Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland FC match report Sunday 28th December 2014

Fabian Delph saw red as Aston Villa and Sunderland battled out a competitive stalemate at Villa Park in the second game in three days for both teams.

The England international midfielder was sent off in the 49^th minute for a late tackle on Jordi Gomez in his own half. The decision meant that Villa now have had three men sent off in four matches.

The game was overshadowed however by negativity from both managers complaining about the hectic fixture list over the Christmas period.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert said “trying to sell two games in two days. It’s nonsense. I agreed with Gus and most managers will probably say the same.” When asked about the run of matches. “I played in Germany and they have a winter break. They don’t start playing until February”. Before the game began Gus Poyet had previously labelled it a “disgrace”.

The effect of playing two matches in 48 hours clearly took its toll on the players with sloppy errors being made all over the pitch. Despite this the game was still evenly contested between both teams.

In the first half it was Villa who had the upper hand creating the better chances. In the opening 25 minutes Charles N’Zogbia had a curling effort from the right saved by ‘keeper Costel Pantillimon and Andreas Weimann also tried to work some space in the area but his shot was blocked.

The Black Cats’ also had chances themselves. Using winger Connor Wickham’s height they created an excellent counter attacking opportunity. A long ball was controlled on the chest of Wickham, who linked up well with former West Bromwich Albion full back Billy Jones, resulting in a curling shot from the tall striker but it curled harmlessly round the post.

The impetus of the game changed in the second half. After Delph was sent off Sunderland began to dominate proceedings, creating numerous opportunities. The best came again from Jones on the ldft hand side. This time Brad Guzan tipped his shot from a tight angle onto the far post.

Villa had chances to snatch it too. Substitute Jack Grealish curled just wide before laying the ball back to fellow substitute Leandro Bacuna whose cross was turned into the side netting by Christian Benteke.

The game finished scoreless which was a fair point for both teams.

  

 

West Bromwich Albion 1-3 Manchester City match report Friday 26th December 2014

 

Manchester City kicked off the busy Christmas period with a comfortable 3-1 boxing day victory over West Bromwich Albion to keep the gap on leaders Chelsea to just three points.

With a run of three games in a week, the Citizens, who were without a recognised striker for the second consecutive match needed all three points to keep the pressure on their main title rivals Chelsea.

It was David Silva, Fernando and Yaya Toure who scored the goals which saw City stroll to an easy win at a snowy Hawthorn’s.

A stronger second half performance by the Baggies’ eased the pressure on manager Alan Irvine who after a string of inconsistent performances, most notably last Saturday after letting slip a two goal lead to Queens Park Rangers, was under a lot of pressure from the home fans.

The champion’s of England only needed eight minutes before they were ahead. A good one-two on the right corner of the penalty area between Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna resulted in a cross from Navas which deflected up into the area and was dropped by Baggies’ keeper Ben Foster into the path of Fernando who acrobatically scored from three yards out.

Five minutes later City’s lead was doubled. Former Sky Blue Joleon Lescott was adjudged to have brought down David Silva just inside the penalty area and Toure converted coolly from 12 yards.

The game was put beyond any doubt after 34 minutes when Fernando fed Navas on the right hand side who easily found his fellow countryman David Silva who took one touch and then curled a beautiful effort into the far corner.

On the turn of the half, as forecasted the snow started to fall over the West Midlands which made conditions much more difficult. With their three goal lead, the Sky Blues’ sat back in the second half which allowed their opponent’s more possession to create more chances. A cross from the right was placed wide by Sylvestre Varela at the far post wasting their best chance.

They got a mere consolation goal four minutes from the end. A corner from the right hand side saw Joe Hart attempt to punch it away but missed it and rebounded in off an unwitting Brown Ideye to give the Nigerian his first goal since his summer move.

The goal proved to be meaningless as the game finished 3-1. As the old cliché goes it was men against boys and City took all three points back to the North West without expending much of the capacity of their multi million pound squad.

Alan Irvine said “the players are human at the end of the day and they are going to make mistakes” and “it was very difficult to come back in these circumstances. It was pleasing the players showed their mental strength”

Manuel Pellegrini said “to score three goals with no striker, we’re doing very well. We’re not thinking about Chelsea though”.

 

Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United match report Saturday 20th December 2014

Radamel Falcao rescued his Manchester United team a 1-1 draw against a determined 10-man Aston Villa side.

The Columbian headed home from six yards out to cancel out Christian Benteke’s wonderful early strike to score his second and much needed goal to justify his high price tag.

The point left Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal frustrated with his team and their performance saying “it was two points dropped. It’s frustrating being the better team and not winning”.

