Saturday August 14, 2010 Day 1 Finished Villa Park

Aston Villa 3 - 0 West Ham United

  • Downing 15’
  • Petrov 40’
  • Milner 66’

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  1. Villa thump West Ham

    Villa thump West Ham

    Aston Villa crushed West Ham 3-0 in their Premier League opener at Villa Park, with James Milner scoring in his last game for the club. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Aston Villa
    • West Ham United
    • 90+3' An easy win for Aston Villa, who brush aside West Ham. Their future remains uncertain, but Kevin McDonald's winning debut has lifted spirits considerably.
    • 90+1' Carew fires a volley across the face of goal!
    • 90' Three minutes of stoppage time to be played.
    • 89' Villa Park rises for a third time as Mark Albrighton comes off for Barry Bannan. Tremendous performance from the yougster.
    • 87' And Ashley Young gets similar treatment as he makes way for Andreas Weimann. Although Villa very much hope Young has a future at the club.
    • 85' Pure class from Villa Park. James Milner gets a standing ovation as he comes off for Nigel Reo-Coker. Thank you and goodbye.
    • 83' Downing crosses to Milner at the edge of the box but he uses his hand to control the ball.
    • 81' Milner goes for goal from 20 yards but this time he cannot beat the wall of West Ham players.
    • 79' OFF BOTH POSTS!!! Milner finds Carew, who turns and fires against the woodwork, the ball trickles across the goalline and Young can only fire it into the other post!
    • 78' Another mazy run from Mark Albrighton, who turns Faubert inside-out - what a game from the youngster!
    • 76' Real chance for Carew, who sends a free header wide!
    • 75' This is hopeless from West Ham - they just can't keep hold of the ball. Which makes it difficult to do anything with it.
    • 74' There's a real party atmosphere inside Villa Park - you really wouldn't think they had lost their manager this week.
    • 73' Alessandro Diamanti comes on for James Tomkins, who has had an old-fashioned nightmare.
    • 71' A bit of showboating from Ashley Young, as he drags the ball back in front of Faubert. Villa are strolling. Great performance, but West Ham have not put up much resistance.
    • 70' DOWNING HITS THE BAR!! Free-kick played by Young to Downing at the edge of the box, and his shot comes back off the woodwork!
    • 69' Albrighton bamboozles Ilunga and wins a free-kick on the right...
    • 68' Mark Albrighton looks a player, too. He has dribbled incisively down both flanks and fully deserves his assist.
    • 67' Looking at this performance, you can totally understand Martin O'Neill's frustration. Villa have a fantastic young team full of potential - the top four could be theirs if only they kept hold of their players. But this time next week Milner will be playing for Manchester City.
    • 66' GOAL!!! JAMES MILNER SCORES HIS FINAL GOAL FOR ASTON VILLA!! Albrighton weaves his way gloriously inside from the left and cuts back for Milner, who lashes a left-foot shot into the corner.
    • 64' Ashley Young is down again and the physio rushes out to give him treatment. He doesn't look happy...
    • 63' Great move Villa! Albrighton crosses from the left, Carew touches it on and Downing has his shot blocked from a tight angle on the right.
    • 61' Faubert flies in late on Clark and Villa are furious. But it was late rather than malicious and referee Mike Dean sees no need to book him.
    • 60' Another yellow, this time to James Tomkins for leaving Ashley Young on his backside, and Villa's star man is limping...
    • 58' Milner hits a long diagonal ball for Young, who tries to cut back inside from the left but is adjudged to have wrestled his marker out of the way.
    • 57' Milner hits an acrobatic volley but again his route to goal is blocked. It is played back in for Albrighton who cannot bring the ball under control.
    • 55' What a miss by Julien Faubert! West Ham work the ball inside neatly from the right and Cole tees up the Frenchman who sidefoots badly wide from 15 yards. To think he used to play for Real Madrid...
    • 54' Villa's young winger Mark Albrighton goes into the book.
    • 53' Milner launches a long shot that gets charged down by a sea of bodies.
    • 51' The rain is starting to come down pretty hard at Villa Park as West Ham come forward again. It's better from the visitors since the break.
    • 50' Downing crosses from the left, into Green's hands and even he cannot drop that one.
    • 49' Corner West Ham over on the left... Tomkins rises to meet it but sends his header wide.
    • 47' Luke Young gets clobbered and Villa have a free-kick 30 yards out... OFF THE TOP OF THE CROSSBAR FROM DOWNING!
    • 46' Second half under way and Piquionne is straight into the action, firing high over from the edge of the box.
    • 46' Two half-time changes frmo West Ham - Frederic Piquionne and Pablo Barrera come on for Radoslav Kovac and Luis Boa Morte.
    • 45+3' That's half-time, and Kevin McDonald must think this management game is pretty easy. Villa two goals up and good for their lead.
    • 45+1' Back at Villa Park, Noble hits a tame free-kick high over the bar. Hence all the chat about events elsewhere.
    • 45' First red card of the season up at the Stadium of Light, and you won't be surprised to learn who it has gone to. Sunderland v Birmingham
    • 44' Sorry to keep banging on about Blackpool, but there is quite a story developing at the DW Stadium. Ollie's boys are going top of the table... Wigan v Blackpool
    • 44' Reid with a throw from the West Ham right... Villa clear it simply enough.
    • 43' Mark Noble is just struggling a little with an injury, but he should be OK to continue.
    • 42' It seems the only thing that can stop Villa is a mass outbreak of complacency. They have been the better side by an enormous margin.
    • 41' Or are they? Boa Morte twists and turns in the Villa box before bringing a fine save from Friedel with a right-foot shot.
