Juan Pablo Angel 2 Ipswich Town 1 - 17/12/01

[Lucky Eddie]

I'd be very grateful of any reviews or footage of this match being my youngest's first trip to Villa Park.

All I can find on the web is the Ipswich Town review.

Thank you.

[Deano's Mullet]

If you can grab a copy of the Aston Villa Review 2002 book theres a whole page dedicated to the entire match. I have the book but i dont have a scanner anymore else i would post it on here. I remember the game well - Finidi George scored for them, Angel scored with a header and then with a deflection. It was a televised game on SKY just before Xmas.

[adrenachrome]

Independent

Villa are rescued by Angel's double

Aston Villa 2 Ipswich Town 1

By Jon Culley

Tuesday, 18 December 2001

Without ever looking measurably better than an opponent with only one victory all season, Villa did enough in the end to raise the spirits at Villa Park, where a planned night of protest against chairman Doug Ellis failed to get off the ground.

Without ever looking measurably better than an opponent with only one victory all season, Villa did enough in the end to raise the spirits at Villa Park, where a planned night of protest against chairman Doug Ellis failed to get off the ground.

Those disgruntled supporters who believe Ellis is not matching his ambitions with an appropriate level of spending instead left chanting the name of one player for whom Ellis can claim to have dug deep, two goals from £9.5m striker Juan Pablo Angel keeping Villa among the contenders despite their unconvincing recent form.

However, even a first win in seven Premiership games did not dissuade manager John Gregory from making more comments designed to prick his chairman's conscience after being told he would have to sell before he can buy, perhaps even parting with Angel to fund new investment. "Juan Pablo has become a hero here and it would make no sense at all to let him go," he said.

Angel's header late in the first half cancelled out the goal with which Finidi George had given Ipswich a surprise lead and the Colombian struck again midway through the second period to raise his tally for the season to 10 goals. A nasty night and live television coverage kept the crowd small and the pressure group who planned to distribute 25,000 "Ellis out" placards must have had a great many left over.

Ellis's biggest shock must have been when Ipswich took the lead. Some five hours and 32 minutes after their last Premiership goal on 18 November, the bottom of the table side went ahead when George, outside the area with defenders between him and the goal, managed to squeeze a low right-footed shot between Peter Schmeichel and his right-hand post.

There was so little fluidity in Villa's play that the equaliser put away by Angel just before half-time came as an unexpected lifeline. The goal stemmed from Matteo Sereni's failure to claim a Steve Staunton corner, the Villa defender launching a second cross after the ball had been hooked away and this time finding the head of Angel, who directed a header beyond the reach of the Italian goalkeeper.

At the start of the second half, Villa did look more convincing and a well-worked move involving Steve Stone and George Boateng on the right almost ended with a sublime goal by Paul Merson, whose chip from 15 yards hit the crossbar with Sereni beaten.

Stone's raiding down the right was as productive a line of attack as either side could muster and it was from this route that Villa moved ahead again after 69 minutes when the right-winger's pass found Angel, who turned away from Mark Venus and had the strength and determination to score despite the attentions of John McGreal, his shot taking a deflection off the defender's boot and looping out of Sereni's reach.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Schmeichel 5; Samuel 5, Mellberg 6, Staunton 7, Wright 5; Stone 8, Boateng 4, Hendrie 6 (Dublin 66, 5), Barry 5; Merson 7, Angel 7 (Vassell, 84). Substitutes not used: Enckelman (gk), Balaban, Bewers.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Sereni 5; Makin 6, McGreal 6, Venus 5, Hreidarsson 6; George 7 (Clapham 6, 65), Holland 7, Magilton 6, Wright 5; Armstrong 5 (Bent, 80), Naylor 5. Substitutes not used: Counago, Bramble, Branagan (gk).

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

[luke25]

Funnily enough I was talking about this game a couple of weeks ago, can't remember Angels first but remember his deflected winner and George's long range skidder

[dave.woodhall]

That was teh night a certain person thought holding up claret cards in teh dark would be a good idea. He blamed the failure of his protest on Villa's (for then) clever marketing idea of giving freebies to lapsed season ticket holders. This, he claimed, meant there would be less 'proper' supporters in the ground and his protest wouldn't look so good, which was why they gave the tickets away. 

