Pre Match
City make the one change and a possible change in formation from the narrow defeat at Liverpool on Saturday. Nedum Onuoha drops to the bench to make way for the return of Georgios Samaras presumably in a 4-4-2 system with Villa old-boy Darius Vassell continuing down the left wing.
The Game
Villa kick off in a barely three quarters full Villa Park as both sides look to put disappointing results from the weekend behind them. Martin O’Neill would certainly be hoping for better than the 1-1 draw here on Saturday. Stuart Pearce meanwhile continues to look for that first away win of the season.
It was Georgios Samaras who brought the first save out of stand-in keeper Stuart Taylor after six minutes after a one-two with Corradi. His snap shot was parried was away by the former Arsenal stopper.
With 15 minutes on the clock City were the brighter side and had played good football to boot on the fine Villa Park pitch. More tidy football led to Darius Vassell nearly giving the Blues the lead in the 16th minute. His well-placed shot would have nestled in the corner if it hadn’t have been for a smart stop from Taylor.
City weren’t to be denied for long. Hatem Trabelsi’s ball in from the right was flicked on by Corradi and fired home left footed by none other than Darius Vassell after 19 minutes.
Pearce’s men were visably boosted by the goal and could have gone further in front soon after. Firstly a possible penalty shout when Corradi’s collar was felt by Mellberg at the far post...nothing doing from referee Dean.
Then, another fine ball by the impressive Trabelsi was met by a flying Vassell, but his header narrowly cleared the crossbar.
The Blues were playing some great stuff and a worthy second came on 32 minutes. Sylvain Distin’s amazing break from the back and fine ball found Samaras. He held it up well on the byline before pulling it back for Joey Barton to place beyond Taylor and put City 2-0 up...and cue another crazy celebration involving Bernardo Corradi.
This time the Italian appeared to be a guitar strumming Noel Gallagher with the corner flag, while Barton played Liam and the two danced in the corner, much to the anger of the Villa fans.
That little bit of luck might have turned up a minute before half time as Petrov’s brilliant free kick had the beating of Weaver but bounced down off the ball and maybe over the line...oh well.
HALF TIME: Villa 0-2 City
No changes at the break for either side. Stuart Pearce’s men will look for the same again as they bid to claim that first away win of the campaign.
Predictably, Villa came out with something to prove and applied the early pressure in the second half, but as we reached the hour mark it was the visitors who still led.
And it could have been even better fed Corradi, his shot was saved and Vassell had to re-adjust before testing Taylor again. It should have been three.
Martin O’Neill made the first change of the night as Villa needed a foothold into the game. Bouma was replaced by Davis on 63 minutes.
The change worked as just two minutes later Gavin McCann drilled a low, swerving 25-yard drive past Weaver to put the home side back in the game.
Nerves set in after the goal as it was City who now needed that break, but the ball kept coming back for a good 10 minutes before Sylvain Distin strode forward, played a one-two with Samaras and brushed Ridgewell aside and passed the ball into the net. What a goal and what a time to get it!
Hamann came on to calm things down after the third and Villa were surely beaten now.
So that first away win at last after so many near misses...a fully deserved three points here tonight.
FULL TIME: Villa 1-3 City
