holloway, Millen said no-one was close to being appointed but the sooner a new manager was put in place, the better it would be for all at the club.

West Brom manager Steve Clarke praised the performance of Saido Berahino but pointed out he was still a young player with much to learn and he didn’t intend to push him too far too soon. When asked about contract negotiations, Clarke said the club was keen to get the England U 21 star tied down with a new contract as soon as possible.

Berahino has scored 10 goals for club and country and being touted as a possible late entry into the full England team for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. Clarke was quick to point out that in his opinion his prize asset was not yet ready to step up to Roy Hodgson’s side.

Liverpool 4-1 West Bromwich Albion match report 26th October 2013

A stunning hat-trick by Luis Suarez inspired Liverpool to a commanding victory which sent out a daunting message to their Premiership rivals and ended West Bromwich Albion’s five game unbeaten run.

The Uruguayan striker capped a superb performance and once again showed that on his day, he is one of the best finishers in the world. Daniel Sturridge scored late on with a sublime chip which on any occasion would be the main talking point of any game. But it was overshadowed by Suarez's first hat-trick at Anfield.

Ironically, the first goal on 11 minutes came shortly after Suarez showed the side which angers fans in the Premiership and frustrates some of the Liverpool faithful, when he appeared to go down far too easy under a challenge from West Brom's Gareth McCauley.

No sooner had the boos  from the Baggies' fans died down than the Reds No.7 picked up the ball 35 yards out on the right and dummied Claudio Yacob before nutmegging captain Jonas Olsson and firing a powerful right foot shot past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

 

On 17 minutes Suarez started off another move where he fed the ball wide left to Aly Cissokho and the wing back played a scooped ball into the box which Suarez met powerfully with his head  from the edge of the area and powered the ball into the top left-hand corner.

The Baggies just could not cope with wave after wave of Liverpool pressure and failed to test Reds' keeper Simon Mignolet until the dying minutes of the first half when a long ball over the top sent Nicholas Anelka away but the Frenchman could not get any power on the shot and Martin Skrtel cleared the ball away for a corner.

The second half went the same way as the first as Liverpool continued their dominance. On 55 minutes, captain Steven Gerrard floated in a precise free-kick from the left and Suarez rose high to flick the ball past Myhill to complete his hat trick.

West Brom looked dead and buried but on 67 they were awarded a penalty by a linesman after Billy Jones powered into the box and was blocked off by defender Martin Skrtel. Substitute James Morrison fired the ball past Simon Mignolet to hand the Baggies a lifeline.

However any hope of a comeback was crushed by England striker Daniel Sturridge with 13 minutes to go when he ran at the defence on the left before chipping an inch perfect ball into the top right corner of the goal leaving keeper Myhill clutching the air.

The comprehensive defeat was a reality check for the Baggies who’s storming turnaround from the team that started the season poorly, came to a sudden stop. They were simply outclassed in all areas of the pitch by the home team on a sunny autumn afternoon at Anfield. Boss Steve Clarke was quick to acknowledge the Liverpool dominance saying 'we were beaten by the better team'.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers described Suarez's performance as 'magic' but also praised the hard work of Lucas Lieva, restored to his defensive midfield role. When asked about former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's criticism of his captain Steven Gerrard in his autobiography,  Rogers laughed and said: "he's a top, top, top player!"

Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur match report 20th October 2013

An Andros Townsend inspired Tottenham Hotspur overcame an Aston Villa team that have stalled after their roller coaster start to the season. The England man netted the first goal and was a constant thorn in Villa's side as his pace and skill was too much for his opponents. Striker Roberto Soldado grabbed the second goal to send Spurs to fifth in the Premiership table.

After a barren half an hour with few chances created, Townsend sparked the game into life when he picked up the ball on the right hand side and cut inside onto his favoured left foot and whipped in a cross that befuddled the Villa defence and nestled in the goal leaving keeper Brad Guzan flat footed in his six yard area.

