Aston Villa 2-1 West Brom
By Jemma Tappenden
April 11 2009
Tony Mowbray handed on-loan striker Jay Simpson a full debut, whilst James Morrison and Paul Robinson were both handed recalls to the starting line up as Albion prepared to take on Midlands rivals Aston Villa at Villa Park. Roman Bednar, Chris Brunt and Marek Cech were the men to make way. Villa were boosted by the return of Laursen, Barry, Young and Agbonlahor to their starting line up.

Albion recorded a bright start to the game, with a series of half chances.  To start with Jay Simpson forced Laursen into a clearance into the side netting after skipping past three villa players to cross into the box.  In the 9^th minute Borja Valero had an excellent chance from a Jonathan Greening corner, but could direct his header no closer than wide of the post from 15 yards.

In the 15^th minute clever play between Koren and Simpson allowed the former to unleash a ferocious left footed shot which deflected of Davies and forced Villa keeper Brad Friedel into a low but comfortable save to his left.  Despite early domination, warning signs of Albion’s defensive weaknesses were still there. 

Paul Robinson conceded a needless corner after clearing Ashley Young’s right wing cross.  Barry provided the corner and Sidwell rose up well to put the Baggies defence under pressure.  But Morrison cleared the danger off the line, and Greening booted the ball up field to provide a slight reprieve. 

In the 17^th minute Milner picked out Barry on the right, whose accurate centre allowed ex Albion man Curtis Davies to fire home Villa’s first goal from just 8 yards.  Albion appealed for a foul on Hoefkens by Agbonlahor in the build up, but the goal stood putting Albion on the back foot.

Albion were becoming their own worst enemy, and in the 20^th minute a silly loss of possession from Koren allowed Sidwell a shot on goal from 20 yards.  Carson did well to make the save.  Five minutes later Villa were threatening again, as Young slid past both Hoefkens and Valero to put a shot just inches wide of the target from 18 yards out.  Barry was next in the queue just minutes later, but he fired a shot straight into the arms of Carson.

Villa might have been 2 goals up in the 31^st minute, but Sidwell fired horribly wide from just 15 yards after Milner had centred to him.  Five minutes later the Baggies might have grabbed a goal back as Robinson swung in a decent cross from the left.   But Morrison directed his header straight into the arms of Friedel from just 10 yards.  Just seconds later Luke Moore deflected a goal bound effort off Curtis Davies.

Albion appeared to be getting back some kind of foothold in the game when Villa scored a second.  Poor defending from Leon Barnett allowed Agbonlahor to shoot at goal from the edge of the six yard box, and whilst Carson got a hand to it the Albion keeper only succeeded in putting the ball into the net.

Half Time: Aston Villa 2-0 West Bromwich Albion

Ex Villa man Luke Moore made way for Roman Bednar at the start of the second half, ending any hopes he had of scoring against his former side.  Albion’s leading scorer made an instant impact in the game, providing an inch perfect flick on from Greening’s ball to tee up Morrison in front of goal.  Morrison dummied Laursen and fired home past Friedel with the small help of a deflection off Davies.

Carson made a superb save in the 51^st minute to keep his side in with a chance after Young had unleashed a shot from Milner’s pass.  Young was in the tick of it again two minutes later, this time providing the ball for Sidwell, who forced another fine save from Albion keeper Carson.

Albion were relentless in their efforts to find an equaliser, and in the 57^th minute Bednar did well to hold off both Young and Davies to muscle in on goal.  But from a difficult angle Friedel managed to divert the danger.

In the 65^th minute Mowbray was forced into a second substitution as Morrison left the field of play injured to be replaced by Chris Brunt.  The Baggies continued to apply pressure in search of a goal, but as time moved on it looked increasingly unlikely.

Villa had a golden opportunity to finish off the game as Ashley Young crossed to Agbonlahor at the back post from the left, but the striker placed his effort horribly wide.  The game finished on a controversial note, with Albion adamant they had won a penalty after both Roman Bednar and Robert Koren appeared to have been fouled in the box, but referee Steve Bennett dismissed protests before bringing the game to an end.

Full Time: Aston Villa 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

Morrison (49)

Davies (17)

Agbonlahor (40)

Attendance: 41,757

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