Villa 1-2 MŠK Žilina ***Live blog*** FT
Game: Aston Villa vs MŠK Žilina
Competition: UEFA Cup – Group Stage
Date: Thu 4 Dec 08
KO: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Villa Park, Aston
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FT- An embarrassing loss at home in what should’ve been the easiest game in the group. We seal our passage through because Hamburg won at Prague but it’s not really celebrations time as we have a lot to think about after the last two games. We are really struggling to score goals now, we miss Carew and a 17 year old seems to be our only other threat. O’Neill has a LOT to think about and the players who got their chance to prove themselves today have let theirselves down. The strength we have in depth suddenly looks very shallow.
95- A massive scramble ensues but the whistle goes and it’s over. We lose. Very, very disappointing.
94- Agbon can’t quite get it on target and that will probably be our last chance.
93- Milner cross, header from Gardner but the post keeps us out.
92- Zilina sub wastes more time and when our throw-in comes in you can guess who’s first to it; Zilina.
91- Barry battles desperately and gets us a corner but again Zilina win the ball as it comes in. We are nowhere string enough in the air.
90- It’s desperate now, Barry lashes at it but it was hopeful and it’s gone wide. More frustration for Villa.
89- Yet more Villa crosses fly too far or miss their target.
86- Reo-Coker puts in a great cross and Gardner is free to head home but goes wide. He should’ve doen better and he knows it. It’s Fulham all over again now. The clock is ticking too loud and too fast.
85- Zilina’s other goalscorer goes off, this time as a sub.
84- Young gets us a corner, everyone comes up but more string defending keeps us out. We persist and Young crosses but Barry heads over. Anyone remember the Fulham game?
83- Luke Young knows little about it but he almost got on the scoresheet then. Saved though.
82- The clock is ticking away.
81- Maybe bringing Delfouneso off was a mistake as he looked like our main dangerman. Hopefully Barry, Milner, Young and Aggy can make something because the others don’t look much like it.
78- A red card for Leitner and oh how much he deserved it. He does exactly what he did to Young but now to the recently subbed on Agbonlahor.
77- Just thirteen minutes to get one goal to avoid embarrassment or two to avoid a berating of the fringe players and/or selection. We will need something against Hamburg if we don’t get something.
73- Another bad bad foul on a breaking Young, another yellow but these are clearly hindering our chances on goal.
72- Barry and Milner both show why they are usually first choice and create an attack but the cross is defended strongly.
71- Zilina attack but give it away to us.
69- In fact all of the fringe players (barring Delfouneso) have proven MON totally right in who he plays in the Prem.
68- Here comes Barry and it’s been a disappointing game from Salifou, who has done very little to help his push ahead of Barry, Petrov and Sidwell.
67- Long and hopeful shot from Young, doesn’t trouble the keeper.
66- Barry looks set to be coming on now. Who for?
65- Delfouneso feeds Young and his cross gets to Harewood’s head but it’s well off-target. The Fonz is looking to be the inly Villan who can win this for us.
64- Yep, Milner is coming on and Osbourne is off. Presumably Gardner or NRC will move inot the middle with Salifou. Will that solve anything?
62- Gardner takes this free kick and it creates more danger than Young’s have tonight, but Cuellar couldn’t quite get over it and header on target. Milner is warming up. Maybe O’Neill sees the way through down the wings then.
61- Young breaks and that is a disgusting pull by the first goalscorer. He couldn;t have deserved that yellow more if he tried!
60- A change or two is definitely needed as our selected team tonight still struggle to contain Zilina. We need Barry or Petrov on to give us more in the middle of the park.
58- Villa attacks continue to be fruitless and defended against confidently by the Slovaks.
55- Zilina are from fazed by this game and continue to be as good as us. A Gardner run results in a foul but Young’s deliveries have been relatively tame all game.
51- A ball through but Delfouneso’s pace just outdoes him as he gets the ball but can’t slow down and keep it in.
50- Villa break now and Harewood’s cross almost reached the Fonz.
48- And here they go again, another long shot and Guzan puts it over for a corner.
46- Back off we go and Villa haven’t made any changes, hopefully that means the men on the pitch will change their game. We need to be tighter when they attack.
