West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton FC match report Monday January 20th 2014

Pepe Mel's first game in charge of West Bromwich Albion ended in a well-earned 1-1 draw against a tough Everton side at the hawthorns.

 The former Real Betis manager took the reins for his first match and controversially selected striker Nicholas Anelka who is still in trouble over his quenelle gesture. The selection forced sponsors Zoopla to end their deal with the club.

 The game also saw the return of Romelu Lukaku, last season's hawthorns hero.

 The first half was very closely fought with both teams creating chances. Zoltan Gera came closest latching onto an Anelka through ball through the centre of the pitch and with his weaker left foot fired a tame shot straight at keeper Tim Howard.

 The Baggies had a few more chances but it was Everton who undid all of their hard work with a simple goal.

With 35 minutes gone, defender Sylvain Distin lofted a long pass down the left hand side which was flicked inside by the Belgian Lukaku. His flick was picked up by his international team mate Kevin Mirallas. He then drove into the centre of the  penalty area and tucked the ball inside of Ben Foster's near post to give the toffee's a harsh but deserved lead going Into the half time break.

 At half time Mel substituted Matej Vydra for Victor Anichebe and they started the half with much more attacking intentions. The Nigerian was a constant nuisance throughout the second half and played a part in many of West Brom's chances.

Eventually after a long spell of pressure including a few good chances for West Brom, Everton's resistance was broken.

 Anichebe chased down a through ball with 76 minutes gone and held it up just inside the penalty area on the right hand side. Midfielder James Morrison then took the ball off him and fired the ball Into the area where Argentinian defender Diego Lugano got across his man and headed the ball home at the near post to make it all square with the game heading into its late stages.

 Everton had a great chance to win the match. With 90 minutes on the clock, they earned a free kick right by the left hand corner flag. England left back Leighton Baines took it. It was whipped in left footed and after ping ponging around in the box, it fell to Manchester City loanee Gareth Barry. His shot looked a certain goal but sadly Distin needlessly touched the ball into the net from an offside position so the game finished a 1-1 draw.

 It was a good match despite all the off field controversy. Anelka was very influential in most of West Brom’s attacks and received a standing ovation from the home crowd when substituted for Saido Berahino on 77 minutes.

A draw was a fair result on reflection and Pepe Mel was happy with his team’s performance. The point leaves the Baggies four points above the drop zone.

 

Liverpool FC 2-2 Aston Villa match report Saturday 18th January 2014

Liverpool rescued a point against Aston Villa thanks to a controversial penalty gained by striker Luis Suarez.

 

The visitors looked set to grab all three points in a thrilling contest at Anfield when the Uruguayan went down easily under challenge from Villa keeper Brad Guzan.

 

Despite strong protests from the Villa players, referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot and England captain Steven Gerrard fired hometo spare his team’s blushes.

 

Buoyed by a 3-1 victory in the same fixture last season, Villa started the game strongly and almost scored with barely two minutes on the clock. Striker Christian Benteke's flick bounced into the path of strike partner Gabriel Agbonlahor who poked the ball past the advancing Liverpool ‘keeper Simon Mignolet but had to watch agonisingly as the ball trickled past the post.

 

The Liverpool midfield were totally overpowered by the visitors and on 25 minutes Fabian Delph played a pinpoint pass down the left to send Gabby Agbonlahor clear. The Villa paceman turned Reds defender Kolo Toure inside out before firing the ball across the six yard line where fellow striker Andreas Weimann poked home to silence The Kop.

 

The away team doubled their lead on 37 minutes with another counter attacking move which found Agbonlahor this time on the right hand side. He whipped in a perfect cross which beat Toure and Mignolet leaving Belgian striker Benteke with the simplest task of nodding the ball into an empty net for his second goal in two matches.

 

The Villans were well worth their lead and should have carried it into half time but a lapse of concentration allowed the home team a first half lifeline.

 

Suarez picked the ball up on the left and faked to shoot before passing to Jordan Henderson on the right side of the area. His flick fell perfectly into the path of striker Daniel Sturridge who made no mistake in poking the ball past Guzan's from 10 yards.

 

The goal less than a minute before the break certainly changed the game and fired Brendan Rogers’ team up at the restart. Their cause was further helped when Agbonlahor, easily the best player on the park, was forced to limp off with an injury.

 

On 53 minutes a right cross from Gerrard sent Suarez free on the left of the box. The Premiership’s leading scorer nicked the ball past the advancing Guzan before dropping to the ground. The American goalkeeper claimed he withdrew his hands but replays showed there was some contact, albeit minimal. Despite protests from the Villa players, referee Moss was certain it was a foul and pointed straight to the spot.

 

After the game Villa boss Paul Lambert was adamant it was not a penalty but refused to accuse Suarez of diving.

 

Reds manager Brendan Rogers also batted away the accusations saying his team should have had a spot kick early in the game when the ball appeared to hit Villa defender Leandro Bacuna on the arm before going for a corner

Aston Villa 1-2 Sheffield United match report Saturday 4th January 2014

Sheffield United pulled off one of the shocks of the FA Cup third round by beating a lacklustre Aston Villa team 2-1 at Villa Park.

A goal in each half by Jamie Murphy and Ryan Flynn saw Nigel Clough’s underdogs through to Round 4 with an emphatic victory against a team two divisions higher.

The Blades first sliced into the team from the Premier League with 19 minutes gone when midfielder Murphy received the ball on the left hand touch line. He cut inside into the penalty area and his shot took a wicked deflection off Villa centre back Ciaran Clark and flew past Villa keeper Jed Steer.

Villa struggled to create openings but just before half-time off-form Villa striker Christian Benteke had two good chances to grab the equaliser but failed to trouble Sheffield ‘keeper George Long, the second the Belgian headed wide when it looked easier to hit the net.

On the half time whistle the home team were greeted by loud boos from their supporters venting frustrations at manager Paul Lambert who reportedly said the famous trophy was not one of his top priorities for the season.

If anyone thought United would defend the one goal lead until the final whistle, they were completely wrong as former Derby manager Clough sent his team out to attack and they certainly looked the most likely to score as Villa struggled to break down the solid wall of yellow shirts.

Chris Porter fired wide and Ryan Flynn forced goalkeeper Steer to punch clear before Villa finally made the breakthrough on 75 minutes. Ashley Westwood swung a curling corner in from the left hand side and Andreas Weimann's shot cannoned into the path of substitute Nicklas Hellenius on the left of the penalty spot and the substitute made no mistake, firing the ball past Sheffield keeper Long from 10 yards.

Unfazed by the possibility of a Villa comeback the team situated in 18th position in League One launched an immediate reply. Another example of poor defending by the home team left United striker Chris Porter free on the right hand side of the penalty area but he fired over  when it looked easier to score.

On 81 minutes Clough sent on wide man Conor Coady who received the ball on the edge of the penalty area. He slipped a pass to Ryan Flynn who cut into the centre of the area from the right and fired the ball home with his left foot to devastate the Villa team and fans and send the 6,000 Blades supporters into a state of euphoria.

For Villa there was no way back and at the final whistle the players were greeted by more angry boos and jeers as some fans ripped up their tickets and threw them at manager Paul Lambert as a gesture of their frustrations.

The Villa boss admitted he hated losing but was positive about his team saying “I can’t fault their endeavour”. He also emphasised that he respected the proud history of the FA Cup and said he had put out a strong team in an attempt to win the game.

Blades manager Nigel Clough was absolutely delighted with his team’s performance. “I thought the players were outstanding. It was a huge, huge effort on their part. We played some exceptional stuff today,” he said.