Aston Villa Central

Emile Heskey came on around the hour mark with Villa a goal down to Blackburn and within a minute he had equalised, possibly with his first touch, and 18 minutes later Ashley Young was tapped in Heskey’s cross for the third goal to seal a comeback victory. Ashley had also headed in a second goal in between, crossed in by Nathan Delfouneso.

Quite the start for Gérard Houllier.

I didn’t see any of it, so I can’t give you any first hand observations, but statistically it looked like a game we were very much in at half time. Apart from the goal. Obviously. Gael Givet volleyed in from just outside the box in the left channel, not much Guzan could have done from admittedly biased accounts.

Gabby went off with some kind of injury just minutes before the goal, Nathan Delfouneso on in his place. Not sure the nature of extent of the injury yet, but he’s obviously another one who hasn’t really hit 100% fitness yet this season.

John Carew made way for Heskey in the 59th minute and he had the dream impact, slotting in Ashley Young’s through ball with his left foot from about 18 yards. Villa continued to up the pressure from there, Cuellar, Bannan and Sidwell all having a crack on goal.

Delfouneso was the provider for the second goal, crossing in from the right, Ashley Young flicking the header in at the near post and just four minutes later it was Heskey crossing in from the right, Ashley Young again prodding in, this time at the back stick. Houllier had withdrawn Ciaran Clark in favour of Curtis Davies in between the last two goals.

Overall, just what we needed and a fantastic start for Gérard Houllier.

Statshacks are not available for cup games, but I will say that it finished with Villa owning 66% of the possession and firing off 12 shots in the 2nd half, five of which were on target, three of them beating keeper Mark Bunn.

Ashley Young had five shots, three on target, two goals and an assist. Heskey will grab the headlines, but surely Ash is the Man of the Match?

Obviously too early to draw any conclusions, but could it be that the nice guy element that Houllier had earmarked was addressed and snuffed out in this game? If so, ironic that it was Mr Nice Guy himself, Emile Heskey, that came on to turn this game around.

The draw for the 4th Round will take place on Saturday 25th September and will include the following teams: Brentford, Leicester, Stoke, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Ipswich, Wolves, Burnley, Birmingham, Northampton, Man Utd, West Brom, West Ham, Swansea, Wigan.

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