Saturday March 9, 2013 Day 29 Finished Madejski Stadium

Reading 1 - 2 Aston Villa

  • Baker 32’ (o.g.)
  • Benteke 33’
  • Agbonlahor 45’

18 comments | Write your comment

  1. Premier League - Villa out of drop zone as Reading hit bottom

    Premier League - Villa out of drop zone as Reading hit bottom

    Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor took Aston Villa out of the bottom three with a vital 2-1 win at Reading. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Reading
    • Aston Villa
    • - 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+4 That is it, Villa go wild, they have won the six pointer to move out of the bottom three. And, if QPR hold on against Sunderland, Reading are bottom!
    • 90+3 Lambert urges his charges on to a final resistance. This would be huge - they'd be out the drop zone!
    • 90+2 Lofted into the box, where Blackman goes down but Moss walks away. He thought he was shoved by Sylla but that was a dive.
    • 90+1 All a bit scrappy now in this nervy finish. Reading have a free-kick on halfway.
    • 90' Benteke fouls Pearce as he gives chase down the left. FOUR minutes added time.
    • 89' The free-kick is poor, well over. Reading counter, Guthrie crossing for Le Fondre but he mis-directs his header well wide.
    • 88' Rough challenge from McAnuff on Weimann on the edge of the box. A booking, and free-kick on the edge of the D.
    • 87' N'Zogbia with a surging run down the right, and an excellent cut-back FOR BENTEKE but he mis-hits it weakly at Taylor!
    • 86' Villa need to get the ball back in Reading's half - and keep it there.
    • 85' Vlla clear their lines from the corner but Reading come again as Guthrie finds McAnuff AND ROBSON-KANU DRILLS IT JUST WIDE!
    • 84' Westwood is booked for a shove in the back of Robson-Kanu. Free-kick on the right.
    • 83' N'Zogbia fires well over after excellent play by Benteke on the left!
    • 82' Good defending from Clark this time as he hooked it clear from the six-yard box.
    • 81' Why jeer Leigertwood? What has he done to offend? He's played all right to be fair, protecting the defence, who should shoulder the blame.
    • 80' READING SUB: Leigertwood replaced by Guthrie, with the outgoing DM jeered by home fans.
    • 79' VILLA SUB: Baker has picked up an injury, Joe Bennett takes his place.
    • 78' Baker lets McAnuff in down the right but the cross is again claimed by Guzan.
    • 77' Corner Reading but Baker heads clear this time. Robon-Kanu crosses but Guzan claims well. He's a towering force in goal.
    • 76' JUST WIDE FROM AGBONLAHOR! Fantastic curling effort from the left after cutting inside on to his right foot.
    • 75' McClearly fails to control the ball after it beats a poorly-positioned Lowton.
    • 74' Blackman fires a low drive straight at Guzan. Better from Reading.
    • 72' Baker releases N'Zogbia but the Frenchman's cross is cleared. Well, half-cleared as Reading are just as nervous at the back as Villa.
    • 71' VILLA SUB: Bannan is replaced by N'Zogbia.
    • 70' Suddenly the momentum has swung Reading's way, as a Le Fondre cut-back is hacked away by Vlaar. Villa have frozen at the back.
    • 69' BIG MISS BLACKMAN! A free header from McCleary's cross, more rubbish defending from Villa who give him a sure goal but the Reading sub heads straight at Guzan!
    • 68' This is better from Reading as Villa tire, the hosts with some possession that sees a McCleary cross cleared.
    • 67' Benteke is booked for a late slide on Mariappa.
    • 65' Chance for a counter attack as Villa lose the ball. Now a fine cross from Kelly, Vlaar completely misses it and Robson-Kanu takes it on the chest AND HE MUST SCORE BUT PUTS WIDE WITH JUST GUZAN TO BEAT!
    • 64' Villa back in possession of the ball as Reading chase shadows.
    • 63' Finally Harte has a throw-in on the left that allows Reading to build something, but McCleary shoots weak and wide.
    • 62' Reading can't get out of their own half for more than a few seconds at a time. They need to really step things up.
    • 61' Villa stroking it about nicely now as they continue to probe. Stepover from Bannan too, steady on lads!
    • 60' Mariappa is again beaten to a header by Benteke, but Reading do clear eventually.
    • 58' Sylla takes a pop from a long way out but it's well over.
    • 57' Villa are on nearly 59% possession. Playing quite well now.
