Saturday August 27, 2011 Day 3 Finished Villa Park

  1. Wolves joint top with Villa draw

    Wolves joint top with Villa draw

    Wolverhampton Wanderers held Aston Villa to a 0-0 Premier League draw in the Midlands derby at Villa Park. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Aston Villa
    • Wolverhampton Wanderers
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+3' FULL TIME. Wolves hold out for the point that takes them top of the table.
    • 90+1' We will have three added minutes.
    • 90+1' Foley's corner is headed away by Bent at the near post despite Given preparing to punch clear.
    • 90' Ward's free-kick is headed behind by Dunne for a corner.
    • 89' Fletcher replaced by Sam Vokes.
    • 89' Ward wants a penalty following a challenge from Herd and Heskey then concedes a free-kick with a foul on O'Hara.
    • 87' Bannan with a deep cross to the back post and Bent rises above Elokobi to head back across goal and, agonisingly, just onto the roof of the net. Hennessey was helpless.
    • 86' This has been a strange game. Villa have dominated and have had 17 chances, but few of them have been any good in all honesty. Hennessey has made a couple of decent saves for Wolves.
    • 85' Delph, who has been largely unimpressive, is replaced by Marc Albrighton for Villa.
    • 84' Ward gets away from Herd but the young man recovers and gets a foot in to prevent a cross from reaching a Wolves shirt.
    • 83' The game is there for the taking for either side now, and a win will ensure that the victorious team take top spot in the Premier League.
    • 81' Hennessey throws himself to his right to get two gloves to a cross from Bent and prevent Agbonlahor from scoring. Excellent work from the Wolves goalkeeper.
    • 80' Wolves have kept Villa more quiet since that double change and now venture forward in search of an unlikely winner. Villa clear from a Wolves corner though.
    • 77' Aston Villa have only hit the target with three of their 17 shots so far, while Wolves have tested Given with two of their three.
    • 76' N'Zogbia had plenty of chances but failed to really trouble Wolves, and Bannan's introduction might make Villa more of a cohesive unit in what remains of the game. Perhaps it will free up Bent a bit more as well.
    • 74' N'Zogbia is replaced by Barrry Bannan after a wasteful afternoon's work.
    • 72' Stearman goes into the book for tugging Agbonlahor's shirt.
    • 70' Wolves allow N'Zogbia to get completely free from a short corner but he fails to punish the visitors when dragging his shot wide of the near post.
    • 69' Wolves have a rare chance to attack the Villa goal but can't make any headway with an O'Hara free-kick.
    • 68' Bent slips free of Johnson and gets a cross in, but Stearman deals with the ball expertly in the Wolves box.
    • 67' A double change from Wolves who replace Hunt and Jarvis with Foley and Elokobi. That's an incredibly negative move, though Ward moves into midfield.
    • 66' Risky from Delph as he takes an extra touch in the box and almost allows Fletcher to nip in. However, the youngster clears.
    • 65' Wolves are readying Kevin Foley and George Elokobi, two full-backs. Hmm.
    • 64' Aston Villa have had 15 attempts to Wolves' four so far. That's pretty comprehensive.
    • 63' Petrov waves an imaginary card after he is pulled back by Karl Henry and the ref obliges.
    • 62' Still the pressure mounts. Henneseey almost finds himself stranded when coming to clear and then the keeper gets down to cut out a N'Zogbia. It has been all Villa.
    • 60' Herd meets a cross from Agbonlahor with a firm header and Hennessey is forced to tip over the bar. A good save from a fine effort and Villa are well on top.
    • 58' Chaos in the Wolves box. The defence are all in a muddle as Agbonlahor nips in to take the ball and when he turns the ball across the face of goal, Bent just fails to reach it. From a corner. Dunne then sees a header blocked.
    • 57' Yet another corner to Villa but Fletcher heads clear. The pressure is really building on the visiting side.
    • 56' More pressure from Villa and Petrov's deep corner reaches Dunne. He puts the ball back into the box but Wolves clear their lines.
