Charles N’Zogbia matched Darren Bent’s achievement of scoring on his debut in tonight’s final pre-season game in Braga; a 1-1 draw that would probably be given to the home side on points by the judges. If we did such a thing.
Vagner Love’s stunt double, Alan, opened the scoring for the home side with a wicked effort from 25 yards that nestled the top corner and left Shay Given no chance. Questions will be asked about the space he was allowed
Two second half goals gave Derby the win in a game missing a lot of our big names, including new boy Charles N’Zogbia, but provided a useful, if uninspiring, run out for a lot of young squad players.
This post is more a stake in the ground to record the result, I managed to pick up very little during what was very much a low key, perhaps even dull, affair. From pictures at the ground, and descriptions floating around the web,
The game was only 32 second old when Josh McEachran thumped the ball into the roof of the net from two yards out. Shay Given stretched out a desperate arm, but wasn’t able to prevent Chelsea taking the lead inside the first minute. Not the ideal start to the Asia Cup final on a pitch that would provide almost as big a challenge as the oppressive heat.
The move had started in simple fashion; Jose Bosingwa sent a perfectly weighted long
Yes, it’s just pre-season. Yes, it’s still early days, there’s much to be done. Nevertheless, the positive signs continue. The green shoots of recovery are quite possibly poking their heads through the soil.
Darren Bent (who else?) got the only goal of the game in typically oppressive conditions in Hong Kong, but there were encouraging performances all around the pitch. Most impressive, perhaps, was the obvious communication between the players who were well organised and clearly playing for each other.
McLeish made
McLeish’s first game in charge ended in a comfortable 3-1 at the Bescot thanks to a brace from Darren Bent and rare goal from Emile Heskey, but it could have been much more with several players going close throughout the game, notably Nathan Delfouneso during a strong second half performance.
Interesting to note the two Stephens coming in from the cold to make their first Villa team sheets in, oh I don’t know, ages to prove that McLeish meant it when
Wow. What a day! The game wasn’t all that thrilling, but Liverpool have been beaten at Villa Park for the first time in 13 years thanks to a superb strike from Stewart Downing and, with the other results today, we end up finishing in 9th place. A top half finish, on top of the Midlands once again despite our worst performance over 38 games for five years.
And… if that wasn’t enough, Birmingham City were relegated, initially thanks to hapless Wolves
Hands up if you saw that result coming. Hey. You there are the back… put your hand down, you little fibber!
Well, okay, Arsenal have really gone off the boil as this season has lumbered to its conclusion, but I can’t honestly claim to have expected a win today. A draw perhaps. I’d have been delighted with the point that would have finally guaranteed our Premier League survival regardless of other results. Three is exceptionally welcome.
And we can thank Darren Bent.
Charles N’Zogbia’s well taken opener was cancelled out by a rare Ashley Young free kick during a first half which threatened to boil over, Emile Heskey providing much of the heat, but the second half failed to live up to expectations. Neither side can feel aggrieved with an equal share of the spoils.
It was a strange game. Wigan started the livelier, better organised side. Villa’s early response mostly coming from an industrious Kyle Walker looking to exploit space down the
The killer habit of losing points from winning positions returned with a vengeance today after we somehow conspired to lose to a ten man Baggies side that were there for the taking. Once again, it’s the same old story of failing to capitalise on opportunities at one end and then being punished by momentary lapses of concentration at the back.
It started off in encouraging fashion when Abdoulaye Meite bizarrely turned Stewart Downing’s cross into his own net inside the first