Spirited Display Earns Rewards

Villa 0 City 1 (Carling Cup 3) 

Who would have thought it?  I would have put money on City being beaten by a considerable margin, if I were a betting woman, so this result was both surprising and welcome.  I travelled to the game by train and when I bought my ticket at New Street for Aston the ticket seller (who was a West Brom supporter) said he hoped we beat them.  My reply was that it was extremely unlikely, but how wrong can you be? 

I wasn’t at Charlton but saw the goals on television and was not impressed by the defensive lapses, but the different line-up, with three centre backs, was an enormous improvement.  The newspaper reports singled out N’Gotty and McAuley as the heroes of the defence but, while not denying the excellent game they both had, I was particularly impressed by Kisnorbo.  He seemed to epitomise the spirit of the team, determined to win every ball and equally determined not to allow Villa any sniff of a goal.  The other change was bringing Stearman back into defence, allowing Chambers to push up more, which he did very effectively. 

The longer the game went on the more it seemed that one goal would settle it and also that City were in with a real chance of getting that goal.  And so it proved, and didn’t Fryatt take it well?  (Or was it that new player at Forest, Fyatt!)  I thought he had delayed too long but he obviously knew what he was doing and slotted home coolly.  It was nice to see the Hume-Fryatt partnership in operation again and they seemed just as effective as any other combination tried so far this season. 

However, without wishing to take anything away from City I have to say that Villa were woeful; were I a supporter I would be seriously worried about relegation.  Was this really the same team that beat Chelsea recently?  Apparently there were six changes but I can’t believe Martin O’Neill would ever want to achieve less than a win – indeed he has said as much – and Barry has been quoted as saying it was the worst he had felt after a match, under their new manager…

Curtis Davies was very honest in an interview on the BBC web site, when he admitted that he had an awful match.  He was not alone!  I fully expected them to be all over us like a rash but they barely had a sniff at goal; after we scored they upped the pressure but there was no power in their attacks and most of their ‘shots’ on goal sailed harmlessly wide or high.  On the few occasions when he was called upon to make a save, Fulop was fantastic; what an acquisition, I hope we can keep him after the end of the season.   

What was heartening, after our recent troubles, was that the players did what we supporters ask of them above all else – to play with passion and to challenge for every ball.  As well as Kisnorbo, Clemence had a good game and Mattock made some valuable last-ditch challenges.  But it would be unfair to single out individuals, as they all deserve praise.  Two of the substitutes were a bit of a surprise; I thought Maybury was out of favour, but he has obviously impressed Megson.  The late introduction of Kenton was clearly a ploy to hang on to the slender lead and it worked well. 

So all in all a good night and a result in the Carling Cup that was only bettered by Coventry’s beating of Manchester United away.  We still have a long way to go and we have all seen too many false dawns, but if Megson can get them to play consistently as they did last night – but with a bit more confidence and belief in themselves – I still feel the season can be turned round.  

My sister travelled to the game with her daughter-in-law, a Villa supporter, who had said all along that she thought we would win; I thought she was just being kind but she obviously knows more about her team than we do.  A crowd of just over 25,000 when the ground holds over 42,000, suggests a lack of interest among Villa fans – for the team or this particular competition?  The stand beneath the City fans behind the goal was practically empty and there were lots of gaps elsewhere.  So we look forward to the draw for the next round with baited breath – what are the odds on Chelsea away?  We now have two home games and an excellent chance to climb the Championship table.

Leicester: Fulop, N'Gotty, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Chambers, Clemence, Kishishev (Maybury 67), Stearman, Mattock, Hume (Campbell 63), Fryatt (Kenton 82). Subs Not Used: Henderson, Sheehan.

Booked: Clemence.   Goals: Fryatt 76.

Aston Villa: Taylor, Mellberg, Davies (Berger 80), Knight, Barry, Petrov, Osbourne (Young 71), Reo-Coker, Maloney, Harewood (Moore 77), Agbonlahor. Subs Not Used: Carson, Gardner.

Att: 25,956.  Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation

Leave a Reply