Villa did finish the first half stronger than their opponents with Fabian Delph working hard in midfield however, the home team lacked a killer edge. In the second half Villa continued to try and break down the resolute Spurs defence without success but then the introduction of striker Christian Benteke on the hour looked to have changed things.  The best chance came from a right wing cross by Leandro Bacuna which the Belgian striker headed inches over the bar.

A minute later and with Villa on top, the ball was swept down to the other end of the pitch and after some good work on the left, the ball was poked through by Paulinho to Soldado who fired home coolly from 12 yards out. The second goal broke the Villa players' hearts and Spurs looked the more likely to snatch a third with Townsend once again going close with a curling left foot shot which cleared the bar. He then turned provider when he fired in a right wing cross from a narrow angle which skimmed off the head of team mate Paulinho from three yards out and flew narrowly wide.

After the match Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas praised the work of the England midfielder but said the rest of his team played very well also.

Villa slip down the table to 13th but despite this manager Paul Lambert suggested they were "unlucky" not to get anything from the match. When asked whether his star striker Benteke should have been on from the start he was quick to defend his decision to leave him on the bench saying the player had only trained four times in the last month but expects him back to full match fitness very soon.

 

Stoke City 0-0 West Bromwich Albion match report 19th October

It was a case of missed chances for Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion as the two physical teams forced a battling 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

However, the result could have been so much different if World Cup referee Howard Webb and his assistants had spotted a penalty claim in the second half when Stoke’s Charlie Adam clearly impeded Baggie’s midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu – removing the player’s boot in the process.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke said the foul by Adams was a ‘stonewall penalty’ saying: ‘how the referee missed it is beyond belief’. Potters boss Mark Hughes also said’ it looked like a penalty’.

Away from the controversy West Brom had enough chances to grab the three points and were guilty   of not making the most of their opportunities. In the first half man-of-the-match Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic stood strong against Baggies midfielders Morgan Amalfitano and Stephane Sessegnon and in the dying minutes of the game former Sunderland man Sessegnon should have won the game for his new team. He picked the ball up on the left edge of the box and had at least two chances to fire home but instead tried to walk the ball into the net instead of pulling the trigger earlier.

 Stoke, who have only scored four goals all season, came closest when Steven Ireland fired over the bar from the penalty spot when it looked easier to score and Charlie Adam tried a speculative David Beckhamesque effort from the half way line which was easily tipped over by West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill..

It was a physical match and both teams seemed to cancel each other out as they both elected to play five players in midfield. On reflection Stoke will be more happy with a point which ends their run of three defeats while the Baggies stretch their current record to five Premier League matches without defeat.

West Brom 1-1 Arsenal match report October 6th 2013

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table after snatching a point against a West Brom side which continues to improve every week.

A goal by England midfielder Jack Wilshire cancelled out Claudio Yacob’s first ever goal for the Baggies but the result could have been completely different had former Gunners’ striker Nicholas Anelka scored one of his two clear cut second half chances.

Both teams played their part in an exciting contest and in the 42nd minute diminutive midfielder Yacob met a pinpoint cross from the right by Morgan Amalfitano to powerfully head the ball past keeper Wojciech Szczesny’s near post to open the scoring and raise the roof off the Hawthorns.

The home team held out a wave of Arsenal attacks until half time and should have gone further ahead early in the second half when a cross by Stephane Sessegnon hit Anelka on the heel when it looked easier to score. Minutes later the Baggies striker went clear on the left hand side and his right foot curling shot flashed agonisingly across the arsenal goal.

As happens so often in football, a team that misses chances gets punished and In the 62nd minute, Wilshire who had a troubled first half, charged forward and exchanged some intricate passes on the right edge of the box with Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud before firing a left foot drive which took a deflection off Baggies captain Jonas Olsson and flew past Albion keeper Boaz Myhill. 