HT- Go make a cuppa, swear at the kettle to get it out your system and come back ready to watch us complete our comeback. Believe in the boys and be ready to see Delfouneso run his socks off. Not that this game seems to have an ounce of predictability to it!
HT- Well no-one expected that from the opening 45 minutes. Leitner and Styvar gave Zilina a 2-goal lead against the run of play but well deserved by their attacking prowess. Villa responded with a great goal by the young whizkid Delfouneso but can’t quite squeeze an equaliser. O’Neill will be using some very coarse language right now and a number of Villa players need to pick up their game if they a) want to win this game and b) want to get into the first team. We have looked liek a b-team at the back and in the middle far too often in the first half. C’mon MON, rally the troops. I expect there to be changes when they come back out, Barry coming on most likely.
45- One minute added time. Zilina attack again but shoot wide.
44- Zilina corner is defended well and the shot back in is weak and wide.
43- The Fonz almost puts Harewood in on goal. For a lad of 17 he is looking very competent and strong on the ball. Villa need to use him as an outlet as much as possible as Zilina are struggling to contain him.
40- Villa attack down the right, Reo-Coker puts it over (eventually) but straight to Pernis’s hands.
39- Villa could really do with an equliser before half-time but it’s Zilina now who are attacking.
34- Hamburg have taken the lead over Prague.
33- Zilina attack some more and I’m getting nervous by the way they seem to get through our midfield so easily. Salifou and Osbourne are not t their best today at all. Are we missing the 5-man midfield?
32- Well said Tim West, it was a beautiful strike! 
30- Villa’s confidence is back now and we pass it around well and then earn another corner. It’s long and the keeper tips it out for a throw in.
29- Zilina don’t drop their heads though and attack right back. Comes to nothing though.
27- GOAL! And what an amazing goal it was! We all knew Delfouneso has the ability and now he’s shown it, a superb volley into the near corner from the edge of the area. That boy will now have a lot of buzz around him. Excelent from the 17 year old. Game back on!
26- Villa through again, Harewood this time but the offside flag is raised, but it came off a Zilina man so it’s an incorrect call. Denied chance for Villa there then.
25- The Villa fans are trying to get behind the boys but the dominating feeling in the crowd is pure shock.
24- Delfouneso is played through by Gardner but it’s a late pass and the flag goes up. Offside.
23- Villa free-kick but Young puts it over everyone.
22- This has doubled Zilina’s total UEFA Cup group stage goals already! Villa get Gareth Barry out warming up, clearly now scared more by the threat Zilina pose.
18- GOAL! Another counter and another away goal and Villa are 2 down! This is very disappointing.
17- Ashley Yung free kick is on it’s way to Harewood but Pernis comes out well to punch clear.
16- Will we raise our game now and try to make more of the possession and attacks we’ve had?
14- GOAL! From out of nowhere, a lightning bolt cross comes over and Knight seems to fail with his header and it goes into the far corner. 0-1 Zilina.
13- Brad Guzan almost gives the ball away after a bad control touch but redeems himself just in time.
11- And another, it’s been very corner dominated so far!
10- Another Villa corner, the pressure now being all from us, Young’s corner is much better and Zat Knight very nearly heads it in but the keeper reacts very well. Second corner.
9- Delfouneso earns a corner for us, debatably. But Young’s delivery is won in the air by Zilina.
8- Villa attack down the right with Reo-Coker but again MSK defend strong.
7- An Ashley Young free-kick fails to penetrate.
4- Villa would’ve liked to have attacked more in the opening minutes to show their intent but Zilina are enjoying theirselves so far.
3- Luke Young slides in and claims the throw-in but doesn’t get it and the Zilina player is down. He’s OK though and ambles back on a minute later.
2- The game starts lively, both teams looking lively from the off.
0- And they’re off!
Pre-KO – The teams are in and it’s almost exactly as I predicted but with NRC and Gardner switched positions and Shorey is not starting, I believe through injury (well, he’s got a cold, is that an injury?).
Press F5 or click refresh for minute-by-minute updates.
Line-up:
Guzan
Gardner – Knight – Cuellar – L Young
NRC – Salifou – Osbourne – A Young
Harewood – Deflouneso
Comments
One Comment on Villa 1-2 MŠK Žilina ***Live blog*** FT
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Tim West on
Thu, 4th Dec 2008 20:19
Beautiful strike! Thank goodness
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