Tony Mowbray’s initial squad of 16.  Karl Hoefkens made way at the back once again for Gianni Zuiverloon as Albion prepared to take on their nearest and bitterest rivals in front of  the Sky TV cameras. 

Villa boss Martin O’Neill made three changes to his side, with Cuellar, Gardner and Milner all dropping to the bench as Young, Carew and w Baggies man Curtis Davies all recovered from injuries in time to start. 

Keen to build on last weeks winning ways, and for once have the upper hand over their neighbours, Albion started the much brighter of the two sides, Jonathan Greening recording the games first real chance as early as the third minute, with a ferocious 25 yard drive which Brad Friedel in the Villa goal handled comfortably.  It was an early warning sign to the Villa keeper that the boys in blue and white meant business. 

A few minutes later Albion were showing more impressive strength, and came agonisingly close to scoring an opener when James Morrison cleverly dispossessed Shorey and placed a dangerous cross which was just inches away from Chris Brunt to connect with. 

After being bombarded by the Baggie boys in the opening stages of the game, the boys in claret and blue showed their Midland neighbours that they wouldn’t be quite the push over they hoped when they created their first real chance in the 14^th minute.  Big man John Carew was just a hairs breadth away from putting the Birmingham side ahead from an Ashley Young free kick. 

Villa would show Albion over the next ten minutes just how experienced in the Premiership they really are, with young star Agbonlahor causing Scott Carson a moment of worry as he struggled to gather his downward header.  Moments later Agbonlahor was demonstrating just why his international career looks set to get off to a flying start as a burst of pace down the left kept Baggies fans holding their breath.  Only when he dragged his shot horribly wide of the target was the breath expelled. 

But Albion had given more than a decent account of themselves in the opening 20 minutes, and continued to press Villa at every opportunity.  But in the 21^st minute, and early injury blow saw the introduction of Do-Heon Kim, as Chris Brunt hobbled down the tunnel to receive treatment. 

Still, worse was to come just 6 minutes later, when Villa completely stunned Albion, team, manager and fans alike with two goals in a minute.  In the 27^th minute Ashley Young placed a free kick perfectly into the box to Carew, who punished Albion for leaving him unmarked by converting with a header to put the Villa one up. 

Less than a minute later, a long ball from Ashley Young, searching once again for Carew was dealt with by Leon Barnett.  Unfortunately the diversion fell neatly into the path of Agbonlahor, who didn’t need inviting twice to give Jonas Olsson the slip and net from 15 yards up.  Albion fans, who had seen their team give their absolute all, were quite literally stunned into silence. 

But five minutes later the Baggies showed their fighting spirit and pulled a goal back.  Robert Koren suddenly found himself in acres of space on the edge of the box, and unleashed a ferocious shot which Friedel failed to hold.  The rebound fell nicely for Morrison, who made no mistake in sneaking past Shorey to reduce to two goal deficit. 

The Albion goal did little to dishearten Villa, who still filled with the fire of their two goal raid, continued to look a thread on the break.  But Albion were not down and out either, and infact finished the half as the stronger of the two sides, but unable to find an equaliser. 

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Aston Villa 

Albion came out after the break with the same fire in their bellies, determined to pressurise Villa from the start.  Zuiverloon was unlucky infact to see his 25 yard effort creep wide of the target.   But they were lucky not to be 3-1 down on 50 minutes, when Carew was defied by only the post after getting the better of Carson from a lovely through ball supplied by Reo-Coker. 

It was a spot Carew must be fond of, as three minutes later he found the same post in exactly the same place with a downwards header from Petrov’s centre.  Zuiverloon was on-hand to clear the danger. 

In the 57^th minute Roman Bednar and Borja Valero made way for Ishmael Miller and Luke Moore, changing the formation to 4-4-2 from 4-5-1 for the first time in the game.  Moore may well have become an instant hero for Albion when a Greening cross fell nicely to him in the box.  But his effort was deflected wide by Gareth Barry. 

Villa were still threatening Albion however, who would have conceded a third had Scott Carson not reacted extremely well to stop a 25 yard piledriver from Reo-coker after a nasty deflection off Robinson.  Moments later Reo-coker was gifted another chance when Albion failed to deal with an Ashley Young cross.  But the Villa man wasted his chance from 15 yards. 

Never looking to give up, Albion continued to search for their second until the dying stages of the game.  Olsson headed a glorious chance from a Greening corner over the target, proving that just a minute of first half madness was enough to seal the points for the boys in claret and blue.   

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Aston Villa 

Morrison (34) 

Carew (27) 

Agbonlahor (29) 

Attendance: 26,011

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