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Aston
Villa v West Bromwich Albion
Villa Park, Birmingham.
10th April 2005, 12.00pm. |
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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Aston Villa |
1 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Darius Vassell (27) |
Paul Robinson (90) |
| Attendance |
39,402 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - Thomas Sorensen (GK)
6 - Gareth Barry
2 - Mark Delaney
5 - Martin Laursen
19 - Liam Ridgewell
3 - Jlloyd Samuel
24 - Steven Davis
7 - Lee Hendrie
11 - Nolberto Solano
9 - Juan Pablo Angel
10 - Darius Vassell |
4-4-2
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Neil Clement - 19
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Paul Robinson - 3
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Jonathan Greening - 8
Kieran Richardson - 15
Kevin Campbell - 21
Zoltan Gera - 11
Geoff Horsfield - 9 |
| Substitutes |
13 - Stefan Postma (GK)
16 - Mathieu Berson
15 - Ulises De la Cruz
12 - Thomas Hitzlsperger
18 - Carlton Cole |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Darren Moore - 5
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutions |
U De la Cruz for N Solano
(64)
C Cole for J Angel (80) |
R Earnshaw for G Horsfield
(71)
N Kanu for K Campbell (71)
R Scimeca for M Albrechtsen (80) |
| Yellow Cards |
Martin Laursen (52) |
Paul Robinson (51)
Nwankwo Kanu (85) |
| Red Cards |
Liam Ridgewell (61) |
Jonathan Greening (61)
|
| Referee |
R Styles (Hampshire) |
On 14th November 2004,
the home defeat by Middlesbrough, ironically Robson's first game
in charge, saw Albion drop into the relegation zone. The injury
time goal from Paul Robinson at Villa Park saw them finally move
back out again. His first goal for the cub was, in psychological
terms at least, one of the most important of the season.
I looked at the trip to Villa Park as a potential three points,
but I would have taken a point if it was offered beforehand. After
Villa had dominated the first half, I was praying for a point at
the break. Albion raised their game in the second half and showed
all the battling qualities they possess (a little too much from
Greening, though) and they fully deserved that last gasp equaliser.
Unsurprisingly, Robson named an unchanged starting line-up but opted
to name Kuszczak on the bench at the expense of Richard Chaplow.
The home side, buoyed by their victory at St James's Park last time
out, started the better of the two teams and started to put Albion
under pressure early on. Most of the attacks were coming down Villa's
left and Martin Albrechtsen was being put under extreme pressure.
Barry managed to get in a position to pull back for Solano, but
Robinson managed to get in a block. The Dane was involved once again
when his weak clearing header was played back in towards Vassell
- Albrechtsen failed to deal with it and Hoult had to save bravely
at the feet of the former England striker.
The pitch was not helping football as players from both sides struggled
to find their footing at times. The surface was obviously very wet
and was cutting up quite badly.
Samuel and Barry were giving Albrechtsen a torrid time. To be fair
to the Dane, he was being given little support from Gera, but he
was found wanting time and again. On 26 minutes, Jlloyd Samuel went
past Albrechtsen as if he wasn't there before whipping in a cross
that Hoult had to tip over the bar. From the resulting corner, Horsfield
allowed Ridgewell to get free and he powered Solano's flag kick
goalwards. Hoult made a fantastic save to push the ball up onto
the bar, but it rebounded kindly for Vassell and he had a simple
task to nod the ball into the net.
It was a lead the Villa deserved as Albion had failed to get any
sort of meaningful attack together. Greening and Gera swapped sides,
presumably in the hope that Greening would have the discipline to
give Albrechtsen a little more help. Villa attacks still kept coming,
though. Hendrie was having an excellent game in the middle of the
park, often playing in between midfield and attack, and Ronnie Wallwork
seemed a little lost and frequently failed to get close enough to
make a challenge.
As the game approached half time, Villa seemed to be content with
the one goal lead, and Albion started to mount the odd attack of
their own. Gera cut in from the left to fire in a shot that Sorensen
saved comfortably, before a lovely ball over the defence from Wallwork
found Campbell, but his header lacked power and the Villa 'keeper
was again able to save.
Just before the break, Campbell had another chance when Richardson
found him in the box, but as the veteran striker turned and shot
goalwards, Laursen managed to get a foot in to deflect the ball
over the bar.
