Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1
When you walk out of Villa Park after drawing with the Premier League Champions and you hear people moaning amongst themseleves that we didnt win, you know how much Villa have come on over the years.
But then again, if someone said to me, or even any other Villa fan that we would get four points from Manchester United this season, i know we would of snapped there hands of there and then.
It was a bitterly cold night at Villa Park with snow lying on the grounds, but the fans still turned up in there numbers. Must say i was pretty surprised Manchester United never sold out there full allocation, I dont think I’ve ever seen that before.
Villa took the lead after 19 minutes when Stewart Downing crossed the ball, it defelected of Rafael’s foot onto Carlos Cuellar’s head who then looped it over Edwin Van Der Sar.
United were soon down to ten mean when Nani was sent off for a two footed tackle on Stiliyan Petrov. Many said it was harsh, but im pretty sure it says in the book that any two footed challenges mean your off.
The lead only lasted four minutes though when some a wonderful passing goal resulted in a James Collins own goal.
It wasnt the most of entertaining games after the opening half hour. Villa had a shout for a penalty when John Carew was brought down by Jonny Evans in the box, and Wesley Brown was the last man when he took down Richard Dunne when he surged forward with the ball.
But I think the end result was probably a fair result and both sets of fans left the ground in good spirits, especially when they heard that results elsewhere had gone both teams way.
Crowd Rating: (5) – The atmosphere at Villa Park this season as been very poor and last night was no different.
Craig Gardner, Carlos Cuellar and O’Neill on spending..
The Sunday morning papers are running in overdrive this morning when it comes to Aston Villa and thats not purely because they are taking on West Ham at Villa Park today.
Martin O’Neill has stated in the Daily Star that he would be in fact willing to splash the cash in order to improve on Villa’s season even though its not in Randy Lerners 5-year plan. Randy Lerner is set to return to England this week after a lenghy period in the States and O’Neill has stated he wants to sit down with the chairman.
This is Martin O’Neill talking here remember though, he has a tendancy to say what the fans want to hear, we just need to remember that actions always speaker louder than words.
The Birmingham Mail are going with more talk from Martin O’Neill, this time about our strong versatile defender Carlos Cuellar. The Spanish star has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Seville this month but O’Neill has stated that Carlos Cuellar is going nowhere.
I dont think you would find a player whos playing in the best league in the world, playing week in week out and trying to break into his countries world cup squad would risk it by moving clubs and possible wrecking his chances wanting to leave really can you?
Another story from the Mail, is about Craig Gardners move to local rivals Birmingham City. Is it on or off? Would he move across the City or not? Apparently they are on the verge of making a new £3.5million offer for the former England under 21 star after already having a lower bid rejected.
Gardner is a good player in my opinion and he does owe it to himself to move clubs and get regular first team football, but would he really move to Birmingham City? Hes always said hes Villa through and through, but this is football and as Liam Ridgewell proved it could work in his favour.
I think this is a interesting one and i will be watching on very closely.
Meanwhile, as i already stated we entertain West Ham today in the battle of the ‘Claret & Blue’. There are still tickets available from £18 – £40 so be sure to get down to Villa Park and get behind the lads. After-all a win will take us joing forth, with Tottenham and Manchester City.
Preview: Villa v West Ham
Aston Villa welcome Gianfranco Zola’s relegation fighting West Ham side to Villa Park tomorrow as they look to take revenge on the defeat they suffered at Upton Park earlier in the season.
Villa, are currently on a high after getting there one foot in the Wembley door after Thursday’s win over Blackburn at Ewood Park although Villa havent won in two league games after defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal.
Brad Friedel will be recalled after sitting out Thursdays nights game, and Luke Young could replace James Collins in the side as Carlos Cueller will move back into the center.
West Ham on the other hand will be looking to avoid there fourth defeat on the bounce away from home. Zola has no first team strikers at his disposal so Freddy Sears and Frank Nouble are both on line for starts.
This is a big game for Villa, its important we get three points in the league after seeing Liverpool and Tottenham both drop points in the league today.
Avillafan Prediction: Home win.
Full Time: Aston Villa 3 Blackburn Rovers 1
Aston Villa have booked thereselves into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 2-1 home win to Sam Alladyce’s Blackburn Rovers.
It was never going to be a preview of Tuesday night’s League Cup Semi Final when both sides made so many changes.
Villa took the lead after just 12 minutes when Ashley Young swung a cross in from the left, which met the head of young Nathan Delfouneso who headed it past Jason Brown in the Blackburn goal.
Despite all the Villa pressure Blackburn were awarded a penalty on the half hour mark when Nigel Reo-Coker brought down Steven Reid. Former Blues player David Dunn hit the ball to Brad Guzan’s left only to see Guzan parry it wide.
Villa soon made it two however. Ashley Young swings in a free-kick from the left wing and Carlos Cuellar heads the ball into the bottom right hand corner.
El-Hadje Diouf was sent off just before half time after a awful challenge on his Senegal teammate Habib Beye.
Blackburn pulled one back in the second half when Morton Gamst Pedersen crossed the ball into the Villa area and Nikola Kalinic put it into the Villa net.
In a game that never really got going, Villa secured themselves into the fourth round when John Carew made it 3-1 from the penalty spot on the 90th minute.
Villa will take this and would most like a lower division side at Villa Park in the next round, but knowing Villa’s look we will be going to Old Trafford very soon.
