Aston Villa - Leeds 1-2 Reserver. Rapport från läktaren
Dave Cooper ger oss sin syn på matchen.
Villa could have effectively sewn up the title last night but despite fielding a fairly experienced side never really got going and ultimately deserved the defeat to a more motivated Leeds side. Postma, Dublin, Whittingham, Crouch and Allback all played, the latter getting a much needed run out after his operation. Villa lined up with Postma in goal, a vey unfamiliar back four of Jamie Ward, Lee Grant, James O'Connor and Dion, a midfield of Whitts, Peter Hynes, Steve Davis and Steven Foley and with Crouch and Allback up front. Leeds didn't have many household names playing except for Duberry, Aaron Lennon and Jason Wilcox. I have also heard of Salomon Olembe but I don't know if he's played for their first team yet.
Villa made the running early on, an Allback volley and a Crouch header forcing excellent saves from the impressive Scott Carson in the Leeds goal. Villa continued to create the better chances in the first half but could not make the breakthrough and as the half wore on Leeds began to find their feet. 0-0 at half-time and time for a balti pie and a pull at the hip flask!
It all went badly wrong in the second half. Leeds were two up within a few minutes of the restart. Paul Keegan and Simon Johnson scored the goals, both of which were down to fairly awful defending. Basically Villa looked like they had given up and couldn't be arsed any more, this continued until the increasingly irate and (Note, there's a word for someone who swears a lot but I can't think of it!!) err..sweary(?) Tony McAndrew took off the experience of Crouch, Allback and Whittingham and replaced them with three of the Youth Cup team in Craig Gardner, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Kyle Nix. Suddenly Villa looked better and reduced the arrears when Gardner went on a strong run down the right wing and squared the ball for Foley to tap in. Villa were now looking good for an equaliser but the momentum was spoiled by an injury to a Leeds player. He went down after an innocuous challange and seemed to be trying to crawl off the pitch before collapsing. Of course all the Villa fans gave him hell foe time wasting...until the ambulance men attached a splint to his leg and stretchered him off! Then we all felt really guilty and applauded him him somewhat patronisingly. The fourth official then held up the injury time board - 8 minutes! First time I've seen that much. But we still couldn't score and will now have to wait until either Sunderland on 7th April or, and this would be nice, the trip to the Sty on the 14th to secure the title.
Ratings:
Stefan Postma - Sounds uncannily like Arnie Schwarznegger when shouting at his defence. Not at fault for either goal. (6)
Jamie Ward - Was excellent in the Yoof cup against Blackburn but struggled last night. (4)
Lee Grant - First time I've seen this bloke. Tall and looks strong but took time to find his feet and Wilcox gave him a tough match. Better in the 2nd half. (5)
James O'Connor - Filling out now, someones feeding him up! Played well enough (6)
Dion Dublin - Always encouraging the kids, strong in the air but out of position for at least one of the goals. (6)
Peter Whittingham - You expect more from Whitts now given his first team experience, didn't impose himself. One excellent free kick was well saved (5)
Peter Hynes - I've seen him play better and had him down for "most improved" player this season. Not good last night though. (5)
Steve Davis - A player whose progress appears to have come to a dead stop. Should be pushing for a first team place but has a long way to go on this showing. (5)
Steven Foley - Probably the best of the starting midfielders, not saying a lot mind! Took his goal well. (7)
Peter Crouch - Still a complete enigma. At eight foot tall you would expect him to dominate in the air but Duberry beat him nearly every time. But he held the line well and was unlucky with a couple of chances. (6)
Marcus Allback - Started well, faded later on probably due to lack of match fitness (6)
Subs:
Craig Gardner - Looked lively and set up the goal well. Might be the "next big thing" if he continues his progress at the current rate (7)
Gabriel Agbonlahor - Bloody fast! Then again so was Joachim! Didn't do much last night but still a big hope in my opinion. (5)
Kyle Nix - Well he came on but I was bored and cold by then so can't remember if he did owt. (?)
Once again, and I will say this every time just in case someone in charge reads this, WHY DON'T WE ADVERTISE THESE GAMES?? The kids are our future, the reserves are top of the league and yet the crowd was pitiful. Advertise them, make them into family nights, more punters = more sales of pies etc and more browsers in the club shop before the match. Maybe even a ticket sale or two from kids pestering their parents to go to proper matches (I know this because I am a proud owner of two Man City tickets after my son pestered me after the Yoof cup match).
Dave Cooper