The Red Devils’ were searching for their eighth straight win over the Villans’ coming into the game as well as being on a six game unbeaten streak too but came unstuck against a determined Aston Villa side. Paul Lambert set up his team with five at the back and with the objective of hitting their opponent’s on the break or from a free kick and with 18 minutes they surprisingly found themselves ahead.

Fabian Delph, making his first start since returning from injury, whipped in a free kick from the left hand side to the far post where Benteke chested it down, skipped past Johnny Evans and curled in a sumptuous effort from just inside the penalty area leaving in form keeper David De Gea completely rooted to the spot.

Villa’s defensive stability left little or no room for the away team to exploit meaning in the first half they had one shot on goal which was strewn wide by Robin Van Persie.

At half time Van Gaal pushed Michael Carrick into midfield to try and add some impetus to their world class front line. This also had the added effect of allowing Captain Wayne Rooney, who opted for a deeper lying centre midfield role, more room to spread the play which stretched Villa’s back line. Consequently it was only a matter of time before the 20 times champions of England equalled the game.

Former Villa man Ashley young burst down the left leaving full back Matthew Lowton eating his dust. He then cut back a cross from the byline directly onto the head of an unmarked Falcao who headed home to level the game.

The home team had a good chance to get themselves back in the lead. A corner from the left by Delph was met by Benteke who’s header was tipped over the crossbar by De Gea to prove he is still in his current form which has seen him linked with a move to real Madrid.

The game swung even more in Manchester United’s way two minutes later when Villa were reduced to 10 men. A 50-50 challenge on the halfway line between Gabriel Agbonlahor and his famous team mate Ashley young saw the United player coming off worse. Referee Lee Mason reached for his red card without hesitation a decision which replays showed to be an incorrect decision.

Despite this, Villa had a chance to snatch the game late on. Delph, the man of the match, burst through the United defence and passed it to the right of the box where substitute Leandro Bacuna fired from 25 yards out but his effort went inches over the crossbar.

Both teams held on to earn a fair point but the red card decision angered Villa manager Lambert. “Ashley Young admitted to (Brad) Guzan after the game that he fouled Gabby (Agbonlahor)” but when questioned about Young’s reaction to the foul he said “in the heat of the game you aren’t going to spring up and say ‘it wasn’t a foul’”.

West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Aston Villa match report Saturday 13th December 2014

Craig Gardner smashed home from eight yards to earn West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 win in the Midlands' derby against 10 men Aston Villa.
The man who has played for West Brom, Aston Villa and Birmingham settled a closely fought game when he fired home from close range after a Stephane Sessegnon shot was blocked and rebounded into his path
Despite going down to 10 men when Kieran Richardson saw red, the Baggies' found it hard to break down the wall of claret and blue shirts despite having the majority of possession. With time running short, it was Gardner who finally found the net.
The victory relieved the pressure on Baggies' manager Alan Irvine. Coming into the fixture his team had not won in five matches and they were facing a Villa team who's recent fortunes have changed after winning two consecutive matches as well as welcoming the return of star striker Christian Benteke.
Despite this they matched their Midlands rival's in the eatly exchanges. The game was pretty much evenly matched until with 22 minutes gone Kieran Richardson was sent off. After overrunning the ball on the left hand side he slid in to get it back but went in with his studs raised and made contact with the ankle of Sessegnon. Referee Mike Dean, known for his red streak justifiably reached for his back pocket and sent off the former West Brom player.
After the dismissal Villa sat deep and rarely threatened the West Brom goal. Albion dominated posession but couldn't create any clear cut chances and subsequently the game was scoreless at half time.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Albion dominating proceedings. With 58 minutes gone Sylvestre Varela, who was making his first appearance since joining West Brom in the summer, cut in from the left hand side and shot with his stronger right foot but his effort was narrowly over Brad Guzan's crossbar. Sessegnon also had an effort on goal that was easily saved by Guzan too.
Irvine decided to bring on his star striker Saido Berahino. Dropped to the bench for this game and the 0-0 draw at Hull, the England striker had a huge point to prove and played a huge part in the deciding goal. He picked the ball up on the right hand side, crossed to the far post. Guzan punched the original effort but it fell to Sessegnon who's effort on goal was also blocked but Gardner was there to shoot through a crowd of players to settle the match and also score his first goal first West Brom.
After the game Alan Irvine said "relieved? That's one emotion certainly! obviously delighted first of all but relieved to get that win that we've probably deserved" and "you're always looking for more. I felt that as long as we kept making the right decisions and played with intelligence that chances would come".
Villa manager Paul Lambert said "Kieran's (Richardson) enthusiam was what got him sent off" and that he had "No complaints" about the red card which ultimately cost his team the win.