    • 40' GOAL!!! Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov makes it two, rising high to meet an Ashley Young cross from the right. A good header, and Villa are cruising here.
    • 38' Boa Morte tries to fire a shot from the edge of the box but it is closed down instantly.
    • 36' Surely not? You've got to be joking? They never have? Oh yes, Blackpool are cruising... Wigan v Blackpool
    • 34' Carew heads just wide! Villa's 11th corner of the day is played short to Milner whose inswinging ball finds the Norwegian and he glances it a yard or so wide of the right-hand post.
    • 33' Petrov hits a low cross from the left into a dangerous area... but it comes to nothing.
    • 32' It has just gone a little bit flat here. Villa are controlling the game si easily they have just taken their foot off the gas.
    • 30' First corner for West Ham - 10-1 is the current score - and it comes to nothing.
    • 29' Villa are playing almost exclusively inside the West Ham half. Complete comfort... and Green tips an Albrighton corner out for the umpteenth corner of the day.
    • 27' Yet another Villa corner - Ashley Young applauds the fans as he trots across - it finds the feet of Carew but he cannot fire off a clean shot.
    • 26' A rare attacking foray for West Ham... Winston Reid flings it in from the right but there is a foul on a Villa player and the pressure relents immediately.
    • 25' Big penalty shout as Milner appears to be shoved over inside the box... referee Mike Dean says no!
    • 23' I make it six Aston Villa corners in the opening quarter of the game. They are in complete control here.
    • 22' Villa are racking up the corners... Ashley Young delivers deep from the left.. behind for another corner. This time it goes out for a goal kick.
    • 21' GOOD SAVE GREEN!! Carew flicks a long Friedel clearance on to Ashley Young who hits a dipping volley that Green tips over. He's partially redeemed himself for that earlier clowning.
    • 19' Down on the comments board, gez58 says: "why oh why keep playing kovac instead of diamanti? do we want to win games or what?" On this afternoon's evidence so far, no you don't.
    • 18' Goal at the DW Stadium, and guess who's got it? They can't? They haven't? They have... Wigan v Blackpool
    • 17' Albrighton has looked lively out on the Villa right. And up in the stands Randy Lerner is a happy man.
    • 16' Villa get the goal their strong start has deserved, but the bad news for West Ham is that Robert Green has brought his World Cup form back to the Premier League.
    • 15' GOAL!!! STEWART DOWNING SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON!! Green flaqps at an Ashley Young cross, Albrighton's follow-up shot is parried and Downing finishes from close range!
    • 13' Avram Grant hasn't cheered up any over the summer. He is in a black, open-neck shirt looking his usual sullen self. Give the man a massage.
    • 12' West Ham bring the ball into the Villa half for what feels like the first time... through ball to Boa Morte who loses out to Luke Young.
    • 11' Carew should really have opened the scoring there, having gone clean through. A let-off for West Ham.
    • 10' TOMKINS HITS HIS OWN POST!! Carew takes the ball round Green and it hits Tomkins, bounces off the woodwork and bounces clear!
    • 8' The two youngsters nearly combine to great effect - Mark Albrighton's corner finds Ciaran Clark's head and the defender glances it just over.
    • 6' It's all Villa in the opening stages here. West Ham have barely had a kick.
    • 4' Wantaway duo Milner and Ashley Young stand over a free-kick... clever reverse pass down the line for Downing whose cross finds the head of CAREW!!! Heads wide!
    • 3' Dreadfully indecisive goalkeeping from Green, who tips one cross unnecessarily over, then flaps at another. Having just seen Joe Hart, you have to wonder why Green was playing at the World Cup.
    • 2' Downing crosses towards Carew and it is shuffled behind for a corner.
    • 1' And off we go! A decidedly mixed reception greets James Milner's first touch and Villa have an early corner.
    • 14:55 Two teams in a state of flux and a fascinating match in prospect. West Ham are wearing their new away kit - white shirts with a blue and claret stripes.
    • 14:45 Mike Dean from the Wirral is today's referee.
    • 14:40 Thomas Hitzlsperger misses out on his West Ham debut against his former club. The midfielder, a summer signing from Lazio, suffered a thigh injury playing for Germany in midweek. New manager Avram Grant hands a debut to New Zealand defender Winston Reid with Mexico winger Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne on the bench.
    • 14:35 MacDonald is be without defensive trio Curtis Davies, Carlos Cuellar and James Collins so rookie Ciaran Clark, who made his first Premier League start against Fulham 12 months ago, deputises. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has failed to overcome a hamstring injury in time.
    • 14:30 City are believed to be offering a player-plus-cash deal involving Stephen Ireland to meet Villa's £30million valuation of the England midfielder. But MacDonald, in charge since the resignation of manager Martin O'Neill, has named Milner to face the Hammers.
    • 14:25 Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, the subject of a possible move to Manchester City, has been named in caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald's side to face West Ham.
    • 14:20 Teams: Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Clark, Dunne, Warnock, Downing, Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Ashley Young, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Beye, Weimann, Lichaj, Bannan /// West Ham: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Boa Morte, Cole. Subs: Stech, Gabbidon, Barrera, Spector, Sears, Piquionne, Diamanti
    • 14:15 The post-Martin O'Neill era for Aston Villa begins with a home match against West Ham.

