English Premier League – Match Review: Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Aston Villa 1 -2
Wolverhampton Wanderers played out an enthralling match against Aston Villa, Wolves adopted a conventional 4-4-2 formation which meant that Marcus Hahnemann started in goal for them, in front of the American national, Craddock and Berra
played as centre backs. At the left back position Foley was deployed whereas on the right side of defence Stephen Ward was chosen ahead of Elokobi by the former Irish team manager, Mick McCarthy.
Wolverhampton’s midfield four included the likes of Henry and David Jones in midfield and Edwards alongside Jarvis in wide areas. Wanderer’s two strikers on the evening were Kevin Doyle and Stephen Taylor. Aston Villa on the other hand
went with a conservative 4-5-1 formation with Brad Friedel in goal for them. Luke Young and Stephen Warnock played at right back and left back respectively for Aston Villa. In midfield, Reo Coker played as the defensive midfielder of the two central midfielders
whilst Petrov was charged with the offensive responsibilities. Downing and Ashley Young alongside Mark Albrighton took up their roles as traditional wingers whereas Emile Heskey played as Gerard Houllier’s singular striker.
Wolves started off strongly despite the fact that Villa controlled much more of the ball and gave their rivals less time and space in the centre of the park, nonetheless Wolves and their physical play worked for them for the starting twenty
minutes. Their star strikers Doyle and Fletcher provided real threats to which Warnock and Collins had respond frequently. Warnock became the first player of the night to see the referee’s yellow card as he was booked for his rash challenge on David Edwards
in the 18th minute of the match. Such an early booking was considered a poor decision by the referee as it bounded the left back to be much more conservative in his approach to the game therefore dampening the progress.
Villa’s first goal came in the 25th minute of the match. The young winger ghosted past his winger and produced a tantalizing ball as he whipped it inside the Wolverhampton penalty area. Stewart Downing made an excellently
timed run from behind his market, which allowed him to make good contact with the cross. In doing so the former Middlesbrough left sided midfielder gave his team the lead as the score line jumped to 1-0 in favour of the Villains.
The one goal deficit acted as caffeine for Wolves, who were woken up from their slumber. After conceding the goal they looked much quicker on the ball and tried to make things work for themselves in the final minutes of the match. Wolves
were in control from thereon in as their front men worked extremely hard to retain possession. Nonetheless, they found it hard to penetrate in behind the Villa defence who dealt with the Wanderer’s pretty easily for the first half of the match.
In the second half, Wolves came out strongly and after the first ten minutes, they got their equalizer through Matt Jarvis. Jarvis crossed the ball from the left side of midfield towards the far post of the Aston Villa goal; however the
flight of the ball was misjudged by Brad Friedel and his defenders who allowed it to tumble into their goal. It was a freakish goal by the English winger but nonetheless an equally effective one. It was also a well deserved goal for Wolves in the 61st minute,
as they had been on top ever since the second half kicked off.
In the 67th minute of the match, Gabriel Agbonlahor was introduced into the game by Aston Villa in place of Mark Albrighton. It was a tactical move by Gerard Houllier who was looking for pace in behind the Wolves
defence through this substitution. After getting their equalizer, Wolves seemed more comfortable on the ball whereas Villa were only limited to shots from outside the penalty area as a result of Wolverhampton’s defensive organization.
However in the dying moments of the match, more precisely in the 86th minute of the second half, Heskey rose above everyone in the Wolves defence to head Stephen Warnock’s chipped cross into the back of Wolverhampton’s
goal. It was a marvellously powerful header by the ex-England international striker. Emile Heskey’s goal gave Wolverhampton a 2-1 lead which they easily kept hold off till the final whistle of the match to gather all three points against their local city
rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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