Quote from: kippaxvilla2 on March 09, 2013, 05:19:02 PMDoes anyone else disappear to another part of the house and stop listening because you think nothing else will happen in the game if you do that? Have you got spycams in my place? Went off to make some tea - I very rarely drink the stuff. Tidied the kitchen up a bit, even thought about washing up.
Does anyone else disappear to another part of the house and stop listening because you think nothing else will happen in the game if you do that?
Look at Sunderlands recent form, upcoming fixtures, result today, and Martin's thing about not bothering with March.Worth a few quid to get pulled in to it.
I take full credit for the win today, having avoided the whole thing. If I'd have switched on the radio during the last minute of injury time, we'd be talking about dropping two points now.
Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor fired Villa to a vital victory which lifted them out of the bottom three.And the Belgium international had the distinction of netting the club's 1,000th goal in the Barclays Premier League.His 33rd-minute equaliser cancelled out an own goal by Nathan Baker only a minute earlier - and Agbonlahor secured three crucial points with a stunning winner on the stroke of half-time.It was a result which will give Paul Lambert's men immense confidence in the battle for top-flight survival and one which was thoroughly deserved, even though Noel Hunt had a second-half effort disallowed by a tight offside decision.A nervy opening 10 minutes produced a chance at either end.Brad Guzan did well to tip away Adam Le Fondre's far-post header following a deep cross from Hal Robson-Kanu, while Ciaran Clark headed over for Villa when he climbed highest in a crowded goalmouth to connect with Ashley Westwood's free-kick from the left.But in the 11th minute,the visitors were within a whisker of taking the lead, Benteke's firm header from Baker's left-wing cross hitting the bar before Reading cleared the danger.Barely 60 seconds later, Benteke just failed to make contact with Westwood's hard low cross, although the Berkshire outfit also went close when Robson-Kanu's low left-footer from just outside the penalty area flashed only narrowly wide.Andreas Weimann's flicked header from inside his own half set up a promising opening on 28 minutes as Benteke went racing through the middle.Although the striker appeared to be fouled, referee Moss allowed play to continue and Weimann dragged his left-foot shot wide.The deadlock was finally broken when Jobi McAnuff crossed low from the left , Hope Akpan flicked on and Baker, attempting to clear at the far post, missed the ball with his right foot and saw it deflect in off his left.It was all the more galling because the ball was going off target but Villa's disappointment quickly turned to delight.Westwood's superb pass set up Weimann for a low cross from the right and Benteke calmly side-footed the ball past former Villa keeper Stuart Taylor from eight yards.And on the stroke of half-time the visitors were in front. Weimann's centre from the right was partially cleared but Matt Lowton headed back into the goalmouth and Barry Bannan's angled shot came back off the inside of the post.Agbonlahor thumped the rebound left-footed into the top corner before anyone else could react.It was a goal which gave Villa a tremendous lift as the second half unfolded.Benteke had a strong run halted by a well-time challenge before hitting an angled drive which struck a defender and looped over for a corner.Then Baker was not far off target with a close-range header.Yacouba Sylla, enjoying a fine game on his first starting appearance, also went close when his thundering 20-yard drive was only just too high.Even so, there was a real scare on 55 minutes when Noel Hunt converted McAnuff's centre at the far post, only to be denied by a marginal offside decision.Le Fondre was also frustrated when he fired wide from a good position 10 yards out after getting the better of Ron Vlaar, while Guzan did well to clutch a powerful header from sub Nick Blackman.Agbonlahor almost claimed his second in the 77th minute, curling a right-footer beyond Taylor and only narrowly past the far upright after his exchange of passes with Weimann had opened up the Royals defence.Sub Charles N'Zogbia fired over after a similar link-up with Benteke, but Robson-Kanu was only a foot wide with a skidding low effort from the edge of the box.In the closing minutes Benteke had a close-range shot saved by Taylor while N'Zogbia's 20-yard free-kick was too high.
Paul Lambert spoke of immense pride in his players after they came from behind to see off Reading.Lambert was thrilled with their bottle, their general play and the quality of the goals, especially the second which he called "world-class."Lambert says Villa now have momentum with nine big battles to go and believes other teams have been drawn into the basement scrap after the huge three point haul at the Madejski Stadium.He said: "The lads deserve so much credit. I am proud of them. They were fantastic today. I thought they were excellent."We thoroughly deserved to win the game and could have done by a few more."But some of the play was absolutely brilliant."It was a huge victory. I thought we were outstanding."We went a goal down. We had chances at the start of the first half and then to lose a goal - an own-goal - was a blow but I have to give the lads credit for the way they bounced back."Some of the football we played was absolutely fantastic."The second goal was a brilliant move and a terrific finish. It was outstanding."It was a total goal. It was world-class, the way the lads kept the ball and the finish."But the lads are playing with a lot of confidence."The confidence has always been there. The last few months we have been playing really well."There have been games where we've been two goals in front and not managed to see it through. If we hadn't done that, we wouldn't be sitting in this position."We are where we are but the confidence of the team is extremely high."I don't think it looks like a team that is down there. Look at the table now and there's not a lot of daylight between teams, it's very, very close."There will be a few teams looking over their shoulder."We have momentum at the moment. The lads have confidence and enthusiasm for the game. They have a great hunger to go and succeed."Lambert also hailed the mental strength of Nathan Baker to put in a sterling defensive display after his unfortunate own-goal.He added: "Nathan has been excellent for us. He's been a big, big player for us. His general play was terrific again."The own-goal happens but you have to give him a lot of credit. He grew into the game. He was outstanding."
Quote from: Big Dick Edwards on March 09, 2013, 05:08:58 PMWe're only six points off 10th!I noticed that...a salutory reminder of just how shit the Premier League is this year
We're only six points off 10th!
Quote from: Rudy Lambert on March 09, 2013, 05:25:08 PMQuote from: kippaxvilla2 on March 09, 2013, 05:19:02 PMDoes anyone else disappear to another part of the house and stop listening because you think nothing else will happen in the game if you do that? Have you got spycams in my place? Went off to make some tea - I very rarely drink the stuff. Tidied the kitchen up a bit, even thought about washing up.I've done that so much this season.I then come on here, hit the post match thread and see how it ended. It is usually lots of people swearing.
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Topic: Reading v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread (Read 59089 times)
