Scrappy Villa paste Palace
By James
December 5 2003
Villa went in to the Fourth Round Carling Cup tie against Crystal Palace with high spirits after a good performance on the weekend, however a 3-0 win flattered the home side and on another night Palace could have taken all the spoils.

Villa should have scored more against Southampton last time out and Palace looked like they had picked up some unwanted tips from Villa’s last performance. The Londoners had many chances and should have scored at least once, had it not been for intelligent goalkeeping by Thomas Sorensen.

Early chances fell to Angel, Vassell and Dublin who were all denied by Palace number two Cedric Berthelin. Villa’s increased pressure nearly led to Palace Acting Player-Manager Kit Symons scoring an own goal after good work down the right by Gavin McCann.

The first goal was somewhat fortuitous as Juan Pablo Angel had attempted a pile driver which cannoned off the head of Symons and looped in to the net beyond the stranded ‘keeper Berthelin. Hitzlsperger hit the post shortly after from a 25 yarder as it looked to be heading for an onslaught in Villa’s favour.

Villa twice had a lucky escape minutes later. Firstly, Thomas Sorensen was forced in to an emergency slide-tackle on Dougie Freedman to prevent the Scotsman scoring. Minutes after that the miss of the season so-far occurred. Tommy Black blasted the ball over from as little as a yard in front of the Holte End and he then had the audacity to claim a corner. How he missed nobody knows as it clearly looked easier to score.

Black was subsequently taken off at Half-time to be replaced by Wayne Routledge, who came on and easily looked Palace’s most effective player. His pace and control proved problems for Villa, however it was all to no avail.

HALFTIME – Villa 1 Palace 0

Villa continued their pressure in the second half; however they allowed a slight amount of complacency to creep in to their game. Three earlier Palace chances could have spoilt Villa’s night, although Sorensen was up to the test.

The Danish number one made a good save from a Dougie Freedman effort and did enough to make Shaun Derry fire over the bar. Michael Hughes saw a long range effort get deflected and eventually nestle in to Sorensen’s arms.

De La Cruz nearly got his second ever goal in a Villa shirt as the Ecuadorian – in at right-back once again –fired just wide with a cross-shot. Shortly after Freedman had the Villa fans nerves on edge again as he sailed a free-kick just over the bar and very soon after was denied by Sorensen from close range.

Gavin McCann managed to head home his first goal for Villa to settle the players down and send Villa to an undeserving 2-0 lead. Good work from JLloyd Samuel down the left allowed for McCann to be presented with his chance and he did not deny as his header went through the legs of the Palace ‘keeper.

A flurry of Villa substitutions then followed within a few minutes of each other as Gareth Barry went off to be replaced by Peter Whittingham. Shortly after Darius Vassell was substituted for Swedish striker Marcus Allbäck who did not get in to the game much once his inclusion.

Dion Dublin also went off five minutes later to a standing ovation and was replaced by another member of the Villa Youth Cup winning side Liam Ridgewell.

Hitzlsperger tried one of his trademark long shots, however it fell just wide. Every time the young German touched the ball cries of ‘Shoot’ rained down from the Holte End. The match was settled however just after as hard-working Colombian International Juan Pablo Angel got his just deserts with a simple finish after a good cross from Hitzlsperger.

Stefan Moore showed some of his hidden talent late on as he weaved his way through the Palace back-line but Berthelin denied him once again. Moore unfortunately did not make much impact in the game, despite being given a start. However he was playing on the right wing where he did look lost at times.

All in all, it was a good victory for Villa on paper although they made it hard for themselves and could have been embarrassed had the Palace players improved their finishing.

FULLTIME – Villa 3 Palace 0

My man of the match: Thomas Sorensen He showed good awareness and agility in the Villa goal to make sure there was no upset for Palace. Another solid performance from the Danish international.

TEAMS

Aston Villa Sorensen, De La Cruz, Mellberg, Dublin(Ridgewell 80), Samuel, S.Moore , G.McCann, Hitzlsperger, Barry(Whittingham 72), Angel, Vassell(Allbäck 73). Subs Not Used: Hendrie, Postma (GK).

Crystal Palace Berthelin, Black(Routledge 46), Flemming(Riihilahti 56), Symons, Popovic, Butterfield, Derry(Watson 78), Hughes, Borrowdale, Shipperly, Freedman. Subs Not Used: Granville, Mhyre (GK).

Attendance: 24,258

Other News

+ The draw for the Quarter-Finals took place shortly after the game and Villa will face Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea at Villa Park on Wednesday 17, December.

+ Peter Enckelman has had his loan spell extended at Blackburn for a further month.

Next Up…

Villa travel to Old Trafford on Saturday for one of the hardest scheduled fixtures of the Premiership season and with Villa not winning an away game in the last 14 it will be an even tougher match than usual.

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