  • Summary

    • 90+1' Carew fires a volley across the face of goal!
    • 79' OFF BOTH POSTS!!! Milner finds Carew, who turns and fires against the woodwork, the ball trickles across the goalline and Young can only fire it into the other post!
    • 70' DOWNING HITS THE BAR!! Free-kick played by Young to Downing at the edge of the box, and his shot comes back off the woodwork!
    • 66' GOAL!!! JAMES MILNER SCORES HIS FINAL GOAL FOR ASTON VILLA!! Albrighton weaves his way gloriously inside from the left and cuts back for Milner, who lashes a left-foot shot into the corner.
    • 63' Great move Villa! Albrighton crosses from the left, Carew touches it on and Downing has his shot blocked from a tight angle on the right.
    • 55' What a miss by Julien Faubert! West Ham work the ball inside neatly from the right and Cole tees up the Frenchman who sidefoots badly wide from 15 yards. To think he used to play for Real Madrid...
    • 47' Luke Young gets clobbered and Villa have a free-kick 30 yards out... OFF THE TOP OF THE CROSSBAR FROM DOWNING!
    • 41' Or are they? Boa Morte twists and turns in the Villa box before bringing a fine save from Friedel with a right-foot shot.
    • 40' GOAL!!! Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov makes it two, rising high to meet an Ashley Young cross from the right. A good header, and Villa are cruising here.
    • 34' Carew heads just wide! Villa's 11th corner of the day is played short to Milner whose inswinging ball finds the Norwegian and he glances it a yard or so wide of the right-hand post.
    • 25' Big penalty shout as Milner appears to be shoved over inside the box... referee Mike Dean says no!
    • 21' GOOD SAVE GREEN!! Carew flicks a long Friedel clearance on to Ashley Young who hits a dipping volley that Green tips over. He's partially redeemed himself for that earlier clowning.
    • 15' GOAL!!! STEWART DOWNING SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON!! Green flaqps at an Ashley Young cross, Albrighton's follow-up shot is parried and Downing finishes from close range!
    • 10' TOMKINS HITS HIS OWN POST!! Carew takes the ball round Green and it hits Tomkins, bounces off the woodwork and bounces clear!
    • 4' Wantaway duo Milner and Ashley Young stand over a free-kick... clever reverse pass down the line for Downing whose cross finds the head of CAREW!!! Heads wide!
    • 14:20 Teams: Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Clark, Dunne, Warnock, Downing, Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Ashley Young, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Beye, Weimann, Lichaj, Bannan /// West Ham: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Boa Morte, Cole. Subs: Stech, Gabbidon, Barrera, Spector, Sears, Piquionne, Diamanti