West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Arsenal. Match report Saturday 29th November 2014

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Danny Welbeck's match-winning header wasn't enough for some Arsenal fans who called for manager Arsene Wenger to go.

In the 60th minute, the English striker rose highest to head home a Santi Carzola cross to give under pressure Wenger a much needed boost after last week's defeat by Manchester United. 

But on the full-time whistle, the away fans brandished a banner stating: "Wenger, thanks for the memories but it's time to say goodbye."  Despite being pressed after the match the Frenchman refused to comment, saying, "I do not talk about such things."

Following the 2 - 0 midweek  win against Borussia Dortmund the Gunners took the game to West Brom and in a dominant first half, Carzola, Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez all had shots saved by Baggies' goalkeeper Ben Foster in the opening 12 minutes. The England 'keeper almost gifted the visitors a goal when he tried to dribble out of his box only to robbed by Olivier Giroud on the left but with an open goal, the Frenchman couldn’t convert from an acute angle on his first start after returning from injury.
 

Minutes into the second half the home team had a golden opportunity snatched away from them via an incorrect offside decision. Craig Gardner picked the ball up in the midfield and slotted a defence-cutting pass through the Arsenal back line to striker Saido Berahino who was one on one with Arsenal ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez but play was brought back because of the offside decision. Replays suggested that the England striker was clearly being played onside by defender Laurent Koscielny.

Both teams continued to play some fine football but Arsenal always looked the more likely to score and on the hour mark midfielder Carzola burst down the left hand side, leaving Andre Wisdom a mere spectator as he crossed from the byline. Welbeck soared into the air and headed home powerfully from 12 yards with Foster only able to palm the ball upwards into the roof of the net.

This finally seemed to spur the home team into life. Baggies manager Alan Irvine sent on Victor Anichebe for holding midfielder Youssuff Mulumbu which offered a new avenue for them to go down. Then with 15 minutes to go Irvine angered the Baggies faithful when he brought off Stephane Sessegnon, a stand out performer and brought on Giorgios Samaras, a player who has done very little since his move to the West Midlands in the summer. Chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” rang loudly around The Hawthorns.

However both substitutes made an impact. On 80 minutes Cristian Gamboa crossed from the right hand side of the penalty area and Berahino rose highest to meet the ball but his effort rebounded painfully back off the crossbar and was cleared.

With 90 minutes on the clock, West Brom came even closer. Anichebe held up the ball in trademark style on the edge of the area and laid it back to Craig Gardner whose fierce strike was deflected only a whisker wide by the toe of Mathieu Flamini.

Despite the late rally, West Brom couldn’t find an opening and Arsenal took all three points.

At full time, Irvine criticised the off-side decision which was the second in recent weeks. “Two weeks and two big decisions against us. People make mistakes but we could do without them,” he said. The Scot also said the banner calling for Wenger to go was “ridiculous”.

Arsene Wenger said: “We were a touch lucky off the bar but we deserved to win.”

Aston Villa 1 -1 Southampton. Match report November 25 2014

Nathaniel Clyne snatched a late equaliser to keep Southampton second in the Premiership and leave Aston Villa still struggling for points.

The 23-year-old, fresh after his England senior call up, drilled home from 20 yards out to earn his side a deserved point against a Villa side who desperately needed all three. 

Despite earning their second successive draw, which brought an end to their run of six games without a win, the home  side found themselves just a point above relegation coming into the fixture against a Southampton side who started the day second in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Chelsea.

The Saints' were frustrated in the first half by the defensively minded Villans. The "tika taka" football around the edge of the box that has seen Southampton become the surprise package of the season was shepherded sensibly by the emergency centre back pairing of Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark. As a result chances were few and far between. 

But the deadlock was broken from an unlikely source with 29 minutes gone. Ciaran Clark's clearance was seized on by the supersonic Gabriel Agbonlahor who exerted enough pressure on Saints' defender Toby Alderweireld and England 'keeper Fraser Forster to cause a  miscommunication which left the Villa striker to fire home from a tight angle. The goal was Villa's first in seven matches and a huge relief for Paul Lambert and his men. 

Despite their lead Villa still found themselves pegged back by the passing prowess of their opponents. Dusan Tadić floated in a couple of good free kicks from 30 yards but to no avail. 

Southampton enjoyed 64% of possession in the game but couldn't find an opening. The link up between striker Graziano Pelle and former West Bromwich Albion man Shane Long was lacking and subsequently their play broke down on the edge of the box. 