[Lucky Eddie]

Thank you kindly :-)

My lad was three and half at the time, he cried at the end of the game as we left the Holte.

He thought we'd spent the last ninety minutes queueing up to have a go and wanted to know why he hadn't had his 'turn on the football garden'.

Happy days, boy he's suffered since!

[Deano's Mullet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1710011.stm

The BBC report on the match complete with photos

[Pete3206]

That shirt is awful.

[cdbearsfan]

I remember the golden days of cheering for the brave boys in purple and green.

[The Left Side]

That shirt is awful.

Agreed!

[*shellac*]

I remember the golden days of cheering for the brave boys in purple and green.

I try not to.  But the football we played then was good though.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Birmingham Evening Mail (England)

December 18, 2001

Football: Never mind the quality, Villa . . .; Villa 2 Ipswich 1;
Sport

SECTION: Pg. 46 ISSN: 0963-7923

LENGTH: 838 words


Byline: Bill Howell

STUART Gray had waited an age for this, Villa even longer. But it meant even more to John Gregory.

The obvious relief on the final whistle in his two-handed salute said it all. This was a night when performance meant nothing, result everything. It was an evening where the chairman was supposed to be the one under the microscope from angry fans. That fell flat.

But it was Gregory who displayed the emotions of a man under intense pressure as his team struggled for so long to overcome the rock-bottom visitors before finally producing a first win in eight games andfirst since hitting top on October 27.

Thank goodness for magic man Paul Merson, at the heart of Villa once again, and the boss also owes a debt to Colombian Juan Pablo Angeldespite denying him the chance of a home hat-trick for the second time in seven weeks by replacing him late on.

Gray's season began in pearshaped fashion when he was sacked at Southampton but he expected things to change after arriving at Villa Park as first team coach.

But six matches and just three points followed before Angel's fifth and sixth league goals of the season brought him a welcome if unconvincing first win. Nevertheless a win it was and it leaves Villa justsix points behind Liverpool at the top and although they may failed miserably to get the four goal winning margin they needed to leapfrogSpurs into seventh spot, in the end it didn't matter a jot.

It wasn't pretty, but all credit for securing the win and showing battling qualities after falling behind.

Villa were booed off at half-time, quite an achievement when Angel's equaliser had arrived barely 90 seconds beforehand.

It was hardly a great advert for Villa's few Englishman either, with Sven-Goran Eriksson looking decidedly bored sitting alongside chairman Ellis and wondering quite what he was doing.

Ellis will have been far the happier of the two having seen the planned 25,000 placard protest flounder.

At least Eriksson had the benefit of seeing Nigerian Finidi Georgeat close quarters before their World Cup encounter in the summer. Hecan't have failed to have been impressed with the winger's superb 25yard finish which gave the Suffolk club a shock 18th minute lead.

George Boateng's misplaced pass allowed Herman Hreidersson to slide the ball Richard Naylor and from his lay-off George pulled the trigger through Steve Staunton's legs to leave fit-again keeper Peter Schmeichel grasping at thin airas he dived late towards his right hand post.

Eriksson saw little of Lee Hendrie, or late sub Darius Vassell, and Gareth Barry may have given him only occasional food for thought.

It was to be Villa's older English hand that caught the eye. Merson tried everything to get his team-mates to click. It was just unfortunate that none of them were on the same wavelength.

Then came the breakthrough down to Steve Staunton's persistence than anything, with a perfect cross which allowed Angel to attack the ball and nod home.

Five minutes after the break Merson was at it again with an exquisite chip from outside the box that rattled the bar. But with the visitors enjoying more and more of the game, eventually totalling 17 attempts at goal almost double Villa's nine, up popped Angel with his second on 70 minutes.

A deft touch from Steve Stone's pass took him away from Mark Venusand his shot then took a wicked deflection off John McGreal.

