EPL Half time report: Birmingham City vs. Aston Villa
Starting XI for BIRMINGHAM: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy, Bentley, Ferguson, Hleb, Gardner, Fahey, Derbyshire
Subs: Taylor, Bowyer, Phillips, Zigic, Beausejour, Mutch, Jiranek
Starting XI for ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Clark, Dunne, Collins, Walker, Albrighton, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, Carew, Agbonlahor
Subs: Marshall, Pires, Delfouneso, Cuellar, Bannan, Hogg, Baker
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
In this exciting midlands derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa, there was nothing to choose between the two teams in the first half. The scores remained tied up at 0-0 as both teams lacked the much needed killing touch.
Villa had the perfect chance to go ahead on the 2nd minute, Foster dallied for an age over a back pass and was nearly closed down by Downing, he cleared weakly to Agbonlahor who raced through on goal but shot over the bar. This was yet another
disappointment from the English International, who missed a golden opportunity to score.
In the 6th minute, Bentley played a corner short, got it back, cut onto his left foot and stood up a cross that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roger-Johnson-c31524 headed weakly wide. Bentley, who has joined Aston Villa on loan from Tottenham, had a good first half on his debut.
Agbonlahor was unfortunate as the game progressed as he struck the crossbar during the 8th minute. The player headed goal wards and Carew got a touch, looping the ball onto the top of the bar.
Birmingham City midfielder Alex Hleb had a chance to go for goal from 25 yards but played it wide for Bentley instead. Hleb has never been a shooter from distance since the start of his career at Arsenal.
On the 38th minute, two Birmingham penalty appeals were denied by the referee. The first one was for a handball against Walker, then for an alleged push by Albrighton on Murphy. The Birmingham manager was not at all happy about the decision. The
second one looked genuine but the referee was least interested.
Both sides made plenty opportunities to find the opening goal but none of them bore fruit.
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