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Midfielders
      Goal Substitution Out85′ - -
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      Yellow Card Substitution Out89′ - -
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      Strikers
      Substitution Out87′ - -
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      Subs
      Substitution In85′ - -
      Substitution In89′ - -
      Substitution In87′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Yellow Card Substitution Out73′ - -
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      Midfielders
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      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
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      Strikers
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      Subs
      Substitution In45′ - -
      Substitution In73′ - -
      Substitution In45′ - -

Comment 36 - 55 of 55

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  1. well you irons fans you have all gone quiet not so­ before the game though,no manager , no new signings do­ we need them to beat you lot ha ha ha dont think so.the­ villa pitch will look great after the amount of crap­ you put on it.up the villa

    From Adi, on Mon 16 Aug 6:11

  2. west ham joke going down!!

    From Planet, on Sun 15 Aug 14:03

  3. amazing game villa! macdonald can stay for a little­ while longer it doesnt mind be, good performance­ especially from albrighton the GUN!!!

    From matteos.maserati, on Sun 15 Aug 8:40

  4. great win for villa come on! for om levi

    From Scanty 72, on Sun 15 Aug 0:11

  5. Well done to KD, a winning start. Young to stay.­ Thankyou James Milner for some dazzling displays. Lets­ hope KD is allowed to spend some of this on another­ Striker, before the Window closes.Personally, I would­ move Heskey on.

    For a so called crisis club a great­ display, and had it not been for the woodwork, we would­ have got 6. There is a lot of young talent there.

    From un_too_slow, on Sun 15 Aug 0:01

  6. Are West Ham going to turn up any time soon? Not until­ they get a goalkeeper. David Sullivan the porn-king­ always was big on boobs and Robert Green has obliged­ again!

    From Rob, on Sat 14 Aug 23:55

  7. Come on West Ham. How bad are you? I'm 5 years old­ and could play better than that!

    From DNOZOFF, on Sat 14 Aug 23:52

  8. Come on Hammers fans,it's only the first game of­ the season....

    From matthew, on Sat 14 Aug 23:50

  9. westham i think yur bubbles have popped

    From aqny24, on Sat 14 Aug 23:47

  10. f westham fans i feel sorry for you they should do­ better after last season

    From aqny24, on Sat 14 Aug 23:36

  11. As for Stephen in guessing your a Liverspud fan! lol­ maybe you should see how your @#$% perform before you­ start bad mouthing others. Or is it your devine right­ kos you support the ONCE great Liverpool who have done­ naff all for your!

    From Ian, on Sat 14 Aug 23:36

  12. sack the board sack the manager sack the whole of­ Iceland, Defo sack *the slug* and well just get rid of­ everyone kos its got past a joke now!

    From Ian, on Sat 14 Aug 23:34

  13. how bad are the hammers!

    From Stephen, on Sat 14 Aug 23:32

  14. vila performs so well~

    From rodman, on Sat 14 Aug 23:30

  15. oh **** this.This is just embarrasing

    From Joe Watts, on Sat 14 Aug 23:29

  16. lets face it we haven't got any Premiership­ players ( with the exception of Parker) Unless Grant­ spends a quick 100 million, lloks like relegation­ looming again

    From PETER, on Sat 14 Aug 23:26

  17. milner for city

    From Peter, on Sat 14 Aug 23:26

  18. y r west ham such sore loosers playing rough when they­ cannot beat Aston Villa? Lousy buch of sissies...

    From Everything is connected to a Bar Bee, on Sat 14 Aug 23:25
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    no wonder villa have such a nice flat pitch, the amount­ of rolling around they do on it! fairies!

    From steven, on Sat 14 Aug 23:20

  20. yws, hat trick for green then....

    From Everything is connected to a Bar Bee, on Sat 14 Aug 23:20
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