With 10 minutes to go, Villa broke from a corner but Andreas Weimann lifted Agbonlahor's cross from the right hand side, high over the crossbar. A chance he would come to regret not taking moments later.

With time running out, Southampton  finally got their equaliser. Ryan Bertrand, who spent the last half of the previous season on loan in the West Midlands, easily skipped past his man on the left hand side of the penalty area and cut the ball back to the edge of the box where the on-rushing Clyne fired home into the bottom corner to level the match and create was in the end a fair result for both teams.

The result saw Villa climb a place to 16th in the table. Okore and Clarke defended well when called upon despite being an untested central pairing and they took their only chance of the game in a determined nature.

Southampton are still overachieving in terms of their league position but not face a tough winter with games against the top teams. But for now manager Ronald Koeman said he was happy with his team's start to the season. 

West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Newcastle United match report Sunday 9th October

Newcastle continued their revival with a comfortable 2-0 win over a West Brom side which were completely overran by Alan Pardew's new revitalised men.

 

Two assists from right back Daryl Janmaat, providing goals for Ayozé Perez and Fabricio Coloccini were enough to see off a Baggies side which seems to have stalled after going four games unbeaten. 

 After an awful start to the season, the Magpies have now won their last five matches to completely transform the fortune of their season.  

 Going into the game, it was Saido Berahino who was grabbing the headlines. The top English goal scorer in the Premier League saw his impressive start to this season rewarded with his first call up for the England senior team. However today he failed to impress under the spotlight. It reflected in his team's performance as none of his team mates could carry their recent run of form into the game. Berahino was left isolated and chances were few and far between.

The real star of the encounter was Ayoze Perez. The Spaniard, purched for £1.5 million in the summer from tenerife was the scorer of a subline first goal and displayed incredible work ethic throughout.

 The match was played at an incredibly high intensity. Free flowing football and minimum fouls meant that it was an entertaining spectacle to watch from the neutral perspective. Both fans were respective of one another, Newcastle fans carrying out the minutes applause for the ‘justice for Jeff’ campaign and the West Brom home fans participating in the minutes applause in memory of Liam Sweeney and John Alder, the two victims of the Malaysian airline tragedy in the summer. During the ninth minute round of applause for Jeff Astle, the away side nearly took the lead. The ball bounced up to Sammy Ameobi on the right hand side of the penalty area and his looping left footed shot bounced off the top of the crossbar.

The Baggies responded with their best and potentially only clear cut chance of the match with 16 minutes gone. The ball was played into Victor Anichebe, who used his body well to hold off his marker and lay the ball off to Berahino on the right hand side of the penalty area. Unfortunately his shot was taken off balance and was easily saved by Tim Krul.

 In the old football cliché, the team from the North East scored on the perfect time with 45 minutes on the clock. A first time cross was fizzed along the floor towards six yard box from the right hand side of the penalty area by Janmaat, where Perez flashed across the front post and ingeniously flicked the ball with his back foot into the far post to net his third goal in as many matches.

 The clubs were essentially cancelling each other out in the first half. The middle of the pitch was bombarded as both opted to play five men in the middle of the pitch meant that an opening was hard to find.

 Perez’s goal opened up the game but in the favour of Newcastle. They continued with their relentless pressure meaning it was hard for West Brom to find an opening.

 With 62 minutes gone the team from Tyneside doubled their lead. Janmaat again the provider from the right. This time he easily skipped past Youssuff Mulumbu on the touch line and whipping a cross in to a completely unmarked Coloccini who had the simple task of nodding home from close range to deplete West Brom.

 The second goal knocked the stuffing out of the home team. Despite threatening to score they could never get through the wall of blue and green shirts. The victory was nearly made all so sweeter when Perez had the chance to double his tally for the game but his volley from a cross by Ryan Taylor was saved by ‘keeper Ben Foster.

West Brom manager Alan Irvine said his Baggies side “lacked intensity” but admitted “the goal right on half time was a boost for them (Newcastle)”. The Scot also described his star striker’s performance as “his poorest game but everyone has bad games”.

 Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, despite fearing his job was lost a few weeks ago, was buoyed by the victory today describing it as a “disciplined and strong performance”.

 

 

Leicester 0-1 West Bromwich Albion match report Saturday 1st November

A fluke own goal from Esteban Cambiasso was enough to separate West Bromwich Albion and Leicester in a closely fought encounter at the King Power stadium. 

