Premier League - Everton make point at Aston Villa
Aston Villa and Everton played out a 1-1 draw in a tame Premier League encounter at Villa Park.
Darren Bent gave the home side the lead from close range, but Everton equalised when substitute Victor Anichebe latched onto a pass from Landon Donovan in the 69th minute.
New loan signing Robbie Keane was restricted to a 10-minute cameo role off the bench for Aston Villa, who welcomed back Shay Given after a six week lay-off with a hamstring problem.
Darron Gibson made his debut for Everton, while injuries to Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka meant a first league start for Shane Duffy at the heart of defence. Royston Drenthe also came in.
Aston Villa produced an insipid performance in the first-half, although it was they who registered the first shot on target as Tim Howard pushed away Stiliyan Petrov's free-kick in unorthodox fashion. Two-thirds of Howard's body appeared to be over the line as he made the save.
Tim Cahill just failed to latch onto a terrific long pass from Gibson at the other end, and the returning Given then made an excellent low save to deny Louis Saha who headed a Leighton Baines' free-kick powerfully towards goal.
Everton were well on top in the first-half and will argue they should have had a penalty in the 22nd minute. Donovan crossed for Saha after a fine run down the right and as the Frenchman attempted to make contact with the ball, he appeared to be pulled back by Alan Hutton.
Everton continued to press and Given was forced into a fantastic reflex save to stop Stephen Warnock capping a poor first-half display with an own-goal. The former Blackburn defender headed a cross towards his own goal and Given sprung to his left to beat the ball away.
Gabriel Agbonlahor finally gave the Villa fans something to shout about as he evaded two Everton players before curling in a low shot that Howard did well to push around the post.
Given made an unorthodox save of his own after the break as he blocked a powerful Marouane Fellaini header with his upper arm.
But Villa came out with far more purpose after the interval, and it was they who broke the deadlock when Bent fired a low Stephen Ireland cross into the roof of the net from close range.
Bent then connected with another Ireland cross and Howard had to be on his mettle to save his low header.
Although Villa dominated the second half for long spells, Everton will believe they deserved their equaliser, which came in the 69th minute via Anichebe. The Nigerian had only been on the pitch for eight minutes after replacing Drenthe when he ran onto a pass from Donovan and slid the ball low beyond Given. Marc Albrighton was culpable as instead of tracking the striker he appealed for an offside flag that never came.
Neither side looked like finding the winner in the final 20 minutes, despite Keane's late introduction as a substitute.
Given was called upon to block an Anichebe shot that looked to be heading off target but it ended all square in a match between two sides who will find it difficult to press for a European spot on the evidence of this encounter.
Comment 13 - 32 of 32
Anichebe has saved us since returning to the squad but we still need another striker. I wonder whether David Moyes has looked at Jordan Rhodes of Huddersfield Town who appears to be a prolific goal scorer, albeit in a lower league. I know that a proven striker at the highest level should be our target but unfortunately Everton lack cash and we will need to set our sights at a lower level. It would have been interesting what Saha might have done with the wonderful pass from Donovan for I believe he is still a great striker who need to gain confidence and scoring provides does motivate you. I hope that our midfield will grow in confidence and play with the ability we know they have against Blackburn Rovers. It will not be an easy game for the Rovers showed much better form last weekend. I believe that a strong midfield and defence is the catalyst for success and we may complain about the poor return from our strikers this season but unless they get good ball they will not score.
Everton's main problem this season has been the inability of midfield to provide its usual share of goals and Cahill has been the worst culprit.
Jamie town, once again you are completely failing to see the point.
The money has been spent, wasted and we're worse off for it.
Frankly speaking I don't think we need any 'big' signings. We have the good foundation in our academy and current squad to see us alright in 1-2 years, we're simply stuck in the mid point.
You simply want us to become another Leeds United which we VERY nearly did under MON by letting our reach exceed our grasp.
You have an excellent grasp on how we're playing, now please translate that into the fiscal reality we're also in.
Never said I want them to "blow money" on anyone. 4 quality internationals sold, no one of equal MF quality brought in. As for Beye, once he was bought he was never given half a chance! We've acquired cast-offs. Some have been good, others poor. What I'd like them to do is PROPERLY SCOUT marquis internationals, integrate them with talented young players and role players, and put out entertaining product that shows the passion to challenge for the top. Too much to ask as a fan? I like that Ireland's coming around. I like Bent and Given. Dunne is a great servant. But it's proving not enough. Every team at the top (and City are extreme) have elite players- Silva, Aguero, Nani, Modric, Mata, RVP, Suarez.... we can't "play that game?" Well when can we, because THAT'S THE GAME! People say "Villa are a top club, an original club, an historic club." Agreed. Let's act like it then. I've just seen stagnation. No real progress.
I fail to se eyour point jaime, you asked where the money went, I showed you a FEW example of where MON blew around £50-£60m+ vanished into thin air (and continues to do so with Beye).
I don't understand what counter point you are trying to make.
As far as I understand you want us to blow money on hit and miss international players?... see the list of foreign players in the EPL that made it, see the list of foreign players that DIDN'T make it. We can't afford to play that game at the moment.
Jeff- you essentially made my point. You SELL 4 full internationals and quality prem players and get back virtually nothing in return. Now to be fair, Beye never got a look in. Reo-cocker and Sidewell can be very serviceable MFs BUT they are not your feature players. They are very good role players who need to be around higher talent. Villa tried to make them the centerpiece and they weren't up for it. Then we cast them aside for under performing. The club has to build the right chemistry and Villa have been unable to do that. You MUST go after the big fish on the international market and insert role players around them. Villa seem content being small time actors in this league. Maybe relegation is necessary. Look what it did for Newcastle. Sometimes you have to fail miserably and let that be your wake up call. It's better than perpetual mediocrity.
