Aston Villa - Crystal Palace 3-0. Rapport från läktaren.
Villa är i kvartsfinal!
Villa är vidare i ligacupen efter en väl genomförd match mot ett Palace som kämpar i de nedre regionerna av division 1. Palace saknade inte chanser och resultatet kan vara lite missvisande av den anledningen men vilka som skulle vinna var det ingen tvekan om. Här följer en lysande rapport från läktaren av Jon Fear från Mailinglistan och http://www.holteenders.com
My impressions of the game: By Jonathan Fear
Thank heavens for our Angel. Involved in everything, scoring two goals, albeit one from a wicked Kit Symons deflection; and set up the other goal nicely for McCann. Villa as usual these days made hard work of it, with a few misses from both Vassell; who looks so short of confidence it is untrue and a virtually open goal for Stefan Moore. Moore played wide right and although he got about he really doesn't look the part in midfield, I would say this proves his best position is up front!
Angel's deflected goal, which he should be able to claim as the shot was on target!, deflected off Symons and looped over a stranded keeper, just the sort of luck that Crystal Palace could have done without. The rest of the first half was a bit of an effort, the quality of the football wasn't exactly top draw, but then, this was a cup game, what do you expect? Villa certainly seemed to lack inspiration and verve to control the game, which is a worry against first division strugglers.
Gavin McCann scored on 70 minutes, a nice simple move from Samuel to Angel who leapt above the Crystal Palace defence and set up McCann for his first Villa goal. Angel finished off any hopes Crystal Palace may have had with another well taken finish, this guy is quality.
Crystal Palace will rue the deflection and a glaring miss by Tommy Black who had the whole goal to aim for from just a couple of yards out but still managed to blaze it wide. These are the sorts of chances you have to take against the bigger teams. Symons said "We've had two freaky incidents in one game of the kind that normally only happen to you once in a season."
Moore was unlucky to have a shot well saved late on and Hitzlesperger certainly showed what a shot he possesses, one being brilliant tipped onto the post by the Palace keeper Berthelin. It was nice to see Villa seem to have adopted a shoot on sight policy.
So the scoreline in some ways doesn't reflect how hard Palace tried, but Mystic Mug predicted 3-0 and he is happily polishing his ball in preparation for our next opponents, Chelsea. The quarter final tie will take place the week beginning December 15th.
DOL admitted "We made hard work of it but you've got to give credit to Palace. I thought we could have scored more and we could have played better. But we haven't had a fluky goal all season. We could do with a few of those in the league now." Amen to that, starting with three flukes on Saturday.
Sorenson 8, starting to really look the part, one outstanding save.
Samuel 6, bright, some good tricks, needs to concentrate on his end ball though!
Mellberg 7, not much gets past him.
Dublin 7, a great leader and certainly comfortable as a defender.
DLC 6, not much in an attacking sense, but not a bad performance.
S.Moore 5, out of position but did get about, one bad miss, one decent shot well saved by the keepers legs. Out of position.
Hitz 8, got stuck in, made some great shots, unlucky not to have scored.
Barry 5, not really on his game, gave the ball away far too much. He'll be back!
McCann 7, does all the scruffy stuff that goes unnoticed, scored his first goal, got involved slightly more than of late.
Angel 9, he gave 100%, he scored 2 (or 1 depending on how you view it!) and created the other goal. Unlucky not to have got his second hattrick of the competition. This guy is quality, lets hope his form is taken into the Man Utd game; oh and that a side with more quality don't come knocking for him in the summer.
Vassell 5, desperate for a goal. Acknowledged the supporters when he came off. The goals will come, he needs to terrorise the defences a bit more, forget he has only scored 1 in 18 and just let loose, he has nothing to lose and must stop hesitating, Villa need him this season more than ever.
Subs used: Whittingham (for Barry 72), Allback (for Vassell 73), Ridgewell (for Dublin who enjoyed a standing ovation 80).
Villa Crowd 7: 3-0 and singing Ellis out, that will do for me! But why the obsession with City? Once a game would surely be enough?
Crystal Palace crowd 7: Brought a fair amount (1500 ish?) and sang their hearts out. Even gave us a rendition of 'if you love Doug Ellis stand up' oh how we laughed!
DOL 6. Well, we won. He really doesn't take to criticism from the regular heckler, he shouldn't show that it bothers him. Stops and gives the kids signatures which I think is great.
My ratings defined: 1) Totally awful, had a mare, should be taken out and shot, 2) Awful, but not usual standard, 3) Very poor, needs to improve or be dropped, 4) Poor, below the standard expected, 5) Average, the least expected, 6) Better than average, but in patches only, 7) Good, generally decent performance, 8) Very good, above the standard, standing out at times, 9) Excellent, stood out all match, 10) Outstanding (aka Paul McGrath!). Truly commanded the match, stunning.
Jonathan Fear
