Not the scoreline we hoped for, but certainly one we feared. Not a great deal to discuss really, we were soundly beaten by a side who are clearly superior in every single position. We’ve now lost our unbeaten status. Not unexpectedly.
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring by leaping on the opportunity to pull a bicycle kick out of his toolbox, scoring from six yards. That was the only goal of the first half, but although we had created the same number
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We’re back in action for what is the first really big test for Alex McLeish since he came to Villa, possibly one of the toughest of the season, but also as good a time as any to play Man City at their own place.
Over the last 10 times this league fixture has been played, we’ve won just two and lost eight times. No wonder the Castrol Football Prediction doesn’t think much of our chances.
Here’s how McLeish is looking to grab
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Unless you’ve been in a cave, you’ll be well aware of the suggestion from Liverpool’s managing director, Ian Ayre, that his club is getting short changed from the overseas TV money pouring into the Premier League these days. Or, more to the point, the smaller clubs in the league are getting what’s really due to Liverpool.
The good people of Kuala Lumpur, Ayre informs us, are not subscribing to the Premier League TV packages available in their neck of the woods
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One of the more interesting pieces of Aston Villa news to emerge during the international break was the club’s intention to include a clause in future contracts that would oblige players to live within 30 miles of Bodymoor Heath. Or at least have a base to use during what constitutes a “working week” for a Premier League footballer.
The rule is unlikely to be enforced to the letter, I’m sure living 31 miles away won’t be an issue, but the spirit
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The qualification for Euro 2012 is almost done. England will be in Poland and/or Ukraine next summer after comfortably finishing top of Group G, albeit by handing Motenegro an unlikely point and a place in the play-offs in the final game. Ireland also made it to the play-offs, and could be drawn against Montenegro, but Wales and Scotland miss out once again.
England: Ashley Young provided a rare headed finish to an even rarer superb delivery from Theo Walcott. Young then
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Carlos Cuellar got on the pitch last night for the first time since his knee operation in May, playing 45 minutes in the reserves’ 1-0 win over Chelsea – Callum Robinson with the goal – and says that he’s feeling good.
That’s great news for a very popular player, but what happens from here remains to be seen. It seemed likely that Rangers would have pursued their interest to conclusion during the summer had it not been for his knee
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The Young Lions returned to NextGen Series action last week, hosting Fenerbahce at Villa Park in an entertaining 4-0 romp. Samir Carruthers got no less than his early hard work deserved when he opened the scoring, captain Gary Gardner doubled the lead from the spot.
Callum Robinson made it three after the break and Daniel Johnson capped a stunning breakaway with a well taken goal to finish the Turks off. The video below is well worth your time.
The next match will
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Wigan Athletic were finally beaten in the league at Villa Park in a comfortable win for the home side thanks to a goal in either half. The first, a brilliant effort from Gabby Agbonlahor, who then turned provider for the second; setting up an unmissable effort for Darren Bent in front of the Holte End.
If you were to glance at the statistics, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Roberto Martinez might be leaving Birmingham thinking that his side deserved something
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It’s just under five months since Wigan were last at Villa Park and they’ve proven to be something of a bogey team for us in our limited history of playing them. This will only be the 7th time this league fixture has been played, but we’re yet to win one. The pattern so far is LDLDLD; clearly we need to break that pattern one way or another today.
Here’s how Alex McLeish intends to grab the vital win:
Aston Villa
Wigan
1
Shay Given
26
Ali Al-Habsi
2
Alan
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