Pre-Season Friendlies 2012

[VillaAlways]

Match Report

Match report: Burton Albion 1-2 Villa
14 Jul 2012 17:21



By Dan Harrison at The Pirelli Stadium

A classy debut strike from Brett Holman ensured a winning start for new manager Paul Lambert.

Although Villa fell behind early on to Robbie Weir's spectacular long-range effort, their football at times was as glowing the new lime green away kit.

An own goal from Marcus Holness restored parity in a first-half which saw another new signing Karim El Ahmadi sparkle in midfield.

Holman's then bagged the winner late in the second period to cap a bright display from Lambert's Lions.

It was a fitting way to usher in Villa's bright new era.

The 2,300 travelling supporters didn't hold back in showing their appreciation for new boss Lambert.

Chants of "Lambert, give us a wave" were duly acknowledged by the Scotsman as he patrolled the technical area during his first match at the helm.

As well as the excitement for the new man on the touchline, there was plenty of intrigue surrounding fresh faces on the pitch.

Lambert named summer arrivals El Ahmadi and Matthew Lowton in the starting XI, while Enda Stevens, Daniel Johnson, Samir Carruthers and goalkeeper Andrew Marshall all made their first starts for the club.

Weir did his best to spoil the party atmosphere among the Villa fans when his stunning 30-yard shot nestled in the corner of the net on nine minutes.

Nevertheless, it did little to stop the travelling contingent enjoying Villa's high-tempo, incisive football.

El Ahmadi linked play with elegance and intelligence in the central ground.

The former Feyenoord man glided through the middle of the park and forced keeper Ross Atkins into a low save on 11 minutes.

Returning striker Darren Bent arrived a fraction too late to meet a cross from Stevens after the first of several driving runs from Charles N'Zogbia.

Speculative ong-range attempts from Carruthers and Johnson veered just off target, while Bent's instinctive first-time effort rolled inches wide after he beat the offside trap to connect with Johnson's chipped ball.

The equaliser arrived three minutes before the break following another swift, vibrant attack down the left hand side.

Irish full-back Stevens capped a bright individual first-half display by racing on to Carruthers' intricate pass.

He served a perfect low cross on a plate for Weimann, whose effort went in off defender Holness.

Holman took centre stage in the second-half as Lambert opted to change his entire outfield personnel.

The Australian international and midfielder Barry Bannan were the standout performers in a revamped Villa line-up.

The pair almost combined when Bannan's cross to the back post was just out of reach for his outstreched team-mate.

Another second-half sub Stephen Warnock motored on to a perfectly-weighted cross-field ball from Bannan but Burton's replacement keeper Dean Lyness intercepted the cross before Nathan Delfouneso could get there.

Bannan went for goal himself on two occasions - firstly rifling a long-range effort just over before forcing Lyness to get down and tip his free-kick around the post.

But Holman, who shone with his high work-rate and impressive support play, had the final say.

Seven minutes from time, the ex-AZ Alkmaar attacker worked his way into the box from the left hand side and guided a classy finish in to the far corner to give Lambert a winning start.

BURTON: Atkins, O'Connor, McCrory, Stanton, Holness, Corbett, Weir, Downing, Maghoma, Zola, Yussuf. Subs: Lyness, Webster, Diamond, Taylor, Richards, Palmer, Green, Phillips, Martin, Dyer, Allen, Bell.

VILLA [First-half]: Marshall, Hutton, Clark, Lowton, Stevens, Carruthers, Johnson, El Ahmadi, N'Zogbia, Weimann, Bent .

VILLA [Second-half]: Marshall, Lichaj, Collins, Baker, Warnock, Gardner, Herd, Bannan, Holman, Delfouneso, Agbonlahor.

[shipscat]

Alledgedly  albrightons broke his foot in training,definitely heavily strapped up at the game today

[Chipsticks]

Alledgedly  albrightons broke his foot in training,definitely heavily strapped up at the game today

Where'd you hear that? Terrible news if true 

[Chipsticks]

I love football, but seeing reports of pre-season friendlies on Sky Sports makes me feel a little bit sick.

Why? It's the only thing fending off my withdrawal symptoms.

It's the middle of July. Kids haven't broken up from school. John Terry not in prison

I was in WH Smith a couple of weeks ago, they've got the Back to School stuff out already!

I work at a Clark's shoes store and we've pretty much got all the back to school sales on now.

*sigh*

[Karl Bridges]

Where was Ireland?  Is he injured?

Him Albrighton & Delph all had knocks.

[Karl Bridges]

How did N'zogbia play?

Not great. Tried to do too much and ran into blind alleys. A lot like last season.

[Steve R]

Good to see Johnson getting a few mentions in the match report. He really should have had opportunity last year.

Pirelli tyres are crap.

[PeterWithesShin]

"Nevertheless, it did little to stop the travelling contingent enjoying Villa's high-tempo, incisive football."

This makes me happy.

[VillaAlways]

Alledgedly  albrightons broke his foot in training,definitely heavily strapped up at the game today

Being operated on tomorrow and out for 10 weeks apparently

[mr-villa]

Good to see Johnson getting a few mentions in the match report. He really should have had opportunity last year.

Pirelli tyres are crap.

Oh really, so crap that they managed to persuade Ecclestone and his F1 mob to sign a huge lucrative contract to use them this season.  If that's an example of crap then maybe George Osborne could do with learning a bit of that to get the country's economy back in shape!

[SoccerHQ]

How did N'zogbia play?

Not great. Tried to do too much and ran into blind alleys. A lot like last season.

Cheers. That's one of the things I'll be judging Lambert on this season. Can he get some good football out of an enigma like Charles N'zogba? Hopefully this passing and keeping the ball on the ground lark should help our creative players.

[PaulWinch again]

Good to hear about El-Ahmadi, exactly what we need.

[Matt Collins]

Was it 442 both halves? Any other tactical insights? Who played on which flanks? Why didn't Barry take the penalty?

[kippaxvilla2]

I went to the game.  A game of two halves.  That report flatters us in the 1st half in particular.  I thought they were generally poor and lethargic until the 2nd half and change of team!  Karim was quality in midfield, I thought Lowton struggled - I do hope he isnt a permanent fixture at centre half (surely not).  Hutton did ok, apart from that not much to write home about.  Nzogbia needs to be sold.  2nd half much, much sharper, passing crisp, Holman looked very good, I really like Nathan Baker and Bannan finally looked as if he could have a decent season for us.  Overall good workout and enough in the 2nd half to suggest that it will be a better season!

Finally, how pleasant it was to have a friendly atmosphere, nice pint in the ground and to stand on a terrace in the home end without feeling the slightest bit of intimidation. Loved our chants of 'we're Aston Villa and we glow in the dark.'

[Nastylee]

NZogbia should be sold? What, on the basis of 45 mins in a preseason friendly one week after returning to training? Sighs......