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Both sides fielded their
strongest line ups, and it turned out to be a very entertaining
game. The opening moments weren't that interesting, but we strung
some good moves together, while Villa always looked dangerous on the
break.
Villa looked sharp in the
final third, and had a penalty appeal turned down after just 10
minutes, when Allback was caught by Jim Walker. Gavin McCann
looked a cut above everyone else on the field, he was pulling the
strings in the Villa midfield, and he went close with an effort from
outside the area mid way through the first half. Villa went on to
have other chances which were missed by McCann and Hitzlsperger,
while Samuel and Vassell were getting a lot of time on the ball out
wide.
 Despite
Villa having most of the half by chances, we had long periods of
possession and moved the ball around the field well. Leitao and
Corica were sent chasing balls down the flanks as we pushed on, and
Leitao even managed to make Alpay look like such a dummy that he
had to hack him down to save face. We had a few half chances,
including a free kick which failed to trouble Postma in the Villa
goal.
The Walsall goal came after a
passage of play that had seen the Saddlers keep the ball just inside
the Villa half, and steadily make their way to the Villa goal. The
ball was chipped in the penalty area for Jorge Leitao who spotted
Paul Merson on the back post, and as the ball dropped Merson stabbed
the ball past the stranded Postma.
 Mersons
goal was greeted with a standing ovation from the Villa fans, whose
attitude throughout the game was not reflected by their
players.
Half Time: Walsall 1-0
Villa
David O'Leary must have given
the Villa a right telling off at half time, because his boys were
fast out of the blocks and put the Saddlers on the back foot
straight away. We were under pressure for the first 5 or 10
minutes of the first half, and Villa managed to equalise when Darius
Vassell latched on to the unpopular Lee Hendrie's cross.
Walsall took the lead on 56
minutes when Gary Birch was given space outside the Villa area,
moved forward with the ball, hit a hard low shot through a group of
Villa defenders, and saw the ball sneak under the body of Postma who
must have had a poor view of the proceedings.
 As
the likes of Kris Taylor, Mark Wright and Karl Hawley were
introduced, the Saddlers stayed on top of the game. Simon
Osborn nearly made it 3-1 when Corica set him up after a mazy run
down the left flank which took him from the half way line to inside
the Villa area.
The attitude of the Villa in
the second half was atrocious. Alpay continued to hack at
those who made him look like a dummy, and Lee Hendrie took to
belting the ball at his own fans, only to be greeted with a chorus
of your not fit to wear the shirt.
Full Time: Walsall 2-1
Villa |
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