Seven goal thriller at the Villa (Villa 4 – 3 WBA)

Match verdict

Despite breaking the speed limit on every road possible I approached Villa Park knowing the game had already kicked off.  I heard a distant cheer as if someone had scored I feared for the worst because it wasn’t the usual Holte roar.  People around me also running late started checking their phones, I overheard murmurs of 1-0 (surely not it was only 4 mins gone).  I checked my phone and sure enough Chris Brunt had scored!  I continued to approach Villa Park, I passed through the turn styles and there was that dreaded noise again…it was 2-0 to the visitors!  My phone went off and there was a message to say you might as well come home.  Strangely (for me) I was still confident as I went to my seat.  Untypically for Villa we were 2-0 down but the players heads had not dropped and they were battling and looked the better team.  Within 3 minutes of going 2-0 down the Baggies there was a punt forward it looked from where I was sat as though Benteke had flicked the ball to an offside Weimann, I waited for the flag to go up – no flag and GOAL!  I was feeling even more confident and the Baggies started to look nervous.  13 minutes later Bacuna took a swipe at a cross, he made a complete mess of the shot but our luck was in and the ball sailed over Ben fosters head and into the net 2-2 game on!  Villa’s 3^rd goal was a screamer from OG culprit Fabian Delph, it came from some good interplay and no keeper in the world was stopping Delph‘s shot, it smashed the underside of the bar and went in.  As half time approached Villa got sloppy allowing WBA to thread a ball between Vlaar and Clarke (both collided in a Laurel and Hardy moment) and Mulumbu slotted the ball under the legs of an onrushing Brad Guzan – 3-3 have we blown it again?!  The second half proved a tight affair with Lugano proving the difference between the two sides.  The Uruguayan defender missed what can only be described as a sitter, before conceding a penalty which was despatched by Benteke (I didn’t think he would miss…honest).  4-3 to the Villa time to see out the match! 

Player Ratings

Brad Guzan – 6 – He could do nothing about the opening two goals.  Usual consistent self without doing anything spectacular.

Matt Lowton – 4 – Backs out of 50/50 challenges, prone to day dreaming while wingers run in behind him.  Showing nothing of his first season form – second season syndrome.

Ron Vlaar – 8 – Could we be seeing the new Paul McGrath?!  Solid and reliable cleaned up other defenders mess.

Ciaran Clarke – 5 – Backwards step on recent performances.  His distribution was poor and defending suspect.

Ryan Bertrand – 7 – Looks reliable in defence and likes to get forward, looked tired in the second half but hopefully a few more games will sort that out.

Ashley Westwood – 6 – Mixed bag really some good passing, some awful passing.

Karim El Ahmadi – 6 – I have seen him described as a headless chicken but I thought in the 1^st half at least he ran himself into the ground to close down.

Leandro Bacuna – 7 – played in the central midfield for much of the game with effect, scored a jammy goal via a miss kick but they all count.  Slotted in at right back late in the game and was solid.

Andreas Weimann – 8 – Looking more like the player of last season, took his goal well showing great composure.  Keep going Andi!

Christian Benteke – 7- Looking better every week should have had a couple more goals.  He is still not quite back to where he was but at least the goals are back.

Subs:

Grant Holt – 6 – Did what I expected, ran his arse off and got stuck in.  I think he is going to prove useful to us.

Yacouba Sylla – 3 – Wasn’t on the pitch long, but seemed to give the ball away with every touch he had.  Jogged to close the opposition down instead of busting a gut.  I expect more energy and commitment!

Nathan Baker – 6 – Did a job when sent on.

 

The aftermath

WBA look in trouble and are dropping at an alarming rate, they need reinforcements before the window slams shut.  Villa on the other hand are just 5 points behind Southampton – can we really start to look up or is it another false dawn.  If we can strengthen with a player or two then we could avoid the last day drama of a relegation battle, after the past few seasons that would be great.

Next up Everton away.

UTV!