In a grandstand finish both teams really pushed for the winner but the best chance fell to Arsenal striker Giroud who rounded the Albion keeper and was about to tap the ball into the net but was thwarted by the sheer determination of Myhill who scrambled back across goal and blocked his effort. 

Both managers were happy with a draw and after the match Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was asked if he had had words with Wilshire following midweek newspaper photos of the England player smoking outside a London nightclub. The Frenchman replied that he had spoken to him but when pressed on whether his player had quit smoking he laughed and said "I don't know.". 

Meanwhile Albion boss Steve Clarke was delighted with his side after another superb performance a week on from the excellent 2-1 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Manchester United 1-2 West Bromwich Albion match report 28th September 2013

Steve Clarke allowed himself a rare smile on a day when his fast emerging West Bromwich Albion team completely outplayed Champions Manchester United in a 2 – 1 victory at the Theatre of Dreams.

 The Baggies manager was full of praise for his team after goals by Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino each side of a Wayne Rooney free-kick saw West Brom win at Old Trafford for the first time in 35 years.

The match started with United in control fashioning some half chances on the right hand side courtesy of crosses by Nani. Rooney headed over and Anderson hit the bar but the home side could not get the breakthrough.

An injury to Baggies winger Scott Sinclair on 13 minutes saw England Under 21 striker Berahino sent on in a bold move by Albion manager Clarke which proved to be a masterstroke. In fact the Baggies could so easily of taken the lead when a cross from the left by Amalfitano was headed narrowly wide by the young substitute.

The second half picked up where the first one left off with both teams attacking and weaving together chances but it was the team in dark blue and white stripes who dealt the first blow. On 54 minutes. the thorn in the side, Amalfitano picked up the ball on the right and cut inside before cheekily nutmegging Rio Ferdinand and then waiting for David De Gea to commit before chipping the ball into the net to stun the Home crowd and send the travelling Baggies fans delirious.

United manager David Moyes immediately told substitute Robin Van Persie to prepare for his entrance and two minutes later as both watched from the touchline, Rooney fired a free-kick from the left over the wall and into the right hand corner of the net.

 With that goal the Red Devils appeared to finally take control of the game and looked as if they would go on to win but West Brom’s tactic of hitting their opponents on the counter attack worked a treat for Steve Clarke's men. The sheer power of Victor Anichebe, the finesse and delicacy of Amalfitano supported by the hard work of Stephane Sessegnon knitted together to form the perfect recipe for danger. On the 67th minute the Midlanders again broke free on the right. Sessegnon crossed the ball to the edge of the box and Amalfitano intricately flicked the ball into the path of substitute Berahino who smashed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to restore the Albion lead.

United pushed forward in search of an equaliser  and thought they had got it when some great passing on the edge of the box between Rooney, Alexander Buttner and Nani created an easy tap in for Maroune Fellaini who looked to have opened his old Trafford scoring account but the offside flag denied him.

Frustration coursed through the veins of the 73,000 home fans and at the final whistle a chorus of boos made clear the fans’ verdict on the mediocre United performance.

 After the game Moyes admitted that his team were poor and inferred he may have underestimated his opponents.

As for West Bromwich Albion, the only way is up at the moment after back to back victories this week and last week against Sunderland. Steve Clarke's new signings have transformed his team posing a deadly threat on the counter attack and also a composed performance at the back from defenders Jonas Olsson and Gareth McCauley was too much for the Reds. His transfer deadline signings have completely transformed the fortunes of his Albion team who move up to a comfortable mid-table position while the Champions languish in 12^th place, their worst start since 1989.

West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Sunderland match report 21st september 2013

Manager Paulo Di Canio’s job is in the balance after his Sunderland side lost 3- 0 at West Bromich Albion – a defeat made worse by the fact that the first goal was scored by Di Canio reject Stephane Sessegnon.

At the end of what was a poor performance the Black Cats boss walked over to the few hundred remaining Sunderland fans and gesticulated to them to keep their chins up – a suggestion which was met with a barrage of abuse. Di Canio now has to turn things round quickly or could be the first managerial casualty of the season.

