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.