Author: AnneMc

United looked like a team in a hurry to get their hands on the Premier League trophy last night and an exceptional first half performance by Van Persie decided its destination in emphatic style. Lambert’s attacking side looked vulnerable from the off as United poured forward. Rooney, from his new midfield position, passed the ball to Valencia on the right wing. Valencia passed back to Da Silva, whose ball to the back post was transformed by the seemingly ageless Giggs into a well judged cut-back across the goal that was almost impossible for Van Persie not to net. Within seconds,…

This afternoon’s home tie was slow to start and neither side had many real chances in the first half as Villa missed Agbonlahor’s pace, which would have been a great weapon against the ageing Fulham defence. Once they settled in to the game, Villa enjoyed a good spell in the opposition’s box and, 34 minutes in, looked set to open the scoring but the ball seemed to come off Benteke’s heel as he volleyed Weimann’s cross over the bar. Villa continued pressing and N’Zogbia, who started in place of the injured Agbonlahor, soon forced a sound reaction save from Schwarzer.…

The sun was shining this afternoon in Stoke – and on the Villa. Apart from the first few minutes, when the home side called for a penalty after the ball hit Baker’s arm, Villa were in fine form as today’s six-pointer got underway and should have had more than the 0-1 lead, courtesy of Agbonlahor in the ninth minute, at half-time. Lowton offered Agbonlahor a fine cross but Villa’s number 11 was unable to turn his man to find the net. The visitors pushed on for a second goal and Weimann was unlucky, striking the post. After the break, the…

Having followed the competition eagerly this season, it is with great pleasure that I offer my congratulations, on behalf of everyone here at AVillaFan, to Villa’s under-19s, who this evening beat Chelsea on the banks of Lake Como to become the first English side to win the NextGen series. Coached by ex-Chelsea player Tony McAndrew and captained by Samir Carruthers, the young guns began well and had a shot clear the bar within the first minute. Their opponents looked lively and Brad Watkins had to throw himself on a shot from Chelsea’s Kiwomya. Chelsea enjoyed lots of possession and Watkins…

As has often been the case this season, the home side looked lively and threatening as the game got underway. Benteke and Agbonlahor offered the near-capacity crowd some decent link-up play and Westwood, the official ‘man of the match’, appeared confident in midfield, doing his bit to quieten Suarez and sending Bennett a promising pass that the young left-back then crossed in for Benteke, who was unable to make contact with the ball. A Weimann volley was then blocked before Agbonlahor had a great chance to open the scoring in the seventeenth minute when Lowton delivered a well-crafted cross but…

As the game began in front of a fuller than usual Villa Park, the home side proved the stronger of the relegation rivals and their play was composed and purposeful if not productive. Nevertheless, it was the visitors who had the better of the chances, with Guzan making two great saves in quick succession to deny Samba before QPR took the lead after 23 minutes through Jenas, of all people, when poor defensive play from Villa allowed their former loanee to nudge the ball into a vacant net. QPR then had a series of chances to add to their lead…

Expecting a cautious affair, many were surprised by the entertaining start to today’s game. The home side looked threatening, with LeFondre forcing Guzan to get a hand to deep cross and Robson-Kanu failing to control a fine cross within the first five minutes of the game. Seven minutes later, after Lowton found himself booked for a late challenge, Benteke made a great leap to rattle the crossbar – and Reading’s nerves. Benteke was hard done by, getting none of the decisions he should have done. The defending was dodgy from both sides and Weimann was presented with a decent chance…

Lambert’s Lions began the game against the Premier League champions fearlessly, passing quite accurately and fighting hard to win back possession. After four minutes, Hart made the bizarre choice to go chasing the ball and, well away from his goal, he reached the ball to snuff out any danger. Benteke looked threatening in the middle and Agbonlahor’s attempt to feed the Belgian from the left flank was cleared by Nastasic. A dangerous-looking cross from Bennett on the left was headed for Weimann but cleared for a corner and Benteke headed over, wasting the set piece. As City began to waken…

The home side made the better start at the subdued Emirates, with Wilshere making the most of a poor back pass and racing towards the goal, only to shoot straight at Guzan. Cazorla gave the moaning home fans reason to cheer in the sixth minute when his curling effort found its way past Guzan after Baker had blocked the Spaniard’s first shot. Lambert was animated on the touchline and Villa responded: N’Zogbia tore down the right and pulled the ball back for Agbonlahor but Szczesny was there to make the save. Not to be deterred, the Frenchman galloped down the…

Once again, Villa started the game brightly, with Weimann missing a golden opportunity to score when Jaaskelainen failed to get a secure hold of Benteke’s shot and the rebound fell at Weimann’s feet, six yards out. However, he fired the ball wide of the far post. He soon had a chance to make amends as he raced onto a flick from Benteke but Tomkins was wide awake and defended solidly. Carroll lobbed the ball onto the roof on the net before clashing heads with Baker, which meant both players needed treatment. O’Brien left the pitch, after a strong challenge from…