English Premier League – Match Review: Stoke City versus Aston Villa 2-1
Stoke City took on Aston Villa who were under their new manager, Gerard Houlier for their fourth English Premier League match of the 2010-2011 season. Stoke were looking to bounce back from a disappointing third round of matches during which they ended up as second best against the English Champions Chelsea F.C. Chelsea completely dominated Stoke in the encounter and ended up as comprehensive winners by two goals to nil.
Villa on the other hand were in an upbeat mood for the match as the Premier League resumed after a two week international break. Aston Villa made management changes in those two weeks as Randy Lerner appointed Houlier as the club’s permanent football manager. Villa won their last Premier League game against Everton, it was a match in which Villa stood the test of Everton’s attack and held till the end to get a valuable one nil victory over the Merseyside Blues.
Villa adopted a 4-4-2 formation for the match and they entrusted their English national team striker, Gabriel Agbonlahor to trouble the weak Stoke defence. On the other hand, Stoke went with their new signing Kenwyne Jones up front, Jones was signed by Tony Pulis in the summer transfer window from Sunderland. Jones’s arrival at Stoke has been seen by many as a move forward for the Potters, who needed reinforcements as far as their attacking department of the squad was concerned. Jones was tasked with getting the goals for his new club side against Villa.
Surprisingly both the managers were absent in the start of the match from their respective benches due to some personal reasons. Villa started the match on the back foot as Stoke buoyant under their home support, attacked early on to cause their opponents a hand full of problems. In the 11th minute of the match, Stoke almost went in the lead through Jones, who was played in by Wilson from the midfield. However, Freidel stood up strongly and blocked Kenwyne’s shot on goal to keep both the teams on level scores.
The first goal of the match came in the 36th minute through Villa’s winger Stewart Downing. Downing timed his run brilliantly and connected with Gabriel Agbonlahor’s cross from the right to make it 1-0 in favour of Aston Villa. It was a unusual goal for Downing, who is apparently not that famous for being prolific with his head.
Villa played their way into the match as the first half wore on and quickly found themselves with chances to double their lead. In the 41st minute, Ashley Young misplaced his header from a short range out. Just before the first half ended, Villa had another chance with Downing but this time the English international footballer failed to convert the opportunity that had presented itself before him. Half time came with the score line at 1-0 to Aston Villa.
At the start of the second half Tony Pulis arrived at the bench for Stoke and provided his team with a much needed morale boost as the second period of the match kicked off. Stoke rushed forwards in the early moments of the second half and almost found their equalizer through Jones, whose header was again parried away by Brad Freidel in the 51st minute of the match.
The pass to Jones was played by Etherington from Stoke’s midfield. In the 57th minute of the match, Stoke threatened again as one of Rory Delap’s trademark throw inns found itself at the feet of Stoke’s winger Etherington. However, his shot was blocked by a combined of Villa defender inside their own six yard box.
Persistence paid off finally for Stoke and Kenwyne Jones as in the 80th minute of the match, the Trinidadian striker found the back of the net after he met Etherington’s cross with authority at the far post of the Aston Villa goal. It was Jones’s first goal for his new club in the English Premier League. There was drama at the end as Villa were left distraught with their heads in their hands.
From the free kick which was taken by the substitute Jermaine Pennant, the ball fortunately fell to Etherington who smashed it across the Villa penalty area; Huth got at the end of the pass and finished it spectacularly in the top right corner of the net. The goal came in the 93rd minute and it was the last kick of the match eventually sealed a 2-1 win for Stoke City over Aston Villa.
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