Aston Villa - Middlesbrough 2-1 Reserver
Matchrapport från läktaren av Dave Cooper
Sorry it's a bit late but here's a brief report on the reserves match at Bescot on Tuesday night.
Once again I must say that Villa really shout try to advertise these matches a bit better, only 275 turned up to watch the future of the club move 11 points clear. I only knew it was on because I can see the Bescot floodlights from my house!
Anyway, it wasn't a particularly good game and it was flippin' freezing, I do like the bar though, real glasses and you can watch the match through the window while supping your beer. Boro began brightly but were creating nothing, mainly due to Cahill and Ridgewell at centre-back snuffing out all threat. Villa then began to take control and make chances. Hynes (just back from a loan spell at Cheltenham) had a shot well saved, and Crouch created a great chance with a lovely bit of Ronaldinho type skill but his final shot was charged down. When Villa played it on the deck they looked very good indeed but the final ball or shot was lacking in most cases.
HT - 0-0
Villa scored two minutes after the break from a corner.Crouch had his initial header saved but reacted first to the rebound to poke it home. We were well on top by now. Boro bought on the youngest sub I have ever seen, he looked about ten! Bloody good player though, his name was Peacock (not Ashley sadly), you read it here first!
Our second goal was created by the impressive O'Connor, he took on and beat his man on the left wing, cut into the box and delivered the ball on a plate for Crouch to score his second. Crouchy was subbed not long after to warm applause and we sent on yet another in our impressive line of good young strikers in Gabriel Agbonlahor. His first involvement was to spring the offside trap and find himself racing down on goal, unfortunately the Boro keeper managed to force him wide and his driven ball across the box found no one because no one had been able to keep up with him!
Boro scored with five minutes to go, a speculative shot from Gary Smith catching Postma unawares. They then bombarded us with long balls and nearly snatched an equaliser but O'Connor cleared brilliantly off the line with Postma beaten
Player-by-player (with my own "will they make it" assessment in brackets!)
Postma - Assured early on but could have done better with the goal and was jittery under the late Boro onslaught (No)
Amoo - Did his job without fuss, not a great tackler. (No)
O'Connor - Best I've seen him play so far, defended well, got forward well and has bucked the "too small" trend often seen in our youngsters. (Maybe)
Cahill - Solid enough but was amongst the panickers late on (No)
Ridgewell - Assured as usual. (Yes)
Davis - Not at his best but linked the defence and midfield well, always involved in our better moves (A tentative Yes)
Cooke - Quite poor in this match but I believe he is only just back from injury. (Yes despite a poor show)
Hynes - Useful enough but needs to have the confidence to take on defenders (no)
Whittingham - Quietly effective, nothing to prove, got on with his job. (Already has)
Crouch - The old "he's good on the ground for a beanpole" tag is becoming a cliche, but he really does have skills that look so out of place when your legs look like his! His juggle and turn in the first half was sublime. He'll make it, I'm sure of it. (Yes, and soon)
L.Moore - Sometimes he can look so bloody lazy, but then he'll spin away from a defender and find acres of room from nothing. Not his best display but you could still see glimpses of greatness. (Yes, but probably for Man Utd)
Subs
Cormell - Came on, clattered a Boro player after 20 seconds, got to like him for that! First time I've seen him, looked okay (Dunno)
Agbonlahor - Fast! Not on for long and by this time we were under the cosh somewhat. Prolific for the academy. (Dunno, first time I've seen him)
Dave Cooper