Town still gave Villa the fright of their lives in search of only their tenth point of the season with Naylor twice fluffing good headed chances, Jamie Clapham firing over and then Jermaine Wright smashing a vicious dipping volley inches wide.

MAN FOR MAN

VILLA (4-4-2)

Schmeichel: bystander; (6) Samuel: dependable, (6) Mellberg: classy, (7) Staunton: leadership, (7) Wright: steady; (6) Stone: dangerous, (7) Boateng: got better, (6) Hendrie: replaced again, (6) Barry: got stuck in; (6) H Merson: Villa's heart and soul, ( Angel: killer instinct. ( SUB: Dublin (Hendrie, 67): telling at both ends (7). Vassell (Angel, 85): no time. (5). Not used: Balaban, Enckelman (gk), Bewers.

IPSWICH (4-4-2): Sereni; Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson; George(Clapham, 65), Holland, Magilton, Wright; Armstrong (Bent, 81), Naylor. Not used: Counago, Bramble, Branagan (gk).

GOALS: Angel (44) six-yard header from Staunton's superb cross from the right too good for Sereni who could only get one hand to it, Angel (70) shot from edge of area took wicked deflection off McGreal Villa. George (18) 25-yard low drive between Staunton's legs beat Schmeichel inside his right hand post Ipswich.

REFEREE: M Dean (Wirral): sensible and quietly in control.

BOOKINGS: Naylor (foul) Ipswich. ATTENDANCE: 29,320.

NEXT MATCH: Derby (a): Saturday (noon kick-off).

CAPTION(S):

n NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT: The response to the `Ellis Out' campaigndidn't quite have the desired effect; n HIGH ON EMOTION: John Gregory's relief is evident but the agony continues for Ipswich manager George Burley; n THRILLS AND SPILLS: Richard Naylor and Alan Wright clash. Juan Pablo Angel celebrates his brace

[Chico Hamilton III]

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)

December 18, 2001, Tuesday

Angel halts struggling Villa's fall

BYLINE: By Henry Winter

SECTION: Pg. 02

LENGTH: 841 words

ASTON VILLA 2 IPSWICH TOWN 1
ANOTHER bizarre episode in the Aston Villa soap opera saw two goals for Juan Pablo Angel bring a first victory in seven Premiership games against a backdrop of mild dissent towards the chairman, Doug Ellis. One can only imagine what Villa would achieve if they were not blighted by what the manager, John Gregory, calls "off-field politics".

These inevitably centre on Gregory's desire to expand his squad, particularly in central midfield where they had hoped to bring in Muzzy Izzet from Leicester City, which is set against a chairman determined to balance the books. Gregory has even had to live with the possibility that he may have to sell his prized asset, Angel, before he can rebuild.



"It doesn't make any sense whatsoever to sell," said Gregory, whose removal of Angel late on triggered an outburst of booing from the Holte End. "I have been told that I have to sell to spend. Angel's an absolute hero here. You saw the fans' anger when he came off the pitch; they adore him here. If I sold him, I would probably get lynched up in the Doug Ellis Stand."
Although Angel's winning goal was fortunate, taking a deflection off John McGreal, the Colombian was one of Villa's few saving graces, along with Paul Merson. Otherwise Villa's football was poor and edgy, and victory flattered them. "I've often been accused of having a certain amount of arrogance but the players seem to lack confidence playing at home," Gregory said.

"Away from home, we are a different proposition; at Highbury we went out and took the game by the scruff of the neck and played with passion. Playing here, I think the off-field politics gets to the players. The players want to know where the club are heading and whether there will be additions. When Leeds United's players heard that Robbie Fowler was coming, you could see the uplifting impact it had on them.

"We need more midfield players. If only we could bolster the squad and speculate a little bit, but I have to adhere to the club policy here. I am just the manager; I don't control the financial things. I am by no means a pauper, we have spent considerable amounts on the team but we had the opportunity three weeks ago to bolster the club [with Izzet] and we could have kicked on a bit. But we didn't take the opportunity."

