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Match
Preview |
 |
 |
| Result |
Aston Villa |
0 - 0 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
None |
None |
| Attendance |
33.303 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - Thomas Sorensen (GK)
16 - Wilfred Bouma
21 - Gary Cahill
18 - Aaron Hughes
19 - Liam Ridgewell
12 - Steven Davis
7 - Lee Hendrie
8 - Gavin McCann
30 - Gabriel Agbonlahor
10 - Milan Baros
20 - Kevin Phillips |
4-3-3
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak - 29
Neil Clement - 6
Curtis Davies - 19
Paul Robinson - 3
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Steve Watson - 16
Jonathan Greening - 8
Nigel Quashie - 7
Kevin Campbell - 21
Zoltan Gera - 11
Diomansy Kamara - 15 |
| Substitutes |
13 - Stuart Taylor
(GK)
15 - Ulises De la Cruz
26 - Craig Gardner
17 - Peter Whittingham
22 - Luke Moore |
(GK) Martin Albrechtsen -
14
Darren Carter - 17
Junichi Inamoto - 33
Nwankwo Kanu - 25
Stuart Nicholson - 31 |
| Substitutions |
C Gardner for L Hendrie
(34)
L Moore for K Phillips (74) |
N Kanu for K Campbell
(79)
S Nicholson for D Kamara (79)
J Inamoto for R Wallwork (83) |
| Yellow Cards |
Gary Cahill (30) |
Paul Robinson (9)
Ronnie Wallwork (45) |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
M Halsey (Lancashire) |
Exactly twelve months
ago, an injury time goal scored by Paul Robinson at Villa Park won
Albion a point that took them out of the bottom three. This time
around, Albion couldn't find the goal that would have done the same
again, albeit to take all three points, despite some very close
calls. It was a drab game with little excitement until the last
twenty minutes, but Albion's dominance in that last period should've
earned them the victory, but it was not to be.
An injury to Nathan Ellington meant that Diomansay Kamara started
up front alongside Kevin Campbell with Kanu once again consigned
to the bench. Zoltan Gera was given his first start for six months
and Nigel Quashie was restored to the side after his five match
suspension. Steve Watson was preferred to Martin Albrechtsen at
right back, with Neil Clement returning to central defence.
Albion had the better of the opening before the game settled down
to a drab midfield battle with little quality from either side.
Both sides looked uncomfortable at the back but neither side seemed
able to capitalise on the other's mistakes. Villa looked to have
that little bit of extra quality that almost brought a goal for
Kevin Phillips on two occasions. The first came when Davies and
Watson challenged for the same ball and it fell to the former Sunderland
striker who attempted an audacious flick that was pushed onto the
bar by Kuszczak, before the Pole managed to scramble the ball out
for a corner. The second was from a good break down the left from
Agbonlahor; Baros left the pull back to Phillips but his effort
was well saved by Kuszczak.
Despite his good saves, Tommy was very nervous when receiving back
passes and mishit virtually every one, no doubt remembering the
debacle at White Hart Lane, but Villa failed to take advantage of
any of them.
At the other end, Kamara missed a free header in the centre of goal
after a wonderful cross from Gera, and those two combined again
when the man from Senegal deflected Gera's shot with his head to
bring a wonderful save from Sorensen.
The game looked to be petering out to a dull goalless draw when,
with 20 minutes to go, Albion seemed to eventually wake up and realise
that they had to win the game. For the remainder of the game, they
laid siege to the Villa net, although their dominance was as much
to do with Villa's inability to clear the ball that with Albion's
good attacking play. Set pieces seemed to cause most of the problems
with Greening producing some good balls into the danger areas, but
there were few clear-cut chances and lots of penalty box scrambles.
In one spell, there was a clear header for Greening - the effort
he made at it had to be seen to be believed, which was framed by
a couple of forlorn penalty shouts from a diving Kamara. A short
time after there were two more penalty shouts for hand ball, the
second of which looked fairly nailed on. None were given. There
was another incident when Campbell tried to force the ball home,
only for two Villa defenders to somehow keep it off the line via
each other and a post. Sorensen made a wonderful save from a Gera
header after another Greening corner, and Steve Watson had a volley
cleared off the line by Cahill.
