Author: AnneMc

The game started brightly for the visiting Villans, as Benteke strode past the static Heitinga to slide a shot past Howard from an Agbonlahor cross. The home side had two quick chances to equalise, as Fellaini shot just wide of Guzan’s right post before the Villa keeper patted down an effort by Anichebe. Benteke continued to threaten and had a shot deflected just before Everton equalised, thanks to Anichebe, who turned Clark and fired the ball in with his left foot. Heitinga was having an afternoon to forget: after a corner was only partially cleared, Agbonlahor outjumped the Dutch international…

They say bad luck comes in threes and that proved to be the case last night, when Villa suffered their third defeat in a week. Pardew’s troubled Magpies drew first blood in the 18th minute: Sissoko appeared to have been fouled in midfield but emerged with the ball and found Cisse had gotten free of Baker. Two touches later, the ball was in the back of Guzan’s net. A hapless Villa offered no real threat and allowed Cabaye and Sissoko to control the midfield. When Vlaar cleared a Gutierrez cross, Cabaye was waiting and one touch allowed him to send…

Defeat to Millwall tonight has capped a woeful week for all those in claret and blue. Villa looked nervy from the off but a recalled Bent put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute with a miskick after Weimann had forced Forde to make a save. The lead did very little to settle the Villa nerves and a corner soon saw Shittu heading on to the roof of Given’s net. The dodgy Villa defence learnt no lessons from this near miss and, five minutes later, Millwall equalised through their captain, who headed home past Given. Villa continued to make errors…

Lambert opted for an attacking side and the game got off to the high-tempo started we needed amid the choppy waters of a sea of claret and blue flags. Delph showed little composure and should have received a yellow card for his tackle on Hines in the opening minute but Phil Dowd let him off. A resurrected N’Zogbia twice sent in dangerous-looking crosses for Benteke but the Belgian was unable to capitalise. Benteke powered his way into the box and squared the ball into the path of Agbonlahor but McHugh was on hand to make a critical interception. Villa’s inability…

124 years to the day since the two midlands sides first met, Villa were on top from the off. Benteke picked up the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out, cleverly turned Yacob then struck an unstoppable rising shot into the far corner with 12 minutes played to open the scoring in fine fashion. The Baggies’ frustrations were added to by N’Zogbia, who was in superb form. Just after the half hour mark, Zoggy ripped down the right and released Agbonlahor, who wrong-footed Foster to calmly slot the ball into the corner of the net. The Villa defence,…

A miserable week for all those in claret and blue continued, as a penalty that never was, along with countless dodgy decisions, saw Villa plummet back into the danger zone. Benteke began brightly and had a shot blocked by Hoovield before inching the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. Villa were then almost caught on the counter when Lambert found Rodriguez with acres of space. Rodriguez slid the ball across Guzan and it was left to Clark to clear it. A header from Puncheon allowed Rodriguez another shot on goal but he headed just wide of…

While we suspected tonight’s game might be close, few of us would have predicted the final score. Unfortunately, Bradford’s heroics continued as Villa’s defending looked decidedly dodgy throughout the game and their keeper thwarted Villa on numerous occasions. The opening was fairly lively, with Jones, the Bantams’ captain, shooting wide and N’Zogbia’s left-footed drive blocked by Duke. The home side’s leading scorer, Wells, had a great chance but shot into Given’s hands. Villa broke quickly, winning two corners, and Benteke twice headed the ball just over the crossbar. As our support for Stan has continued, we’ve been hoping for a…

This afternoon’s draw saw Villa drawn away to Millwall for their 4th round FA Cup tie. As Villa beat Ipswich Town, Kenny Jackett’s side, currently sitting seventh in the Championship, saw off the challenge of Preston North End, thanks to Liam Feeney’s goal. The last time Villa met Millwall in the FA Cup was over 25 years ago, in 1986, with Millwall securing a 1-0 victory after forcing a 1-1 draw at Villa Park. The last meeting between the sides came in 1990, with Villa winning that League Cup game 1-0 at home. The fixture will come hot on the…

BACK FROM THE BRINK: VILLA 2 – IPSWICH TOWN 1 This season’s cup games to date seem to have offered Villa some respite from their lamentable league form and this afternoon saw the team come from behind to secure a home win. Arguably back from the brink of claret and blue oblivion, Darren Bent was offered a rare start and began brightly, offering Bowery a great right cross but the youngster failed to make proper contact with it. Not to be put off, Bowery soon had another shot, forcing a decent save from Loach, the Ipswich keeper. Somewhat predictably, just…

Once again, Villa got off to the worst possible start with Wayne Routledge opening the scoring after just nine minutes. The home side was very much the dominant one throughout the first half, missing a glut of chances as Routledge saw another shot saved and Michu hit the post twice. Villa’s youngsters were clearly becoming rather frustrated and four of them picked up unnecessary yellow cards. Swansea wasted several other chances before Weimann scored just before the break after racing to meet Benteke’s pass and firing the ball into the bottom corner of Vorm’s net. After the break, Swansea found…