Everton 2 Villa 3 – a comedy of errors gifts Villa an early christmas present.
By Unclassified • Dec 8th, 2008 • Category: Match Reports, News |If Aston Villa get any christmas presents better than today’s I will eat my hat. A match in which Everton dominated was heading for a draw after Lescott levelled at the last, only for Ashley young to pop up with a ‘world class’ finish (personally I don’t agree with Martin O’Neill’s statment).
Z-cars and go. Within 30 seconds, Villa had taken the lead. A rather dainty attack involving Everton’s inability to clear their lines, the ball was passed well to Steve Sidwell who, first time, rifled the ball home from the edge of the box. an incredible start for the visitors. Everton had barely got going. Many, including myself had thought, oh no here we go again, another home defeat without any sort of passion. But I was to be proved wrong.
A valiant Everton side then took the ascendancy, knowing a goal was a necessity if they were to get anything out of this match. Several decent chances, the dogged cahill drove a ball straight at Brad Friedel, either side of him and it could have been 1-1. A good header from the beast that is turning out to be Fellaini was well cleared off the line by a pretty impressive Martin Laursen.
Then the equaliser. A well whipped ball in by Mikel Arteta who is starting to show glimpses of his former self, a flick on by Leon Osman and touched in by Lescott form three yards out. It had been coming, and now it was game on.
Neither team really threatened before the break, a decent penalty claim was turned down and then half time was called much to the Villans’ delight as they had been outplayed for much of the first half.
The second half started, and continued much like the first. Within the first few minutes Fellaini had a header hit the bar, which replays show was a good Brad Friedel save. Then on 54 and heartbreak. Everton had been playing so well, and Mr incredible Phil Jagielka passed the ball back to Tim Howard, unfortunately it was hit a bit too short, Ashley Young pounced and finished well. 2-1 Villa and for all the toffee’s huff and puff, they were back at square one.
Not many chances then arose. Villa defending for their lives kept Everton at bay. The always running Victor Anichebe was subbed off, cue Jagielka and Lescott to be shoved up top. The referees assistant signaled 3 added minutes. One last chance. Then it came.
A ball tossed back into the box by Osman was then headed on by Jagielka into Lescott’s chest, one touch then bang. A great overhead kick from the edge of the six yard box gave Friedel no time to react. Ecstasy in the stands. How upsetting that it was so short lived, but that’s what you get being an Evertonian!
Dying seconds, added time in added time. Howard pumped a ball downfield, everyone waiting for the final whsitle to be blown, we were now into the 4th minute of added time, 1 more minute than was alloted. Laursen headed clear, surely now we were to hear the whistle. Arteta can’t control the ball, Young manages to capitalise and plays it past Lescott, into no mans land where another centre back should have been stood, all to easy, he manages to then just pass the ball into the back of the net. the sound of seats up turning and a stunned Everton crowd were departing.
Then the referee decides to blow his whistle.
Lescott
How abrupt. How strange, and how careless. A must win game if we were to want to keep probing at possible UEFA cup football for a third season. You can’t fault the performance, everyone gave it their all, and if you were to have taken out the first and last 30 seconds of the game it would be a totally different story, it would be ‘comfortable victory for Everton sees them push for euro places’. Oh, if only.
A strange day in which everything that has been really good about our season was just thrown out the window. Jagielka careless, us conceding to lose at the last instead of scoring to win the last. A very strange day, but a match we can build on. Next up is a trip to the City of Manchester Stadium, how a result there would really keep up that push for the UEFA cup which today took an untimely knock.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Howard – 5 – when called upon didn’t produce a save. Three great finishes to be fair to him, but i would like him to make himself bigger in the one on one situations.
Neville – 6 – looked decent. An average Neville performance.
Yobo – 5 – Not the best of days, is as quick as Young over ten meters, but just gave him too much time and room.
Jagielka – no comment – He has been so good all season, I just don’t want to give him a bad score. He just needs to get this game out of his mind and remember his good performances.
Lescott – 8 – two goals, one of real quality, whats that nigerian striker’s name again?!
Arteta – 7 – one assist, looks better and more assured in the centre, needs to sort out his tackling though.
Osman – 7 – a decent osman performance. Terrier like, never giving up.
Pienaar – 7 – decent again, muscled off the ball a bit too much though.
Cahill – 6 – Isn’t doing much at the moment. Really needs to get a scoring run going, especially now as Yak’s out.
Fellaini – 7 – looked a beast in the air, I say keep the afro, makes him look a lot more of a presence.
Anichebe – 6 – can’t fault his effort, just lacks the required touch and finishing capabilities that’ll make him a world class striker.
by Max O’Collins
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Tbh we (Villa) deserved sweet F.A from that game. We were 2nd best all day. I will say one thing though all 3 goals were quality and Ashley Youngs were world class in instictenly reacted to a poor back pass and with a top quality keeper like Howard to still beat put it away brilliantly as with his 2nd too.. I hope you lot get your home form back as i Like everton a great family club with a great tradition like ours ( unlike your tosspot neighbours).. I’d also like to see Everton Back in the top 4 along with Villa the top 4 needs a change it has become a bore..So good luck
Though a villa fan, I agree with your general perception of the game. From 15 min and on, Everton was dominant and only held at bay by a strong Laursen. To me, the absence of your normal strikeforce made the difference: one or two poachers would surely had scored on one of many crosses. Anichebe’s lack of finishing skills is not keeping him from world class, but PL class. He’ll need to improve to have a future with Everton.
Oh dear, 3 goals conceded. It looks like money needs to be spent at the back, Villa couldn’t score in their last home games. Rubbish defence, Lescott’s a better forward! Rumours are he wants to join Villa anyway.
well being a villa fan Evasad you can hardly blame him can you.. 😉