It was a case of wrong place, wrong time for the Argentine two minutes after half time as Saido Berahino's cross from the left was headed clear by Foxes defender Wes Morgan straight onto the thigh of the backrushing Cambiasso who was left helpless as the ball rolled agonisingly over the line past the outstretched ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

 The first half was a complete stalemate with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield meaning there was little goal mouth action. Baggies ‘keeper Ben Foster almost gifted the game to the home side with barely eight minutes gone as an attempted throw-out saw him step out of his area.  The Leicester players appealed for a free-kick but referee Stuart Atwell judged that the England keeper was still in his area providing him with a lucky escape. 

 West Brom’s best chance came from a corner from the right by Chris Brunt which was headed towards the far post by Craig Dawson but was cleared off the line by Cambiasso. The Foxes replied with arguably the best chance of the half. The ball bounced up high into the air and striker Jamie Vardy found himself in a lot of space on the six yard line but fluffed his overhead kick effort straight into the arms of Foster.

 The deadlock was finally broken on 47 minutes when in-form striker Berahino burst down the left hand side of the box before cutting the ball back only for the clearance by Morgan to ricochet onto Cambiasso and into the net.

 The Foxes pressed for an equaliser but the Baggies backline stood strong. Jamie Vardy forced a good save from Foster with 62 minutes on the clock, latching onto a long ball from defender Paul Konchesky then Andy King headed into the goalkeeper’s hands when he should have scored.

 Substitute Nick Powell had the final chance to snatch a point but screwed his shot so wide that the ball actually hit the corner flag, much to the annoyance of the home fans.

 The Baggies held out and earned a much needed three points after a run of draws in the league and their disappointing exit from the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night against Bournemouth. As for Leicester, it was another defeat for a side struggling to find consistency in the Premiership after their emphatic 5-3 win over Manchester United a month ago.

 Manager Nigel Pearson admitted his side were ‘unlucky’ but refused to be downhearted despite his side’s poor showing in the Premiership table.

 Meanwhile, Baggies boss Alan Irvine was delighted with another win despite the nature of the goal.

 “I’ll take goals like that anytime if it means three points,” he said.

 

Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspurs match report Sunday 2nd November

Christian Benteke saw red as his team lost 2-1 to a battling Tottenham Hotspurs side in a fiery encounter at Villa Park. 

After a much improved first half performance by the Belgian returning from injury, he raised his hand to the face of midfielder Ryan Mason in a coming together between the two right under the nose of fourth official. Referee Neil Swarbrick had no other choice to send off the striker, leaving Villa to defend a one goal lead for 27 minutes with 10 men. 

The game was a well fought, open contest between two sides struggling to find form. The tempers were stirred up by Jan Vertonghen in the second half. A two footed lunge by the Belgian on Ashley Westwood, which the home side thought merited a straight red card. Referee Swarbrick presented a yellow which incensed the Villa team, giving them a sense of injustice.

The away side took full advantage. With Benteke battling to hold off the ball from Mason, he wasn’t happy with the tackle that the young Englishman applied and the two squared up to each other on the half way line with Benteke raising his right hand into the face of Mason which was enough to see him earn the second red card of his Villa career.

After this it was a back’s to the walls time for the Villans. Spurs continually attacked and it seemed only a matter of time before they got back into the game. Despite their resilience Villa gifted their opponent’s the equaliser.

With 83 minutes gone, substitute Erik Lamela whipped in a corner from the right hand side and it was met completely unmarked at the far post who tapped home from six yards to finally break the Villa spirits.

One minute from time their hearts were broken too as Spurs completed the turn around. A cynical free kick was conceded by Carlos Sanchez 27 yards out from goal just to the right of the edge of the box. Up stepped Harry Kane. His free kick took a deflection off the wall which took it away from ‘keeper Brad Guzan to score his seventh goal in seven matches and send his team into euphoria.

A much improved Villa performance but still they came away with zero points from the game.

Manager Paul Lambert said his side were “unlucky” and “I didn’t think we deserved the result. We played excellent”  

Spurs manager said his side “deserved to win” and that his striker Harry Kane is definitely in contention for a starting spot after his performance today.

 

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Manchester United match report Monday 20th October 2014

Daley Blind’s debut goal ensured Manchester United snatched a point from a West Brom side who were minutes away from taking all three.

With the clock ticking down to 86 minutes, the Dutchman slotted home a curling left foot shot from 20 yards to thwart the battling Baggies who had twice led through goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Saido Berahino.

Despite a 70-30 split between the two sides, The Red Devils just couldn’t find an opening past the organised and disciplined West Brom defence led by Joleon Lescott and Craig Dawson. It was the home team that started the brightest and took the lead on eight minutes when Liverpool loanee Andre Wisdom burst down the right hand side and cut a pinpoint cross back to the edge of the area. 