    • 56' READING SUB: Akpan is replaced by McCleary. Hunt shakes his head as he is then replaced by Blackman.
    • 55' Hunt booked for his protests but that was offside. Good call the linesman.
    • 54' GOAL READING! Hunt with the finish but he's offside! Great play from McAnuff on the left but Hunt was half a yard clear.
    • 53' INCHES OVER FROM SYLLA! A loose clearance drops to him on the edge of the box but he thrashes it over. That came after Harte slipped.
    • 52' Bannan with some good defending to sweep up and pass it back to Guzan.
    • 51' Villa are in control now, but I do not trust their defence one bit so they need at least one more.
    • 50' Westwood's corner is punched unconvincingly by Taylor, the loose ball landing on Baker's head but going well wide.
    • 49' Bannan plays a low pass to Benteke on the edge of the box, he shoots but deflected off Akpan for a corner.
    • 48' Villa should be in here as a defensive mix-up puts Weimann through, but he hesitates and fails to show his famous pace, Pearce able to slide in and clear.
    • 47' Villa are trying to pass it about now. Good stuff from the visitors.
    • 46' The second half is underway!
    • 45+2 Half-time and Villa lead 2-1 after coming from behind.
    • 45+1 Delirious celebrations from Agbonlahor, the local lad who has netted his fifth of the season.
    • 45' GOAL VILLA! AGBONLAHOR THRASHES IT INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET! It came after a sustained spell of pressure that saw Lowton knock the ball down for Bannan, whose finish struck the post only to bounce off Taylor for Agbonlahor to hammer it in!
    • 43' Good cross by Baker but half-cleared as far as Bannan, who tries a volley but sends it well wide.
    • 42' The Harte corner causes problems for Villa but not after it swung out of play for a goal kick.
    • 41' Guzan almost palms Harte's mis-hit cross into his own net, keeping it out of goal but not preventing a corner.
    • 40' Long aimless ball after long aimless ball - which is frustrating as both sides can actually get it down and play it.
    • 39' Very scrappy this - no-one can string more than three passes together.
    • 37' Bit of head tennis in midfield before Benteke gets a boot on it. Reading clear.
    • 36' Poor cross from McAnuff flies away for a Villa throw on the opposite flank.
    • 34' McAnuff can't believe he wasn't won a free-kick after going down on the left.
    • 33' VILLA LEVEL! BENTEKE! Poor defending from Reading this time as they let Weimann run in down the right before cutting it back to Benteke, whose finish is deflected off Kelly and in. 1-1!
    • 33' It's hard to remain professional when you see a player wildly swipe at a harmless ball to send it into his own net. Shocking from Baker, really poor. Akpan's weak backheel was off target, and Baker had time to calmly put it out - instead of tacking a wild swing.
    • 32' GOAL READING! Calamitous clearance from Baker after McAnuff's excellent low cross was backheeled by Akpan.
    • 31' This is good stuff from Reading now as they lay camp in the Villa half. A Hart cross is cleared but it's still alive for Reading...
    • 30' Guzan does well to prevent the corner after McAnuff's cross takes a deflection.
    • 29' Le Fondre earns Reading a throw off Clark on the Reading left wing. Harte will launch this into the box...
    • 28' The ref has a word with Bannan and Vlaar, telling the Villa captain to keep his player silent.
    • 27' Benteke nutmegged Mariappa but slipped over his challenge - the ref played the advantage for Weimann but it wasn't a foul anyway.
    • 26' Vlaar with a big clearance, Weimann with a great flick-on to Benteke, he beats one man, then another but he slips on the edge of the box, but not after releasing WEIMANN WHO'S IN BUT HE PLACES IT WIDE! Should have scored!
    • 25' It was Vlaar who took the whack on the head and he is up now, strolling off moving his jaw awkwardly.
    • 24' Westwood sends in the free-kick, punched away by Taylor but a Villa player is down... Play is stopped as it's a head knock.
    • 24' Bannan is down holding his Achilles after being taken out by Kelly.
    • 23' The replay shows that Pearce did tug back Benteke, but it was a second or so before the cross, meaning the referee - who was looking wide to Agbonlahor - missed it.