Clive - you just proved mypoint. Easy to be against things without any solutions.
I wouldn't let Lampard manage my backside.
i keep hearing everyone say how bad McLeish is but seem resigned to keeping him because they say nobody is available. Rubbish, to be frank, my mother could do a better job than him. Talking of Frank, what about Lampard as player/manager?
Everton supporters have always been very friendly to me when I have been to their ground and it was good to chat to some of them walking to and from Aston station. I thought the game was a poor one but it did pick up in the second half when we gave Tim Howard some work. Ireland is playing much better and I think he will work well with Bent and Keane who ought perhaps to have come on sooner than he did. For what it is worth, I had longish chats with a couple of other Villa fans on the train back to London and they were a bit down-hearted at the current performance levels. I tried to cheer them up.
Everton were the better team, but once again failed to take their chances. Oh for a goalscorer !
I have to agree with jeff. Too many people are saying McLeish should leave but can't name a manager who we could afford and who is free. I think we're all agreed that he's not the ideal manager and that the whole story of where he came from stinks, but he's the manager we have and calling for him to go will solve nothing.
another boring draw from mcleish! again loss was prevented because of bent who will be going very soon!
one must face facts their are certain managers like mcleish, megson, strachan, to name few who will never win any trophies. never mind many matches
but back to villa is it not clear the main problem is firstly the manager! who surely must be sacked before we a relegation battle, where villa are surely heading,
2ndly the pensioner we got in defence of dunne and collins, warnock is talentless as a defender!! thank god foe shay
Am i glad heskey the donkey is injured_ lets hope it stays that way for a very long time!
jaime? where did the money go?
refer to curtis davies, nigel reo-coker, habib beye, steve sidwell etc.
The season has proven there is parity, if not an increase in the general quality of ALL the teams. And Villa are still average. The have to BE PERFECT in order to just get draws with top teams and avoid defeat from "lesser" teams. There's no margin for error and this is a result of how they have been "built" recently from the manager, down. Barry, Young, Milner, Downing... sad to think what could have been. Where'd the money go? If they had to leave then you completely replenish. Congratulations on being "fiscally sound!" Meanwhile we languish mid table. I'm sure the fans are very excited to support a team with the league's best bookkeeper! :(
Title of the other article says it all: "McLeish happy with a point." WHY BE HAPPY ABOUT DRAWING WITH AN INCONSISTENT TEAM 1 POINT AWAY FROM YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE? Sure sign of mediocrity. Sure sign of a lack of ambition, creativity, and risk taking! Football is a game of layers. Thirds of the field. A back 5 of with some combination of Given/Guzan, with Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Clark, Hutton would be competent ONLY with a midfield that controls the ball, attacks and takes pressure off the back. We lack that. Dangerous strikers free up midfielders. We lack those.
Trevor B, just read ALL my post the next time, not just the 1st couple paragraphs.
I agree Jeff.
jeff_dkedd i actually praised the way we played football at Chelsea when we had nothing to lose and gave them a game, we are the 3rd worst performing team in the league on current form (last 6 games is the usual) I personally have been advocating Mcdimwit out since i heard the disaster that he may be coming to us in the 1st place. This has nothing to do with where he came from. Some of the Villa's best remembered performers came from Small Heath (P.Withe, T.Hockey to name but two). My worries at the time and still continue is his totally negative way of playing football which started at Motherwell & Hibs, continued at Rangers, was a disaster at Small Heath and is a disaster at the Villa. Look at the crowds we are getting to see how many people are turning away. By the way did you go Saturday and appreciate the flowing game of football!!!!!
Trevor, DavidD (wrongly predicting relegation for 1 year, maybe 2 come summer), Rahul and Ann K.
If it was ANY other manager you wouldn't care, it's this small minded attitude to McLeish that isn't doing Villa any good, sure we're playing negative tactics, had it occured that we may not be in a realistic position to risk positive play all the time, especially with such an inexperienced and frankly poor strength of squad.
So fine, if you want to sit in the Holte chanting McLeish out, be my guest, I guess your fickle aspect of the fans haven't been able to do that since O'Leary.
Me on the other hand, I think I appreciate the situation the club is in and the mess we've been left to clean up after MON's exciting but disasterous term.
I notice that none of you people can suggest a new manager despite wanting ours out at apparent all costs.
I take note how most of you people seem to mysteriously vanish when we win a game, but for some strange reason you seem intent on turning this draw into a defeat.
The more this goes on since MON left, the more I agree with O'Leary, some Villa fans are bloody fickle.
One point from the last five home games - and Saha should have had a penalty, and only Given's brilliance stopped Warnock scoring the own goal of the season. None of that is nearly as depressing, however, as the fact that McLueless is HAPPY with it.
So Ann K knows nothing about football, jeff-dkedd? That statement means absolutely nothing until you present some fragment of evidence that the Small Heath disaster-monger has any idea what he's doing.
jeff_dkedd you totally miss the point of what football is supposed to be about. We were not the better team on stats alone, we are or are not the better team on the way we play football. Did you see a good game of football played by Villa today? Answer NO. Irgo then we did not play a good game of football. NOW do you see how it works???? I have supported Villa since 1967 and the 3rd division days. I have seen good teams and bad teams and this manager rates along the piss poor as far as his tactics are concerned.
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