Robson finally made a change with ten minutes to go, but it had
the opposite effect to that intended. By removing Kamara, it deprived
Albion of their most dangerous player on the day, and certainly
the most direct. The game started to peter out as the service to
Kanu and Nicholson was simply not good enough. Kanu touched the
ball maybe twice, whereas I don't think Nicholson touched it all
despite some good movement and enthusiastic chasing that kept the
Villa defenders under pressure.
Ultimately, Albion had to settle for a point which, at this stage
of the season, is really not good enough. Villa are the poorest
side we have left to play, and hope is beginning to fade. Very few
pundits are giving us much of a chance and that, given current form,
is difficult to argue with. There is plenty of effort and endeavour
and, on several occasions in the past few weeks, some good football
from box to box, but in the areas that count, Albion look woefully
short on confidence.
At the back, there seems to be a feeling of panic spreading from
the goalkeeper outwards. Tommy is making the stops, but the mistake
at WHL has affected his kicking hugely. If Kirkland were fit, Robson
would have had to consider a recall. Davies is generally steady
but is now having one or two panic moments per game, and the lack
of a consistent partner is hardly encouraging. At least Robbo seems
to have put last week behind him as he produced one of his best
performances of the year punctuated by a strong challenge on Lee
Hendrie that earned a yellow card, but ultimately forced the Villa
number seven off the field.
Up front, chances continue to go begging. The Duke was a big miss
yesterday, but even he is hardly on sparkling form despite a couple
of goals recently. Campbell put in plenty of effort yesterday, but
he doesn't look a threat and Kanu, while he is certainly the most
skilful player at the club, he doesn't look like solving the team's
goalscoring problems.
Having said all that, it's not over 'til it's over, and there are
still five games to go and one or two positives. Zoltan Gera produced
one or two great moments at Villa Park, although he also produced
one or two poor ones. He is obviously lacking in match sharpness
and match fitness, but has lost none of his drive and ability. I
still feel he can have a huge impact in the remainder of the season.
Nigel Quashie had a decent game without really sparkling, and he
has some making up to do to the Baggies fans and his teammates.
Ronnie Wallwork's booking means that he will now miss the games
against Bolton and Newcastle, but it will hopefully give Robson
an opportunity to play a more attacking line up.
A heavy defeat at Highbury next Saturday could make Albion's task
all the harder with the three clubs fighting for 17th place all
having comparable goal differences at the moment, but then Pompey
have to cope with Wenger's super kids first when they play their
game in hand on Wednesday evening.
There are always twists and turns in the final few weeks as we saw
last season, but Albion themselves need to make an almighty turnaround
in their ability to get results if they are to have any chance of
avoiding the drop.
Marks
Tomasz Kuszczak - 5 - A couple of good saves, but his woeful kicking
simply added to the nervousness of his defence.
Neil Clement - 5 - Did OK, but one or two nervy moments and his
positioning continues to be suspect.
Curtis Davies - 6 - Some good moments, but some bad ones too.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Best game for a while, looked really fired up
and made some great last ditch challenges.
Ronnie Wallwork - 5 - Not his best game; didn't help the cause by
putting the defence under pressure with poor passes.
Steve Watson - 6 - Did OK but caught for pace by Agbonlahor once
or twice (no surprise).
Jonathan Greening - 6 - Some good service on occasion but a mark
off for that woeful effort with his head.
Nigel Quashie - 6 - Did OK; not as influential as he can be.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Full marks for effort, won some good flick
ons but little real threat.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - Some classy moments, some lapses that can hopefully
be put down to a lack of sharpness; great to have him back, though.
Diomansy Kamara - 7 - MOM. Difficult to pick the best Albion player,
but Joe looked dangerous, some good direct play although missed
a great chance in the first half.
Nwankwo Kanu - 5 - Hardly touched the ball.
Stuart Nicholson - 6 - Didn't touch the ball but good marks for
effort and some excellent movement that was not used by his senior
colleagues.
Junichi Inamoto - 5 - Little impact
Bryan Robson - 5 - Can't understand why he left it so late before
changing it and then, to take both strikers off when it was crying
out to put three up top. Not sure why he put Watson at right back
either.
Jon Want, 10th April 2006.
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