    • 22' Agbonlahor races away down the right before flashing a cross into the box that is a few yards ahead of Benteke, who appeals that he was pulled back by Pearce! Nothing given, but that looked a foul!
    • 21' All gone a bit long ball now from both sides. End to end but in the wrong way.
    • 19' JUST WIDE BY ROBSON-KANU! He cut inside from the right, on to his preferred left foot, and drilled a low shot that caught Guzan cold but went inches wide!
    • 18' All getting a bit scrappy now after that promising start. You expect that from teams in the bottom three.
    • 17' Villa with their best spell of pure possession so far, until Weimann fails to control a short pass to hand it back to Reading.
    • 16' Le Fondre with a wild pass out of play. You just can't help but feel he is more useful coming off the bench. His movement wreaks havoc with tired defences.
    • 15' Robson-Kanu exchanges passes with Kelly before launching in a cross. Villa clear that but Akpan picks it up, and Baker concedes a corner off Robson-Kanu.
    • 14' The ball ricochets into the path of Hunt, who wins a corner off Baker.
    • 13' Villa come again as Weimann skews in a lovely dipping cross for Benteke at the far post but the Belgian's outstretched boot is not able to connect!
    • 12' BENTEKE HITS THE BAR! Fantastic header from the Belgian after peeling away at the far post!
    • 11' McAnuff swings in the corner, it strikes a Villa player and loops up in the air but Guzan claims after 'removing' Hunt from his path.
    • 10' Lowton is booked for a wild swing at McAnuff. Poor tackle.
    • 9' Free-kick to Villa after Akpan fouls Bannan. Westwood to deliver... Good ball but Clark heads well over.
    • 8' Sylla on the left, he finds Agbonlahor who is tackled by Kelly for a throw.
    • 7' Free-kick to Reading in their own half which Harte sends long. Villa clear.
    • 5' Villa are struggling to get any meaningful string of passes together. Not a great start for them.
    • 4' Good defending from Sylla to win a goal iick for his side when le Fondre ran at him.
    • 3' Le Fondre on the left whips over a cross that the Villa defence fail to clear, Hunt almost heads it in but it shaves his head and drops for Robson-Kanu, who is surprised to get it and has to take a few touches before getting a corner. All Reading!
    • 2' Guzan plucks the ball from the air at that corner. Good keeping.
    • 1' Guzan with a good save as Le Fondre headed towards goal from 10 yards. Corner Reading.
    • 1' The first half is underway!
    • 14:55 In today's early FA Cup game, Wigan have pulled off a significant surprise by beating Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park. Matchcast: Everton v Wigan Athletic
    • 14:50 And here's some background on the rest of this week's Premier League action, with relegation battles all over the place. Weekend preview
    • 14:45 We caught up with Villa manager Paul Lambert this week - he told us about his coaching background, and his decision to get his badges in Germany. Watch video
    • 14:40 Also from Opta: "Villa's Matthew Lowton is one of only three outfield players to play every minute of every Premier League game this season (along with Leighton Baines and Steven Gerrard)."
    • 14:35 This is not a game anyone would be advised to leave early - these stats from Opta: "Six of Reading’s last seven goals at home have come in the 82nd minute or later. Five of their 22 home goals this season have come in the 90th minute."
    • 14:30 Villa receive a boost with the news that captain Ron Vlaar has recovered from a calf injury and starts. Fabian Delph is suspended and Darren Bent injured.
    • 14:25 Stuart Taylor gets another start in goal for Reading, with Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy both out injured. Jimmy Kebe also misses out through injury, while Pavel Pogrebnyak is suspended.
    • 14:20 READING: Taylor, Pearce, Mariappa, Kelly, Harte, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, McAnuff, Akpan, Hunt, Le Fondre.... Shorey, Karacan, McCleary, Morrison, Guthrie, Blackman, Henly. // ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Westwood, Bannan, Sylla, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke.... Subs: Given, N’Zogbia, Holman, Dawkins, Carruthers, Bowery, Bennett.
    • 14:15 Welcome to live coverage of a vital Premier League relegation battle between Reading and Aston Villa from the Madejski Stadium!

