|
| |
| |
Barclays Premiership - Match 26 |
| |
Season 2007-2008 |
|
 |
ASTON VILLA |
1 v 1 |
NEWCASTLE UNITED |
 |
|
|
Wilfred Bouma 48
John Carew 51, 72, 90 (pen) |
|
Michael Owen 4 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Date: |
Saturday 9th February 2008 |
| |
Venue: |
Villa Park |
| |
Kick Off: |
12:45pm
(GMT) |
| |
Australian
Live TV:
|
Foxsports 2 |
| |
Attendance: |
51,105 |
| |
Referee: |
Mike Dean |
| |
Read Match Preview |
|
| |
|
|
 |
Aston Villa:
Carson,
Mellberg (Gardner 46), Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Petrov (Harewood 46), Reo-Coker,
Barry, Young (Osbourne 90), Carew, Maloney
Subs Not Used: Taylor,
Knight |
| |
Booked:
Carew, Reo-Coker |
| |
|
|
 |
Newcastle:
Given (Harper 54), Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Beye, Milner, Barton (Emre 74),
Butt, Duff, Smith, Owen
Subs Not Used:
Jose Enrique, Faye, Viduka |
| |
Booked:
Butt |
| |
|
|
| |
Post
Match Comments:
Kevin Keegan:
"I had no complaints about the first half
at all. I said to the players we had built a good platform from which to
go on and win a football match.
Instead of going a goal down like we have been doing in most recent
games, we went in front and handled everything Villa threw at us. I
impressed at half-time on the players the importance of the opening 15
minutes of the second half and picking up where we left off.
We were unlucky with Villa's first goal
which took a deflection and even then (Newcastle goalkeeper) Shay Given
would have saved it if he hadn't slipped and pulled his groin. Before
you knew it, we were getting bullied, especially by Carew and (Marlon)
Harewood, and they were basically doing what they wanted to do with us
at times.
That was the disappointing aspect and
that is what I told the players. There were still some very good
performances but who cares when you get beat 4-1.
We got the lead today and still
couldn't go on and win so you sort of run out of excuses in that
department. When you look at the second half the positives are forgotten
because of the negatives and we are very fragile at the moment."
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"We had more drive and determination in the second half. John Carew is a
real handful and a super player and was outstanding and also scored a
hat-trick. Marlon Harewood has been waiting for his chance but every
time he has come on he has had a major influence and he did that in this
match. I have got more confidence in the players than they have in
themselves but it is getting there with time." |
|
| |
|
|
| |
A frustrated and baffled Newcastle
United management team |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Match Report: |
|
| |
A Jekyll and Hyde performance by Newcastle
United at Villa Park, had a disappointed and baffled Kevin Keegan still
looking for his first victory in his second spell in charge.
This lunchtime kick off started well for Keegan when on 4 minutes
Michael Owen popped up in the box eluding his markers to head the ball,
with the aid of a slight deflection from Gareth Barry, past keeper Scott
Carson.
For the rest of the first half Newcastle were quite able to nullify any
Aston Villa attacking threat. The defence looked comfortable enough, bar
a couple of sloppy moments. Attacking wise both James Milner and Damien
Duff showed good endeavour trying to get down both flanks, Michael Owen
looked busy and lot shaper than at any time this season. Keegan would
have been encouraged with the performance and the platform his team had
given themselves.
That platform only lasted 6 minutes as a shelf shocked Newcastle
capitulated it's lead in all too familiar style these days. The
depressing sight of our team's heads collectively drop, is a sight we
are getting used too and a distinctly worrying trend in our now obvious
relegation battle.
To concede 4 away goals to a top quality side is one thing but to
concede 4 goals in 45 minutes against a team not at it's best tells the
real story.
None of the goals were world class and all were pretty avoidable for any
decent side. We certainly are not that these days, as Keegan has
inherited a squad of serial under performers who apparently seem no
longer motivated.
Terrace and internet talk about team selection and the use of
substitutes on the day do bare some merit but they perhaps are born out
of frustration, with the realisation that deep down different personal
probably wouldn't have affected the outcome.
Our players need to use this extended break in action to have a long
look at themselves in the mirror. Yes team selection and tactics have
played there part but ultimately the players performances on the pitch
have got us in the mess and it's only them who can get us out of this.
The worrying sign though is that they have so far failed to be inspired
by the arrival of Keegan, his obvious passion for the club and the
impact it's had on the fans, which has lifted the whole club.
So what faith do we really have in these players collectively to get us
out of this?
Keegan is very publicly finding out a lot about the players he has and
what type of characters they are. The list of players he's thinking of
discarding will be growing by the minute, previous reputations players
had are being thrown out the window.
The real new era will not begin until next season, a new team and a new
start, whatever league that may be in. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSSIE MAGS |
|
|
|