The fact is that Sunderland played reasonably well until the 20^th minute when they fell behind to a goal by Sessegnon from a fine cross from the right by Morgan Amalfitano. So often in football a former player returns to haunt their old side and the Beninese midfielder did not disappoint, firing in from six yards.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Sunderland and as a result the Mackems didn't create any chances and West Brom went into the break fully in control of the game.

In the second half some early pressure from the visitors looked likely to produce a goal but it was not to be and the best chance the northerners could muster resulted in a serious shoulder injury for striker Stephen Fletcher who was helped off leaving  his team with only 10 men having used all three substitutes.

The Baggies then assumed full control and on 76 minutes, Amalfatino - who was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition - whipped in another great cross which was only half palmed away by goalkeeper Kieren Westwood into the path of the arriving left back Liam Ridgewell who coolly side-footed the ball into the net.

Amalfatino fully deserved his man of the match award after a performance which incorporated pace, skill, finesse and class which has been lacking in West Brom’s midfield in recent months. Three minutes into time added on the Frenchman went clear on the right of the box and fired a rasping drive into the corner of the net to crown a cracking debut.

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West Brom deserved their win and climbed away from the bottom of the table while Sunderland remain stuck at the foot with only a single point. After the game Di Canio said the fact that the club had signed 14 new players meant they needed time to gel. He told reporters he had no intention of quitting and would get his team out of trouble.

It looks like a long season for Sunderland who face Liverpool next weekend but for the Baggies, much promise was shown by new additions Amalfatino and Sessegnon which would be taken into next week’s tough game against Manchester United at Old Trafford

Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle match report September 14th 2013

Aston Villa suffered their third defeat in a row as Newcastle made off with all three points in a 2 – 1 victory at Villa Park.

Goals by Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran – each side of a reply by Christian Benteke - sent the Toon Army home happy and left Paul Lambert’s team hovering in the lower regions of the Premier League.

It was a case of de já vu for Villa as the demons of their poor home form of last season came back to haunt them. A Newcastle team unchanged during the summer transfer window, dominated on a bright and sunny autumnal afternoon and assumed control of the match from the very first whistle.

The home team barely touched the ball and Newcastle’s dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute as Loic Remy went clear on the left. His cross came off Villa captain Ron Vlaar’s outstretched leg straight into the path of Ben Arfa who had the simple task of firing in from six yards.

Alan Pardew’s side were in complete control of the first half but Villa came out fighting at the start of the second and created a few good chances. However, it was a tactical substitution which led to the Villa equaliser. In the 67th minute Lambert sent on Libor Kozak for Karim El Ahmadi and the change confused the Newcastle defenders who failed to deal with the power of Benteke who soared above everyone to head the ball into the net from an Ashley Westwood corner.

The equaliser lifted the home fans and unsettled the visitors and it was a case of wondering who would go on to score a winner. Step forward man-of-the-match Ben Arfa who, on 73 minutes, picked the ball up on the right hand side of the area, cut inside Antonio Luna and fired a powerful shot which Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan could only parry to his right and into the path of Gouffran who coolly fired into the empty net.

Such was Newcastle’s dominance that Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Ben Arfa should have added more as the Villa team tired.

Newcastle thoroughly earned their victory and showed a much more mature side than on previous occasions whilst sparing the blushes of Director of football Joe Kinnear, the man partly responsible for their lack of activity in the recent summer transfer window.

With Moussa Sissoko playing a vital role in anchoring the midfield and Remy, Gouffran, Yohan Cabaye and Ben Arfa always looking dangerous, the Toon army were well worth their second win of the campaign.

 Manager Alan Pardew described the Frenchman as "unplayable" and said he was very pleased with his team's performance.

Paul Lambert acknowledged it was a "frustrating" afternoon and said his team started the game too slowly and played catch up for the rest of the match