Sessegnon met the ball perfectly and sumptuously curled his powerful shot into the near post past ‘keeper David De Gea to stun the travelling United fans and send the Baggies faithful rapturously Boing Boinging. The remainder of the first half was  dominated by the team in Red with  record signing Angel Di Maria  a constant threat down the left hand side but United’s efforts failed to trouble stand-in 'keeper Boaz Myhill.

At half time manager Louis Van Gaal sent on Marouane Fellaini to try and make a difference and it took just three minutes for the Belgian to make an impact. A disputed corner from the left by Di Maria was controlled on the chest of Fellaini on the right hand side of the penalty area. The former Everton man appeared to edge out defender Joleon Lescott before thumping home the ball into the top corner of the net but the offence wasn't spotted by the officials.

The equalising goal lifted the visitors who went all out for the win but were caught napping on 66 minutes when full-back Rafael was caught too far up the field.  Baggies captain Chris Brunt played a defence-splitting pass to the left hand side which sent Saido Berahino clear and the England striker finished impeccably to the left of De Gea to ensure the final 20 minutes was a tasty affair.

Wave after wave of United attacks failed to pierce the white and blue West Brom wall with Robin Van Persie coming closest when his thumping right foot volley hit the woodwork.  However, with four minutes left, up stepped Blind. A long ball from the left hand side of the half way line by defender Marcus Rojo was flicked down by substitute Radamel Falcao and into the path of the Dutchman who fired home to make the honours even.

After the match, Baggies manager Alan Irvine said that he was “disappointed” not to have earned all three points after witnessing his side put on their best display of the season so far.

United boss Louis Van Gaal said he too was very disappointed with the result claiming his team were the better on the night.

"We gave the two goals away and created 11 chances and only scored two goals. I am happy about the way we played but not happy about the result. It was a great game but we deserved to win."

West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Crystal Palace FC match report Saturday October 25th 2014

 

Victor Anichebe came off the bench for West Bromwich Albion to inspire a second half comeback as his side drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in an entertaining affair at The Hawthorns. 

The Baggies were 2-0 down at half time when the Nigerian came off the bench to score the first and win the penalty for the second goal to rescue a point for his side. 

His first goal caused much controversy. Six minutes into the second half, Chris Brunt whipped an in-swinging corner from the right which was headed in by Anichebe. However in the action, Baggies defender Craig Dawson jumped straight into keeper Julian Speroni, a challenge described as an "assault" by Palace manager Neil Warnock, knocking the keeper unconscious for a few seconds.

Under the new FA guidelines the Argentine would have to be substituted but he resisted, arguing his recovery despite looking evidently dazed. After five minutes he finally left the field to be replaced but Warnock argued the goal should have been disallowed but it stood and the Baggies’ were back into the game.

Anichebe played an important part in the equalising goal too. Receiving the ball from the right hand side, spinning off his marker when he was brought down by Palace captain Mile Jedinak seconds before he was about to pull the trigger. Saido Berahino stepped up to take the penalty two minutes into injury time to level the game, presenting his side with a fair point which on reflection on the performance was fair to both sides.

After their impressive 2-2 draw last Monday against Manchester United, the Baggies just didn’t seem to turn up as they did five days ago and as a result it took 17 minutes for the visitors to take the lead.

 An inswinging corner from the right hand side was whipped in by Joe Ledley. The original ball was headed up into the air but it fell to defender Hangeland two yards out from goal, who made no mistake in volleying home to inject some life into the game. There were claims that keeper Ben Foster was waved away by referee Mark Clattenburg.

One minute into first half stoppage time the Eagle’s doubled their lead. Yannick Bolasie was found on the right hand side and was brought down by Sebastian Pocognoli and Jedinak coolly converted from 12 yards to give his side what seemed like an unassailable half time lead.

After the interval, the substitution of Anichebe from Sessegnon was a masterstroke by Irvine. The home side had a different feel to them. Graham Dorrans came narrowly close to scoring from 30 yards while Craig Gardner had a shot blocked with Berahino firing the rebound over the bar. Despite all this they just weren’t the clear and concise team they were on Monday. As the winter is fast approaching, the Baggies could have done with three points as if history repeats itself from last season, this is where they lost their form, which inevitably lead to them slumping down the table and narrowly avoiding relegation.

 

Everton FC 3-0 Aston Villa match report Saturday 18th October 2014

Ross Barkley and Leighton Baines shone for Everton as they grab their first home win of the season against a lacklustre Aston Villa side to lift them to 13^th in the table.

