When Andreas Weimann stumbled the ball across the line in the 92nd minute yesterday afternoon to give Aston Villa there first win at home since bonfire night it was like a massive sense of relief all around the ground as those who had stayed in the ground were about to witness Villa take all three points.
It was a weird atmosphere around the ground before hand, with fans arguing and in one case fighting with each other as some turned on the manager, while others insisted that we got behind the side and save any negative chants until the final whistle.
For those who were a little edgy and unsure, they couldn’t really be blamed could they? After we dominated play in pretty much the whole game, but never really looked like threatening the Fulham goal, while the away side hit us on the counter attack a few times.
Some may say they felt we got a little lucky yesterday but I thought it was a well deserved victory, one that all the players got stuck in, some way or another.
Villa did create a fair bit, but with no end product. Marc Albrighton and Charles N’Zogbia’s crossing wasn’t at its best, with most of the creative flair coming through the tireless Stephen Ireland.
It was pretty much one way traffic, and the home side looked like they could take the lead when Gabby Agbonlahor latched onto Phillipe Senderos’s error only to be denied by Mark Schwarzer.
Fulham’s only chance in the first half worth talking about come from former Small Heath forward Andy Johnson, but it was saved with ease from Shay Given who had a pretty quiet afternoon.
The away side come more into the game in the second half courtesy of Damien Duff who had twice sent over low cross’s through Villa’s six yard box but with no-one there to get on the end of them.
A selection of home fans then greeted manager Alex McLeish with chants of ‘You don’t know what your doing’ when he substituted N’Zogbia for the eventual goalscorer Weimann.
Gary Gardner was also soon introduced and when he got plenty behind his shot from the edge of the box, Schwarzer fumbled the ball into the path of the very grateful Weimann who slotted home to give Villa a much needed victory.
It was a day that a new hero was born, and we will all hope he can do what the Moore (Stefan and Luke) brothers and Darius Vassell failed to – and become a goal scoring machine following his impressive scoring record at both youth and reserve levels.
Alex McLeish gloated a little in his after match press conference and maybe he has a right to because he FINALLY got it right with his substitutes and he may of shut up the boo boys for a while, but with Bolton up next at Villa Park – many will be expecting another three points.
1 Comment
Did you actually watch the match?
Murphy made the mistake that let in Gabby, not Senderos, Gardner did not come on soon after Wieman, Bannan did, Gardner came on in the last minute, kicked the ball twice. From where I was seated not just a selection but a majority harangued McCleish at the NZogbia substitution.
In view of the above I take your comment re Ireland with a pimch of salt!!!!!