English Premier League full time report: Stoke vs Aston Villa, Stoke win it in the death by a score line of 2-1
Stoke City were looking to take on Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium, in what was the last game of the Premier League weekend. What was interesting going into the game was the fact that both the team’s managers were not going to be in the dugouts to cheer their teams on.
Gerard Houllier's appointment as manager was not done on time and hence prevented him from participating in the game and Tony Pullis was tending to some family affairs at home, which is why he couldn't make the trip as well.
Some good news for the Stoke fans was that, Kenwyne Jones was finally fit to participate in the game after picking up an injury to his ankle on the opening weekend. Eider Gudjohnsen was handed his debut for the team along with Marc Wilson, both the players were signed by the team on the deadline day.
The match itself could be summed down into a game of missed chances, poor defending and then eventually moments of brilliance.
The match kicked off with both he teams going toe to toe. Sunderland looked far better then they had near the end of the season and their new signings were to thank for that.
However it was Aston Villa who took the lead in the game. In the thirty fifth minute Stewart Downing scored the opening goal of the game. Gabrielle Agbonlahor whipped in a brilliant cross from the right side of the field and Downing managed to direct a diving header with precision into the back of the net. It was a goal that was not seen everyday since, Downing never really manages to score with his head.
However after the opening goal it was all Stoke. The team went on the offensive and never looked back creating numerous chances.
The team were unlucky not to get a goal back in the first half; however they probably had a lot to talk about in the half time break.
The second half was far more contained then the first, with the best chance coming in the fiftieth minute. Jones headed the ball towards goal but Friedel made a brilliant save to deny the forward.
As the game carried on it seemed like the early goal would have done the trick for Aston Villa. However not having a manager to guide the team can prove to be costly and that's exactly what happened with Villa.
In the eightieth minute Jones finally managed to get the equalizer for the team. The forward met a brilliant cross with his head and managed to guide it goal wards to draw the score line level.
Villa managed to however just go down hill after that. In the last minute of extra time Robert Huth appeared out of nowhere and prodded a ball into the goal. This came as a result of a brilliant pass by Etherington.
Houllier was more then likely to be taking notes of the game and will have a lot to talk about with his team once he finally takes then back to the Villa Park.
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