  • Summary

    • 87' N'Zogbia with a surging run down the right, and an excellent cut-back FOR BENTEKE but he mis-hits it weakly at Taylor!
    • 85' Vlla clear their lines from the corner but Reading come again as Guthrie finds McAnuff AND ROBSON-KANU DRILLS IT JUST WIDE!
    • 83' N'Zogbia fires well over after excellent play by Benteke on the left!
    • 76' JUST WIDE FROM AGBONLAHOR! Fantastic curling effort from the left after cutting inside on to his right foot.
    • 69' BIG MISS BLACKMAN! A free header from McCleary's cross, more rubbish defending from Villa who give him a sure goal but the Reading sub heads straight at Guzan!
    • 65' Chance for a counter attack as Villa lose the ball. Now a fine cross from Kelly, Vlaar completely misses it and Robson-Kanu takes it on the chest AND HE MUST SCORE BUT PUTS WIDE WITH JUST GUZAN TO BEAT!
    • 54' GOAL READING! Hunt with the finish but he's offside! Great play from McAnuff on the left but Hunt was half a yard clear.
    • 53' INCHES OVER FROM SYLLA! A loose clearance drops to him on the edge of the box but he thrashes it over. That came after Harte slipped.
    • 48' Villa should be in here as a defensive mix-up puts Weimann through, but he hesitates and fails to show his famous pace, Pearce able to slide in and clear.
    • 45' GOAL VILLA! AGBONLAHOR THRASHES IT INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET! It came after a sustained spell of pressure that saw Lowton knock the ball down for Bannan, whose finish struck the post only to bounce off Taylor for Agbonlahor to hammer it in!
    • 41' Guzan almost palms Harte's mis-hit cross into his own net, keeping it out of goal but not preventing a corner.
    • 33' VILLA LEVEL! BENTEKE! Poor defending from Reading this time as they let Weimann run in down the right before cutting it back to Benteke, whose finish is deflected off Kelly and in. 1-1!
    • 32' GOAL READING! Calamitous clearance from Baker after McAnuff's excellent low cross was backheeled by Akpan.
    • 26' Vlaar with a big clearance, Weimann with a great flick-on to Benteke, he beats one man, then another but he slips on the edge of the box, but not after releasing WEIMANN WHO'S IN BUT HE PLACES IT WIDE! Should have scored!
    • 22' Agbonlahor races away down the right before flashing a cross into the box that is a few yards ahead of Benteke, who appeals that he was pulled back by Pearce! Nothing given, but that looked a foul!
    • 19' JUST WIDE BY ROBSON-KANU! He cut inside from the right, on to his preferred left foot, and drilled a low shot that caught Guzan cold but went inches wide!
    • 13' Villa come again as Weimann skews in a lovely dipping cross for Benteke at the far post but the Belgian's outstretched boot is not able to connect!
    • 12' BENTEKE HITS THE BAR! Fantastic header from the Belgian after peeling away at the far post!
    • 3' Le Fondre on the left whips over a cross that the Villa defence fail to clear, Hunt almost heads it in but it shaves his head and drops for Robson-Kanu, who is surprised to get it and has to take a few touches before getting a corner. All Reading!
    • 1' Guzan with a good save as Le Fondre headed towards goal from 10 yards. Corner Reading.
    • 14:20 READING: Taylor, Pearce, Mariappa, Kelly, Harte, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, McAnuff, Akpan, Hunt, Le Fondre.... Shorey, Karacan, McCleary, Morrison, Guthrie, Blackman, Henly. // ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Westwood, Bannan, Sylla, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke.... Subs: Given, N’Zogbia, Holman, Dawkins, Carruthers, Bowery, Bennett.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.3 6
      Defenders
      8.5 6
      3.7 6
      3.7 6
      3.7 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out81′ 3.5 6
      Substitution Out55′ 5 6
      7.4 6
      Yellow Card 4.3 6
      Strikers
      Yellow Card Substitution Out56′ 4.3 5
      3.5 5
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ - 6
      Substitution In55′ 5 6
      Substitution In56′ 5 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      8.7 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 7.3 6
      7.1 6
      8.4 6
      Own Goal Substitution Out80′ 7.3 5
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7.5 6
      8.3 7
      7.8 6
      Substitution Out71′ 7.3 6
      Goal 8.6 7
      Strikers
      Goal Yellow Card 8.4 7
      Subs
      Substitution In71′ 7.8 7
      Substitution In80′ 5.7 -