Barkley, playing his first football since injuring knee ligaments just before the first game of the season in August, led his side, which have yet to win at Goodison Park to a dominant victory on a sunny afternoon in Merseyside. Baines also played a vital role in the game grabbing two assists.

Goals from Phil Jagielka, Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman were enough to doom Aston Villa to a fourth straight defeat and furthermore a fourth straight game without a goal.

Everton started the game the stronger, immediately dominating possession, of which they shared 70% of it in the first half. It took 18 minutes for the home side to make the break through. In the current debate about the decline of grass roots football, it was three Englishmen who combined for the goal. A corner from the right hand side by Baines was taken short to former Villa player Gareth Barry who then laid it back to Baines. The England international left back crossed the ball from the right hand corner of the penalty area to the six yard line where his international team mate and team captain Phil Jagielka was there to head home unmarked on the six yard line.

Villa seemed to gain some defensive solidarity after that and as a result the score remained the same going into the break.

It took only two minutes for the home side to double their lead in the second half. Barkley picked the ball up on the half way line and passed it to his team mate Lukaku. The Belgian held off the challenge of Ciaran Clarke and smashed the ball straight at Brad Guzan from the edge of the box. The shot fizzed through the grasp of the American and rolled over the line for a rare mistake by Villa’s usually solid keeper.

Baines was the main man involved for The Toffee’s third on 78 minutes. A left footed cross from the left hand side rolled along the six yard line was met at the far post by Seamus Coleman to seal the game. In retrospect, it took Villa 78 minutes to register a shot on target.

After their incredible start to the season, Villa are in danger of slipping to the lower reaches of the table, a position they have held for the previous few seasons despite the changes they made at the start of this campaign.

Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester City match report saturday 4th october 2014

Manchester City left it late to secure a 2-0 victory over a stubborn Aston Villa side and move up to second in the Premier League table.

Goals from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero in the last ten minutes were enough to see off an Aston Villa side which saw the return of their star striker Christian Benteke.

The Champions’ looked like they were going to drop another two points after their uncertain start of the season saw them pick up just five point from a possible nine in the month of September. On a ground where they famously lost last season, it looked like it was to be another unhappy return to Villa Park for City but two late goals means they go into the international break two points behind Chelsea with Jose Mourinho’s men playing tomorrow.

Villa defended defiantly in the first 45 minutes restricting the away side to just shots from range. However with 10 minutes on the clock that tactic nearly backfired with defender Alexander Kolarov striking the post from range. The first half presented a good battle for possession which city indefinitely won but couldn’t convert the possession into goals and as a result there were no shots on target between both sides in the first half. Villa’s centre back partnership of Nathan Baker and Phillip Senderos created a claret and blue wall which blocked every shot Eden Dzeko and Aguero could throw at them and as a result the score was all square at half time.

The second half saw the game open up. Five minutes into the half and Aguero latched onto a through ball from former Villa player James Milner but his effort from the right hand side of the penalty area hit the post past a despairing Brad Guzan but Villa broke down the other side and Charles N’Zogbia found Keiran Richardson but his shot from the left hand side of the penalty was blocked by a recovering Pablo Zabaleta.

With 60 minutes gone Villa introduced their talismanic striker Benteke who has been out for six months with injury. He received a rapturous applause from the home fans and the Belgian looked sharp from the offset. However city also introduced midfielder Fernando and a combination of the Brazilian and defender Vincent Kompany marked him out of the game removing Villa’s attacking threat.

With 82 minutes gone the home side’s resistance was broken. Toure, who has had a sluggish start to the season, picked the ball up unmarked on the edge of the area and with the Villa defence standing off him, he curled a sumptuous effort into the near post with his left foot to net his first goal of the season. Aguero doubled the lead with two minutes to go after creating space on the edge of the area; he skipped past three defenders to fire home from 20 yards. This gave city a score line which was unfair on the hosts’.

The result now leaves Villa without a win in three games but it seems City have finally clicked into gear with a solid overall performance. Despite being rarely threatened, the City defence was strong and the attack force was enough to overcome even the most determined of Villa defence’s.

Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal match report saturday 20th September 2014

Danny Welbeck netted his first goal in an Arsenal shirt as he helped his side to romp to a 3-0 victory against an illness blighted Aston Villa side.

The former Manchester United striker set up the Gunners’ first goal and tucked in a cross from the left to ensure his side relinquished any symptoms of a hangover following their midweek defeat in the Champions League.

The first half hour was an even contest with the Villa midfield battling well with their more experienced opponents as they looked to build on their excellent start to the season. But on 32 minutes a defence, which had only conceded one goal in four games, was made to look very ordinary.

