West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Fulham FC match report Saturday 22nd February 2014

Matej Vydra rescued a vital point for West Brom to deny Felix Magath a victory in his first game in charge of Fulham.

The Czech striker fired in from six yards in the 86^th minute to cancel out a first half strike by Ashkan Dejagah which looked to have taken all three points for the Cottagers and their new German boss.

Vydra’s shot slipped through the arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and trickled agonisingly just over the goal line prompting the introduction of the Goal Decision System for the first time at The Hawthorns.

The point for both teams leaves Fulham still at the foot of the Barclays Premier League and West Brom hovering just above the relegation zone in 16^th position.

Fulham seized the early initiative in what was billed as an important six-pointer and almost went ahead in the first two minutes when recent signing Johnny Heitinga headed over when it seemed easier to score. Lewis Holtby also had a good chance from the right hand side of the penalty area but his curled effort went just wide of Ben Foster's left hand post.

The best of the early chances fell to Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell who somehow managed to scoop over from five yards out with the goal  gaping.

West Brom sprang to life and some slick passing between Morgan Amalfitano and Thievy Bifouma sent the young French striker clear just outside the box but he fired straight at Stekelenburg.

 With 27 minutes on the clock Fulham scored a typical counter attacking goal. Former Baggies man Kieran Richardson burst down the left hand side and put in a cross from the byline which was missed by Holtby and fell into the path of Dejagah on the right hand side of the penalty area. He took a touch before firing the ball past two defenders and under Baggies’ keeper Ben Foster's body.

The home team just couldn't get going but on half time manager Pepe Mel brought on Victor Anichebe and Zoltan Gera for Billy Jones and Thievy. Both players made an instant impact and the home team created chance after chance but couldn't convert. James Morrison had arguably the best chance when he was sent through on the right but instead of pulling the trigger he tried to pass to Saido Berahino and the opportunity was lost.

Morrison and West Brom captain Chris Brunt had stinging shots saved by the impressive Stekelenburg and it looked as if the keeper and defensive combination of Brede Hangeland and Heitinga would help Fulham to a rare clean sheet until four minutes from the end when the home team finally got the equaliser. Victor Anichebe burst down the right and crossed the ball back to the penalty spot where Vydra fired home.

After the game Baggies boss Pepe Mel said his team face a tough three months but are determined to make sure they escape the drop.

Fulham manager Felix Magath said he was disappointed his team did not hold out for the win but said he saw enough promising signs in the game to suggest they would escape the relegation zone despite being routed to the bottom of the table.
 

 

Aston Villa 0-2 West Ham United match report Saturday 8th January 2014

Two goals from Kevin Nolan took West Ham out of the Premiership drop zone and sent Aston Villa to their 10^th home defeat of a troubled season.

The 31-year-old midfielder scored a brace for the second week running to steer Sam Allardyce’s team three points closer to safety.

A swirling wind and heavy rain showers made quality football almost impossible and despite being without suspended striker Andy Carroll, it was the team from London who settled the better. Former Villa favourite Stewart Downing went close early on and should have hit the target following a superb run and cross from the left by Matt Jarvis. The former Wolves winger fired across goal and somehow Downing failed to score from point blank range under pressure from Villa loanee Ryan Bertrand who collided with the post.

Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood fired narrowly wide but the home team’s best effort came from an excellent throw-out from Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan which sent Andreas Weimann clear on the right. The Austrian striker sent a pinpoint crossfield ball to Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor back after injury but the frontman miscued completely and the chance went begging.

One minute into the second half and with hundreds of fans still enjoying a half-time breather, the ball was pumped into the Villa box where the home defenders failed to deal with it and Kevin Nolan played to the ball to Downing on the right. The Hammers winger jinked one way, then the other before playing the ball back to Nolan who cheekily back-heeled into the net.

The Villa players and 36,000 fans were shell-shocked but within a minute Nolan pounced again robbing a hesitant Fabien Delph on the left of the area and coolly slotting home past the advancing Guzan.

Villa boss Paul Lambert responded by introducing Marc Albrighton on 56 minutes and the flying winger made an instant impact sending endless crosses in from the right, one of which was headed against the bar by Villa striker Christian Benteke. Albrighton capped a superb performance by hitting the post with a screaming 30 yard shot but that was as far as the home team came to piercing the Hammers rearguard marshalled excellently by former Villa favourite James Colllins.

 After the game Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert said he was "disappointed" with his team’s poor defending of the two West Ham goals saying: "You cannot concede two goals like that and expect to win a game."

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said he didn’t expect his team to go out and score two goals in three minutes after giving his players some stick at half-time for not finding the net despite having the better of the play.  “I thought we had wasted our opportunity to take the lead and I told the players I hoped it would not come back and bite us in the backside but Kevin’s [Nolan] quality of finishing did it again and it effectively killed Villa off.”  

Allardyce was quick to praise Nolan who has scored four in two games after being sent off twice this season.  “He knew he had let himself and the players and club down but he has come back with a new vigour to try and put right what he did wrong and I think he has done that,” said Allardyce.

The gossip before the game was surrounding the FA’s decision not to overturn striker Andy Carroll’s red card from last week’s victory against Cardiff. The talk was whether West Ham could play without their £19 million summer signing but today’s victory showed they are just as good without the former Liverpool man.

Everton 2-1 Aston Villa match report Saturday 1st February 2014

A stunning free kick from Kevin Mirallas helped Everton to a hard fought 2-1 victory over an Aston Villa team disappointed to leave Goodison Park without at least a point.

The match looked as if it was heading for a draw on 85 minutes when Mirallas swept a superb right foot shot past Villa keeper Brad Guzan from 25 yards out to steal all three points.

Despite a strong wind and heavy rain showers Everton started the brighter and almost went ahead in the second minute when new signing Aidan McGeady cut inside from the right and curled a left foot shot which came back off the post.

The home team were on top until the 34th minute when Villa scored the perfect counter-attacking goal with their first real chance. Returning England international Ross Barkley was caught in possession halfway in his own half by Villa midfielder Fabian Delph who played the ball forward to striker Christian Benteke in the middle of the pitch. The big Belgian strode to the edge of the box before releasing a perfectly weighted pass to the right hand side of the six yard box where it was met by advancing right back Leandro Bacuna who slotted the ball through the legs of Everton keeper Tim Howard. 

Toffee’s boss Roberto Martinez started the second half by taking off Barkley and replacing him with Steven Pienaar which certainly made a difference. Suddenly Everton were on top and it was only a matter of time before they drew level.

The valiant Villa defence stayed strong until the 74th minute when former Villa captain Gareth Barry picked the ball up 25 yards out. He played a short pass to Pienaar on the left and the South African played a wonderful first time pass which sent substitute Steven Naismith clear in the centre of the box and the Scot fired past Guzan's left hand side.

Villa’s hopes of hanging on for a point ended on 85 when centre-back Ciaran Clark gave away a needless foul and Mirallas scored from the resulting free-kick. 

Villa created very few chances over the duration of the match but in the dying minutes, substitute Marc Albrighton picked the ball up on the left, cut inside and his effort nearly deflected into the top right corner but to the disappointment of the travelling Villa fans, it went inches over the crossbar. 

Everton manager Roberto Martinez was full of praise for his team’s fight back saying ‘it was our most satisfying win of the season’.

However Villa manager Paul Lambert was disappointed that his side’s two recent trips to Merseyside have resulted in just one point despite leading in both matches. 

‘It was a world class free kick but I still feel disappointed that we got nothing from the game,’ he said.