Albion's challenge late in the first half gave us all a little hope,
and it was the visitors who took hold of the game at the start of
the second period. Robson looked to have made a slight tactical
change with Gera moving to a more advanced central position of a
diamond midfield, with Greening on the right and Richardson on the
left.
Sorensen was put under pressure for the first time in the match
by a cross from Albrechtsen. He clashed with his own defender, Laursen,
and as the ball looked to be dropping for Horsfield, Laursen managed
to recover and clear. Horsfield became a victim of the poor playing
surface when, as he turned to fire goalwards, his foot slipped and
the ball went out for a goal kick. Richardson then had a shot blocked
by Delaney and there were a few goalmouth scrambles as Albion applied
some real pressure.
On 61 minutes, a farcical moment between Liam Ridgewell and Jonathan
Greening saw them both sent off. Ridgewell fouled Greening but the
two squared up to one another clashing heads. There was not much
in it, and Rob Styles could've simply booked both players, but he
saw it as serious enough to warrant red cards and both sides were
down to ten men.
It probably benefited Albion more in terms of the game, as Solano
was sacrificed to bring on another defender, de la Cruz. He went
to right back and Delaney moved into the centre. But it was Villa
that threatened next when Vassell got onto the end of Gareth Barry's
corner, but his effort from two yards was straight at Russell Hoult's
chest and Wallwork managed to clear the rebound.
Albion's best chance of the game came on 69 minutes. Campbell did
superbly well to control a long ball up and keep possession until
he got some support from Gera. His pass to the Hungarian was perfectly
timed to put him through on goal, but Sorensen pulled off a magnificent
save to prevent an Albion equaliser. A minute later, more good work
from Gera saw him create a shooting opportunity - his scuffed shot
was not goalbound but seemed to be heading straight for Campbell
before Horsfield inadvertently got in the way of the ball and the
chance was gone.
Minutes later, Robson opted to change both his strikers bringing
on Kanu and Earnshaw for Campbell and Horsfield. Kanu worked hard
to create something but with little success. Earnshaw had virtually
no service and the game seemed to be petering out. Albrechtsen,
who had struggled all game, was finally replaced by Scimeca with
ten minutes left.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Gera had an opportunity from
a free kick but his shot was inches over the bar. Time looked to
be running out, but suddenly Scimeca made a run forward and was
found by Gera in acres of space. His cross flicked off the head
of Delaney and found its way to the back post where it was met by
the head of Paul Robinson and he planted it firmly into the back
of the net.
It was no more than Albion deserved, and it capped a fine performance
from the left back. His drive and determination in recent weeks
have epitomised the Albion spirit and it was easy to see what that
goal meant to the whole team.
So Albion are out of the bottom three but they seem certain to be
without Jonathan Greening for the next three games. It will perhaps
give Richard Chaplow, Junichi Inamoto and even Jason Koumas a chance
to get in the side, but there is no doubt that Jon will be missed.
But with Southampton and Palace losing, this was a big, big point
for the Baggies. We may have a tough run in, but it is now entirely
in our own hands, which is a great position to be in. Hope endures,
but a tough task remains.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 6 - Some excellent saves, but his kicking was poor
once again.
Martin Albrechtsen - 4 - His worst game in an Albion shirt; he was
completely outclassed by Barry and Samuel.
Neil Clement - 7 - Another solid game from Clem.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 7 - Solid performance.
Paul Robinson - 8 - MOM. Another great performance capped by a great
goal.
Ronnie Wallwork - 5 - Looked a bit lost; failed to close players
down quickly enough. Decent with the ball, though.
Jonathan Greening - 5 - Marked low due to his act of stupidity;
did OK otherwise.
Kieran Richardson - 6 - Did OK, but didn't impose himself on the
game enough.
Kevin Campbell - 7 - Some excellent hold up play but should have
done better with the chances he had.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Never really got going but tried hard.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - A little too careless in possession, particularly
in the first half, but did some good things.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - Tried hard but had little impact.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - No service, no impact.
Riccardo Scimeca - 7 - Got a round of applause from the home fans,
and then produced a great cross for the goal.
Bryan Robson - 6 - Should've changed things earlier and changing
both strikers was perhaps a mistake.
Jon Want, 11th April 2005.
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