    • 54' Wolves are trying to get Jarvis more involved but he is having little joy down the left wing at present. Villa have dealt well with the winger in the second half.
    • 52' Now N'Zogbia stings the palms of Hennessey from a 25-yard free-kick. Villa have emerged the stronger side following half-time.
    • 51' Villa streak clear on the break and Agbonlahor fires in a low cross that Hennessey gets an arm to. Wolves are fortunate that the loose ball does not roll to a Villa shirt.
    • 50' Now Herd shows real persistence to prevent Jarvis from getting a cross in. Excellent work from the young man.
    • 48' A lovely touch from Heskey as he looks to find Bent, but Johnson clears behind for a corner. From the set-piece, Herd heads over. Good early pressure from Villa though.
    • 47' Excellent work from Herd as he accelerates away from two men, but his cross is just too high for Heskey at the back post.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - Want to give us your views on the match so far? You can get in touch using the comments section below or give me some stick on Twitter if you like. Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 45+3' HALF-TIME. It hasn't been a thriller in all honesty.
    • 45+3' Richard Dunne does his best Andres Iniesta impression with a clever lifted pass over the top for Heskey and Wolves concede a corner when Berra clears behind.
    • 45+2' Wolves manage to clear from the both the set-piece and the subsequent cross from Herd. They have defended well by and large.
    • 45+1' O'Hara goes into the book for a cynical trip on Petrov. A blatant yellow and he knew exactly what he was doing.
    • 45+1' We will have three minutes of added time.
    • 45' Delph plays a risky lofted pass back to his defence and Dunne is forced to take evasive action when hoofing clear. He won't have appreciated that ball from the young midfielder.
    • 44' Stearman just gets his header back to Hennessey right. Bent was lurking to exploit any mistake.
    • 43' Herd hits another hopeful ball over the top. His long-range passing hasn't been up to scratch so far today at all.
    • 42' The pace of the game has dipped noticeably in the past five minutes or so. Hopefully the respective half-time team talks will inject a bit of life into this somewhat damp derby match.
    • 41' Herd gets away from Fletcher with a clever run in the box to meet the set-piece but his attempt at a header soars well off target.
    • 40' Stearman blocks a cross from Agbonlahor but concedes a corner in the process. A late chance in the half for Villa.
    • 38' Wolves are retaining possession effectively at present and are coping very well with Villa. The home side need to step up the pace somewhat.
    • 37' Wolves haven't won back-to-back league matches at Villa Park since 1960, but they look to have a decent chance today as it has been a fairly close encounter.
    • 35' Petrov steals in behind the Wolves defence after Berra lets him go but Hennessey is bravely down to cut out his pass to Heskey. That was a good opening.
    • 34' N'Zogbia attempts to race clear down the right wing but is halted by Berra when he puts the ball too far in front of him, allowing the Scot to sneak in and take the ball away.
    • 33' From the free-kick, Petrov's delivery is headed wide at the back post by Dunne. Johnson was marking the Irishman and did enough to put him off.
    • 32' Berra fells Heskey with a clumsy challenge and referee Martin Atkinson has a word with the Scotland international to calm him down a touch.
    • 31' Courtesy of Infostrada: Villa have not conceded a first-half goal in their past four Premier League games. N'Zogbia was the last player to do so for Wigan in May.
    • 30' Fletcher mis-kicks from a dangerous cross from Ward and when Wolves dink the ball back into the box, O'Hara heads wide under pressure from Collins.
    • 29' A nice Villa move breaks down when Heskey plays a lazy pass 20 yards from goal that is intercepted by the Wolves defence.
    • 28' Fabio Capello is in attendance by the way, with Bent, Agbonlahor, Jarvis and possibly Johnson all under the microscope for the England boss.
    • 27' Jarvis and Stephen Fletcher combine well down the left wing and work the ball back to Jamie O'Hara, who sends a curling effort wide of the far post. That was a decent effort from the midfielder.