Since then, Villa have been in free fall, toppling from first position to eighth, although this victory takes them level on points with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The full complement of points had not appeared likely when Finidi George struck for Ipswich after 17 minutes.

When George Boateng lost possession in midfield, Town swiftly worked the ball via Hermann Hreidarsson and Richard Naylor back into George, who turned and swept a sweet and low 25-yarder past Peter Schmeichel. The Dane, returning after a calf injury, was unable to push strongly enough off his right leg and failed to react quickly enough to divert the surprise shot.

As the delighted Ipswich fans voiced their song of praise to their Nigerian - surely the first time "tractor" has been rhymed with "Africa" - their Villa counterparts stared in disbelief at their side's incompetence. Ipswich's first Premiership goal in 332 minutes was deserved reward for their perseverance, but it also stemmed from Villa's hapless first-half nature.

Merson, who was at least trying, attempted to drag Villa back into contention but his is a team of few natural leaders. Until Angel struck, the only thing that Villa had passed successfully was the buck. After 25 minutes, Jermaine Wright rose unchallenged to head Chris Makin's cross goalwards only for Schmeichel to rescue Villa.

Undeserved parity came Villa's way two minutes from the break. After Matteo Sereni had flapped at a corner, the ball fell kindly to Steve Staunton on the right. Meeting it well with his trusty left foot, Staunton planted the ball into the box where Angel, rising above McGreal, headed firmly at goal. Sereni got a touch but Angel's header was too firm and well-placed to be stopped.

At last Villa had got people into the box. Lee Hendrie attempted to get forward more in the second period but the most promising moment as the half opened was Merson's wonderful chip, which cleared Schmeichel but struck the bar. Gregory then sent on Dion Dublin, giving Villa another target but it was Angel who pushed Villa ahead after 69 minutes.

Steve Stone transferred possession to Angel, who moved down the inside-right corridor before unleashing a shot which caught McGreal on its way in over Sereni. "It was a wicked deflection," said George Burley, Ipswich's manager.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel; Samuel, Mellberg, Staunton, A Wright; Stone, Boateng, Hendrie (Dublin 65), Barry; Merson, Angel. Subs: Enckelman (g), Balaban, Vassell, Bewers.

Ipswich Town: Sereni; Makin, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson; George (Clapham 63), Holland, Magilton, J Wright; Armstrong (M Bent 79), Naylor. Subs: Counago, Bramble, Branagan (g), Booked: Naylor.

Referee: M Dean (Heswall).

[Chico Hamilton III]

match report from down under:

Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)

December 18, 2001, Tuesday

Villa moves up, Ipswich sinks

SECTION: SPORT; Pg. 69

LENGTH: 145 words



ASTON Villa joined the bottleneck at the top of the English premier league today when it recovered from a slow start to beat bottom club Ipswich 2-1.
Villa's win lifts it to 27 points, six adrift of leader Liverpool, but equal on points with Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs.



Villa had not won since going top of the league in October and fell behind in the 18th minute when Finidi George fired a low shot past Peter Schmeichel from 25 metres.
But goals in the 44th and 70th minute from Colombian international striker Juan Pablo Angel kept the East Anglian side a favourite for relegation after finishing fifth last season.

After Paul Merson, the best player on view, hit the bar for Villa with a clever chip, Angel won it 20 minutes from time.

His hopeful shot took a massive deflection over the head of stranded Ipswich keeper Matteo Sereni.

[Chico Hamilton III]

From Canada:

The Standard (St. Catharines, Ontario)

December 18, 2001 Tuesday Final Edition

Villa rallies to defeat Ipswich

SOURCE: Associated Press

SECTION: Sports; Sportsline; Pg. C3

LENGTH: 78 words

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- Juan Pablo Angel scored twice as Aston Villa rallied to defeat last-place Ipswich Town in Premier League soccer action Monday.

Finidi George opened the scoring for Ipswich at the 18-minute mark. But Angel tied the score in the 44th minute before netting the winner in the 70th minute on a shot that deflected in off an Ipswich defender.
The victory was Villa's first in seven games. Ipswich ran its winless streak to 15 games.