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. We deserved this win! Gabby was in desparate need of a­ goal well done! Charlie and Andy need one now! Come on­ you Villa boys keep this up - your fans are behind you­ all the way - we just need to fight like we want it and­ get stuck in to them each game now - come on Villa.

    From tracy morley, on Sat 9 Mar 17:38

  2. villa win at last!

    From melvyn d, on Sat 9 Mar 16:52

  3. they always lose one in the last minuets

    From Andrew, on Sat 9 Mar 16:44

  4. Come on Reading, whats up try and score another­ goal............

    From Roisin, on Sat 9 Mar 16:44

  5. How many managers can we go through, dont blame the­ manager anymore.. blame the c&^k suck&$g owner­ who will not put up money

    From Andrew, on Sat 9 Mar 16:42

  6. Time the Villa slotted in the coffin nail on this one.­ What's the betting they throw it?

    From Serpico, on Sat 9 Mar 16:41

  7. keith how is your mum

    From Borat, on Sat 9 Mar 16:40

  8. Morty, what's a blue nose doing following a Villa­ game? Or are you just a Small Heath Wannabe?

    From Keith, on Sat 9 Mar 16:37

  9. 3.2 to villa

    From melvyn d, on Sat 9 Mar 16:21

  10. wow villa winning it will end 2-2 though

    From Borat, on Sat 9 Mar 16:18

  11. UCFB ONLINE UCFB ONLINE ,,,, AT WEBERLY ­ STADIUM ,,,,UCFB TRAIN TO BE IN FOOTBALL ­ ,,,,,,,,, MEDIA ,,,,,,,, FINANCE ,,,,,, ­ COVER YR TEAM ON A SAT ,,,, IN THE MEDIA­ ,,,,,,, UCFB ONLINE ,,,, TRAIN AT ­ WEMBERLY STADIUM ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, UCFB OLINE

    From Kev, on Sat 9 Mar 15:48

  12. this is the year villa will go down

    From Borat, on Sat 9 Mar 15:15

  13. draw

    From steve, on Sat 9 Mar 14:57

  14. Consistency is key but both of these sides have shown­ in patches this season they are good enough to beat the­ drop

    From Raymond, on Fri 8 Mar 14:38

  15. Lambert was never the right man in the first place, he­ hadn't enough experience to manage a club the size­ of Villa, as for the next 2 games i only see 1 point a­ draw at Reading, we will get beat by Q.P.R at home, we­ have to plan for life in the championship, i can see as­ many 15 players leaving Villa in the summer if that­ happens, and it will take us 5 years at least before we­ get back, we aren't even in the market for the best­ championship players, so were we going to replace all­ these players, with blue square premier league players?

    From craig, on Thu 7 Mar 13:48

  16. Getting rid of Lambert now is like shutting the stable­ door after the horse has bolted. 4-6 points from­ Reading/QPR or we're down (we didn't do too bad­ against Arsenal/Man C, but we still got nothing thanks­ to our defending, again).

    From DSM, on Wed 6 Mar 8:43

  17. come on reading and qpr...........villa must go­ down.......

    From Sifou, on Tue 5 Mar 11:37

  18. If we don't get six points from Reading and QPR,­ Lambert MUST go. This is the measure of abject failure­ in the job he is paid to do. I don't care that Lerner­ gave him permission to take us down as long as he­ doesn't spend any money. If we drop any points from­ these two, it's the equivalent of a boxer squatting in­ the corner of the ring with his arms over his head,­ crying. Time for somebody at Villa Park to show some­ #$%$.

    From VillanD, on Wed 27 Feb 1:11
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