    • 25' At the other end, Ward's cross is headed behind by Dunne for a corner. Darren Bent then does well to head away at the near post.
    • 24' So close! Agbonlahor burns his way past Stearman on the left wing and his cut-back find Heskey at the near post, who flings out a leg and just turns the ball wide of the post.
    • 23' James Collins charges toward the near post to meet a corner but Wolves bundle the ball clear.
    • 22' Henry is penalised for a foul on Agbonlahor. It was a touch messy but the forward seemed to be anticipating it and made the most of the contact to get a free-kick. Stephen Warnock's delivery is headed clear.
    • 21' N'Zogbia drifts inside but under pressure from Karl Henry he unleashes a shot that flies well off target. He should really have done a touch better.
    • 20' Ward delivers a dangerous cross to the back post and Hunt arrives, but his downwards header lacks ferocity and Given palms behind for a corner. Villa then clear from the set-piece. That was the best chance of the match so far.
    • 19' Oh unlucky. Hunt takes the ball superbly with his heel on the run but is ruled offside. Meanwhile, Villa have a concern over Given, who appears to be struggling with something. Giovanni Trapattoni, looking on, will be concerned.
    • 18' Wolves continue the break and Hunt curls the ball into the box, only for Richard Dunne to head clear. That looked promising for a moment for the away side.
    • 17' Stearman sticks in a leg to rob Agbonlahor of the ball but he only succeeds in conceding a corner. Wolves clear at the near post.
    • 16' N'Zogbia fails to shake off Stephen Ward and drifts infield. The Frenchman for a second looked to have given his marker the slip but the danger passes for Wolves as the move peters out.
    • 15' This looks a nasty once. The Australian requires treatment but clambers to his feet and is helped off the pitch. Villa will have to keep a close eye on him.
    • 13' Karl Henry concedes a corner after Villa take a quick throw and try to catch the Wolves defence napping. N'Zogbia's delivery comes into the near post and as Hennessey punches clear, Herd accidentally smacks his head into the post. Ouch.
    • 12' Delph pings a cross into the box but Richard Stearman is up to head clear. You won't get a lot of joy playing like that against Wolves, particularly with Roger Johnson in there.
    • 11' Charles N'Zogbia alerts the referee to the fact that Stephen Hunt has handballed and Villa have a free-kick. The Frenchman takes the set-piece but blasts the ball into the wall.
    • 9' Now Jamie O'Hara flings a cross into the box as Villa are pinned back once again. Wolves are full of energy today and seem enthused by the occasion. After all, they are joint top of the table.
    • 8' Petrov finds space 20 or so yards from goal and drags a low shot wide of the post. Villa's first decent chance of the match.
    • 7' Hunt takes a deep free-kick to the back post but Shay Given throws out an arm to tip the ball away for a corner. Villa head clear but Wolves take possession and Christophe Berra has a header saved by Given. It has been a fine start for Wolves.
    • 6' Delph is in the book for a pretty wild challenge on Matt Jarvis. He caught the winger by the touchline.
    • 5' Lovely stuff from Wolves. A clever touch from Stephen Hunt takes him away from Delph and then Kevin Doyle evades Stephen Warnock, who recovers to block and give away a corner.
    • 4' Agbonlahor slips a pass into Delph down the left channel but the young midfielder attempts to play his team-mate back in, and puts far too much on the pass.
    • 3' It is interesting to see Emile Heskey tucked in behind Darren Bent. It's not a role you think would come easily to him, but he impressed against Blackburn last weekend.
    • 2' The ball sees a lot of the air in the opening minute. Let's hope we don't continue too much in that vein.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 12.03 The teams are out on the pitch and going through the pre-match ceremony that is all so familiar now. Handshakes all wrong, and a hug between Mick McCarthy and Alex McLeish, who are good pals by all accounts. It's derby day though, so I'm sure it will turn tense in a minute.
