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.
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