Controversy, luck, shocks and last minute turnarounds – what an amazing 2 hours in the life of the Premiership

January 17, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Reports 
No. Freaking. Way.

No. Freaking. Way.

Villa were trailing a goal to nil at half time up in Sunderland, and then turned it round in the second 45 with a goal that looked more like handball than a header (though he was tumbled over by Chimbonda and would’ve got a penalty if not a goal) and a second goal from a penalty that debatably should’ve been a free kick outside the box.

Ashley Young saw red for a challenge that looked more like a yellow, so we finished the game without him and will be without him for some big upcoming games.

Down in London, a game was taking place that all Villans had one eye / ear on; Chelsea vs Stoke. No-one really expected Stoke to get anything from the game but a pipe dream couldn’t help being conceived by us, where Chelsea’s turmoil continued and they slipped up. Villa would go 3rd with a win if so.

With just 2 minutes to go we were 3rd in the Prem, Chelsea were miraculously losing at home to The Potters thanks to a Rory Delap goal on the hour mark and it all looked so good.

Villa’s game finished and we’d won, but news came in that Chelsea had scored. 1-1. We were still 3rd though, a point ahead of Chelsea. Happy times. But… the ref still hadn’t blown up at the Bridge, so our nerves couldn’t settle enough yet to open the Champers. A very long 2 minutes passed, and then the news came in that that tosspot Lampard has ruined the party and stole a win for Chelsea with a last minute goal (”Hang on, did he just call a Lampard a tosspot?” Yes I did. He’s ruined my party!).

3rd place had been stolen from us at the last minute, literally.

4th will do nicely though, we scored 2 debatable goals that on another day wouldn’t have stood and Chelsea were always going to win at home to Stoke, so I doubt many Villa fans will really be all that gutted, it was just harsh the way it all changed in the dying moments.

Elsewhere in a strange Premier League afternoon; both the bottom 2 teams gained convincing 3-0 wins, Man Utd left it late, winning 0-1 at Bolton thanks to a Berby goal, Spurs went back to the bottom of the table, despite being very active in the transfer market and finally, Man City picked up a win, making it 2 losses in less than a week for Wigan against teams from Manchester.

Hull are about to kick off against Arsenal, I for one will definitely be watching it, today seems to have exciting football written all over it. I urge you to go to a pub with Setanta!


Comments

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!