    • 12.00 Want to have your say on the game? You can get involved in the comments section below, or get in contact with me via Twitter. Don't be shy now. @tomEurosport
    • 11.55 Wolves won 4-0 at Northampton when fielding a weakened side in midweek and they return to their Premier League first XI today. This team has started all three of the club's league games so far this season. McCarthy's side has a very settled look about it.
    • 11.50 This is Villa's third home game in succession after a 3-1 win over Blackburn and a 2-0 defeat of Hereford United in the League Cup, ensuring Alex McLeish has had a favourable start to his Villa career after all that controversy regarding his summer move from rivals Birmingham City. McCarthy amazed by McLeish defection
    • 11.45 Wolves of course have started the season in fantastic fashion with two wins from their games against Blackburn Rovers and Fulham. They join the two Manchester clubs at the top of the table after two matches. Villa are in fourth with four points having also beaten Blackburn but drawn with Fulham.
    • 11.40 Wolves had gone 31 years without a win in this fixture prior to a win over Villa in March. Matt Jarvis was the hero on that occasion. Another neat fact is that these two played each other on the first ever day of the Football League in 1888. Retro.
    • 11.35 And here are today's substitutes for your delectation... ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Clark, Bannan, Albrighton, Ireland, Makoun, Delfouneso. WOLVES: De Vries, Foley, Elokobi, Hammill, Milijas, Vokes, Kightly.
    • 11.30 Villa strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey, both of whom scored last weekend against Blackburn Rovers, have been passed fit for the home side. With Luke Young injured and on his way to QPR, Alex McLeish gives 22-year-old Chris Herd his second league start at right-back. His task is a tough one today, with England international Matt Jarvis to contend with.
    • 11.25 ASTON VILLA: Given, Herd, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bent, Heskey. /// WOLVES: Hennessey, Stearman, Berra, Johnson, Ward, Hunt, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Fletcher, Doyle. (We will bring you the substitutes when we get them).
    • 11.20 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Midlands derby between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park.

  • Summary

    • 81' Hennessey throws himself to his right to get two gloves to a cross from Bent and prevent Agbonlahor from scoring. Excellent work from the Wolves goalkeeper.
    • 70' Wolves allow N'Zogbia to get completely free from a short corner but he fails to punish the visitors when dragging his shot wide of the near post.
    • 60' Herd meets a cross from Agbonlahor with a firm header and Hennessey is forced to tip over the bar. A good save from a fine effort and Villa are well on top.
    • 35' Petrov steals in behind the Wolves defence after Berra lets him go but Hennessey is bravely down to cut out his pass to Heskey. That was a good opening.
    • 24' So close! Agbonlahor burns his way past Stearman on the left wing and his cut-back find Heskey at the near post, who flings out a leg and just turns the ball wide of the post.
    • 20' Ward delivers a dangerous cross to the back post and Hunt arrives, but his downwards header lacks ferocity and Given palms behind for a corner. Villa then clear from the set-piece. That was the best chance of the match so far.
    • 11.25 ASTON VILLA: Given, Herd, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bent, Heskey. /// WOLVES: Hennessey, Stearman, Berra, Johnson, Ward, Hunt, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Fletcher, Doyle. (We will bring you the substitutes when we get them).

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.6 6
      Defenders
      5.2 6
      5.4 6
      5.1 7
      5.3 6
      Midfielders
      6 7
      Substitution Out74′ 5.7 5
      Yellow Card Substitution Out85′ 5.1 5
      Strikers
      6.4 6
      6.5 6
      6.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ 3.6 6
      Substitution In74′ 4 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.4 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 7.1 6
      6.3 7
      7.3 6
      7.5 8
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7.1 5
      Yellow Card 7 6
      Substitution Out67′ 6.9 6
      Substitution Out67′ 7.4 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out89′ 7.3 6
      7.7 7
      Subs
      Substitution In67′ 5.6 6
      Substitution In89′ 5.9 6
      Substitution In67′ 5.8 6