Welbeck left the Villa back four completely flat with an inch perfect pass which sent Mesut Ozil clear on the left of the area and the German finished coolly one on one with ‘keeper Brad Guzan.

Two minutes later, with Villa still reeling, Arsenal struck again as Ozil turned provider. His cross from the left hand side was met by Welbeck on the six yard line to steer in his first goal for the Gunners to ease the pressure from his critics after missing good chances in his previous two matches.

On 36 minutes, the game was over as Arsenal crushed any hopes of a Villa comeback after defender Aly Cissokho turned a Kieran Gibbs shot from the left hand side into his own net.

In the second half, the Londoners looked the more likely to score as Villa embarked on a damage limitation exercise but both goalkeepers had little to do as the players failed to create any clear-cut chances.

After the match, manager Paul Lambert said his team were ‘running on empty’ after being decimated by a bug which had swept through the training complex all week.

Defender Nathan Baker and striker Darren Bent pulled out before the game while midfielder Ashley Westwood was struck down after being sick during the warm up and striker Andreas Weimann was substituted after he was sick at half time.

“We’ve had so much bad luck this week and before the game,” said Lambert. ”It’s a tough game when everyone is fit but after what happened this week and this morning, the lads are running on empty.

“I’ll probably shut the training ground for a day or two to try and eradicate the problem.”

Despite the defeat, the Villa boss was quick to praise his players for their excellent start to the season.

“I’m delighted with the start we have had. Ten points in five games is a good return so we go on to the next game.”

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said he was pleased with his team’s response after the midweek 2 -0 defeat by Borussia Dortmundin the Champions League and delighted that new signing Danny Welbeck scored his debut goal.

“I think Danny’s performance was very good today. He kept the ball well and had a good all round game for a central striker.”

 

Aston Villa 2-1 Hull City match report Saturday 31st August 2014

Aston Villa recovered from their midweek League Cup exit with a determined 2-1 victory over a lacklustre Hull City side.

Goals from Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann were enough to give the home side all three points despite a late reply from Nikica Jelavic.

Villa boss Paul Lambert decided to stick with the same side that drew with Newcastle last weekend and his newly rejuvenated side full of youth and experience were rampant in the first half.

On 14 minutes, Charles N'Zogbia picked up a loose ball 40 yards out on the right hand side. He cut inside onto his stronger left foot and laid the ball into the path of Weimann who flicked it into the path of Agbonlahor who spun off his marker and finished decisively into the bottom left corner past Hull keeper Alan McGregor.

With 36 minutes gone the home side doubled their lead this time with Agbonlahor turning provider. He picked the ball up on the left hand corner of the penalty area and played it down the line where Kieran Richardson fed an inch perfect pass into the feet of Weimann who took a touch before finishing coolly past McGregor.

The Villians had a chance to kill the game off four minutes before half time but Ashley Westwood’s 25 yard free kick hit the left hand post and bounced clear.

As good as Villa were in the first half, they completely switched off in the second and allowed Hull back into the game. City boss Steve Bruce brought on Liam Rosenior for his captain Curtis Davis which helped swing the game in the Tiger’s favour as they completely pinned the home side back. But despite all of their possession Hull created few chances on goal.

Finally, with 73 minutes gone, the game changed when a free kick, 30 yards out was whipped in left footed by substitute Robbie Brady. Striker Jelavic rose the highest to head home thanks to a couple of deflections.

This set up a nervy finish for Aston Villa who brought on 18 year old Jack Grealish for the final third of the game. The Irish youngster touched the ball six times, was fouled five times which resulted in yellow cards for Ahmed Elmohamady, Jelavic and Stephen Quinn.

As the match ticked into time added on, Villa captain Ron Vlaar was taken off with a calf injury but Hull failed to take advantage and Villa hung on for their second victory of the season; making it seven points from nine.

After the game Hull manager Steve Bruce described his side’s first half performance as “pathetic”, “lifeless” and “awful”.

"It was arguably the worst I've seen us play during the two years I've been at the club. I cannot remember seeing us perform so badly. Thankfully, we responded in the second half and made a game of it and could have maybe gotten something."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert was full of praise for his side's first half showing.

"We were outstanding. The movement in midfield was terrific. If we had scored a couple more goals I don't think anyone could have begrudged us.  The first half was excellent."

Man-of-the-match Gabby Agbonlahor received special praise. “Agbonlahor was outstanding. At times he was un playable with his running power and speed. It has been a terrific start and we have to keep it going."

The win takes Villa up to third in the table behind highflyers Swansea and title favourites Chelsea while the Tigers slip to ninth.