Premier League - Villa too good for West Brom

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Sep 17:04:00 2008

Goals from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor sent Aston Villa fourth in the Premier League with a 2-1 win away to West Bromwich Albion.

2008-2009 Aston Villa Gabriel Agbonlahor Ashley Young - 0

The pair struck within the space of three first-half minutes, and Martin O'Neill's side hung on despite James Morrison's almost immediate response for the Baggies.

Villa keeper Brad Friedel was at fault for the goal but redeemed himself with a superb save from Kim Do-Heon, while Carew hit the post twice as Villa strove to kill the game off.

Albion were forced into a late change with Abdoulaye Meite suffering an ankle injury in the warm-up and being replaced by Leon Barnett with Ryan Donk coming onto the substitutes' bench.

Former Baggies defender Curtis Davies started at centre-back for Villa and was greeted with a crescendo of boos everytime he touched the ball.

The home side knocked the ball around in confident fashion in the early stages but they nearly paid the penalty when Agbonlahor was brought down by Gianni Zuiverloon 25 yards out.

Ashley Young's floated cross picked out Carew whose powerful header flew only a couple of foot wide with Scott Carson stranded to his line.

West Brom were forced to make a change after 20 minutes when Chris Brunt limped out of the action to be replaced by Kim.

Then Villa took complete control with two goals inside 60 seconds from Carew and Agbonlahor.

Albion's vulnerability at free-kicks was finally exposed when Young's free-kick was again met by Carew - and this time the Norwegian international's header beat Scott Carson via the post for his fourth goal of the campaign.

West Brom had not had time to recover from the setback before they fell further behind.

Barnett miscontrolled the ball which broke into the path of Agbonlahor and he steadied himself before drilling his shot across Carson and into the bottom left corner from a narrow angle.

The home fans were stunned but after 34 minutes Morrison handed Albion a lifeline with his second goal in as many games.

Friedel was at fault in failing to hold onto a low 20-yard shot from Koren - and Morrison was alert to tuck in the rebound.

Friedel atoned for his error with a fine close range save to keep out a header from Kim shortly before the interval.

Albion began the second period in a similar manner to the first, spreading the ball around and going close when Zuiverloon flashed a 25-yard drive over the bar.

When Villa responded, the post twice denied Carew from adding to Villa's lead.

The former Lyon striker timed his run perfectly to run on to Nigel Reo-Coker's pass and his cross-shot clipped the far post although Carson had done well to narrow the angle.

But the ex-Liverpool player could only watch as a Carew header thumped against the post from a Luke Young centre.

Chasing an equaliser, West Brom boss Tony Mowbray made a double substitution with Ishmael Miller and ex-Villa striker Luke Moore replacing Bednar and Valero.

Moore came close to making an instant impact with a goal-bound shot blocked by Barry following a Greening centre.

But the Baggies' challenge petered out and, following their wins at Tottenham Hotspur and Litex Lovech, Villa claimed their third away win inside a week and went fourth in the table.

Eurosport

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  1. Boing Boing Scum, keep our seat warm for us. HI HO WOLVERHAMPTON................

    From Craig, on Tue 23 Sep 9:47AM

  2. Really enjoyed the game. I thought the Baggies played some nice football & I think they'll be OK. Villa tired towards the end & I think we'll need more stength in depth to stay in the top 4 ,6th or 7th more realistic especially with moneybags Man City entering the mix. Looks good for next season at the mo ,hopefully 4 local teams in the Premier League loads of derbies (why are they called that ?) great stuff . Let's get Walsall there as well !!

    From astonbilla, on Mon 22 Sep 12:25PM

  3. crose554 your boring me we are pride of the midlands unlike your championship team. Dont worry albion fans u will stay up if u keep playing like that. Could be worse u could be a newcastle fan.

    From Mark, on Sun 21 Sep 8:34PM

  4. Hi chunky munky, can you repeat that please. Come on you Villa Boys

    From birminghampal, on Sun 21 Sep 8:25PM

  5. boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing boing

    From Martin, on Sun 21 Sep 7:53PM

  6. Do not rise to the noses torment hope we can draw em in a cup run n give em another good thrashing, you see like a naughty puppy you must keep rubbing their blue noses in it until they learn :) .

    From metalmicky662000, on Sun 21 Sep 7:42PM

  7. I don't know if it was the tiredness, but there was something missing from the Villa during the game..... maybe I'm just pessimistic

    From evilpolarbear@..., on Sun 21 Sep 6:16PM

  8. crose554 whats a small heath fan doing on here you should have pressed on the championship , you mug. 5-1.

    From Kelley, on Sun 21 Sep 5:38PM

  9. 1) Why are they called Blue noses, cause they are always out in the cold .
    2) Did you know that Aston Villa once beat the Small Heath Alliance 22-0?
    3) Boing Boing Baggies more like Yam Yam yo yo's

    From original.image@..., on Sun 21 Sep 4:54PM

  10. Congrats Villa Fans you have a great team, we need to get rolling so we can keep another Midland cub in the Premier "UP THE BAGGIES"

    From tildesleym, on Sun 21 Sep 4:49PM

  11. VILLA VILLA

    From Ryan, on Sun 21 Sep 3:47PM

  12. crose554 keep watching netball lol u havent a clue u must be a blue nose and yes ive seen ur crew on utube lol up the villa

    From villain 4 life, on Sun 21 Sep 2:50PM

  13. crose554 keep watching netball lol u havent a clue u must be a blue nose and yes ive seen ur crew on utube lol up the villa

    From villain 4 life, on Sun 21 Sep 2:49PM

  14. yeah yeah wotever theres only 1 team in brum & its not the sum in aston u must b dreaming if u think u gonna b in the top halve of the tbl
    keep right on

    From crose554@..., on Sun 21 Sep 2:35PM

  15. We have got one of the best managers going, a young team but not top four material. Top ten for sure and quarter finals of one of the cups, but it will be the same old story I'm afraid the big guns winning everything. As you can tell my pint is always half empty. Well done today Villa boys but Gabby needs to improve.

    From kojakxx, on Sun 21 Sep 2:33PM

  16. mon the villa

    From budgie66, on Sun 21 Sep 2:26PM

  17. aston villa...your by far the greatest team the world as ever seen......!!
    great display and another 3 points, a brilliant manager and quality throughout the team.....things are superb at villa park.....the midlands no1 team (and a possible top 3 finish this season too maybe ?)

    From big stevie, on Sun 21 Sep 2:24PM

  18. come on the villa.great week.we have the best manger in the league .

    From astonmartin74, on Sun 21 Sep 2:02PM
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