What a start to the season! I watched it at Villa Park and (apart from the rain) it was brilliant to watch. There was controversy over James Milner's place in the starting line-up but he had a solid game, getting the third goal with a well placed left foot.
Apart from a ten minute spell in the second half (when the rain thundered down) Villa dominated the game. We looked good in possession, Milner and Petrov rarely losing it in the middle and pressing well when West Ham had the ball. We looked good in attack with the ball going down the wings with Downing and Albrighton sending countless balls into the box and we won a corner, on average, every four minutes.
The first goal came from a poorly punched cross which, to be fair, cant be completely blamed on Green. If your team had to deal with 50+ crosses into the box in 90 minutes then you are bound to mess one up at some point. Anyway, the shot from Albrighton, saved by Green only to be tapped in by Stewart Downing. There was a good call for offside on this one, and I have to admit, I thought offside when I saw it too but it was a goal waiting to happen.
The second was a good bit of movement from Petrov as he headed away Ashley Young's cross.
The second half began and brought the rain with it, West Ham enduring their best spell of play where they were at evens with Villa at best. Even so, it brought them a good chance, only to be scuffed wide by Faubert.
With Villa dominance resumed, Marc Albrighton seemed even sharper in the second half than in the first putting forward a good case for a first team place when he took the ball past two defenders to set up Milner for what is likely to be his last goal for the club.
Two more chances fell to Carew but he (somehow) failed to capitalise, no matter how close he came when he hit the post.
This was the most convincing performance I have seen by Aston Villa in a long while, looking good in attack, comfortable in possession and safe at the back.
Although the main focus of the press is on Marc Albrighton, I'd like to stress how much of a good game Ciaran Clark had. He didn't put a foot wrong in all of the 90 minutes and made some solid tackles. If he can perform like that in a few more games then he has a serious case to break into the first team.
Final score: 3 - 0 Game Summary: Great teamwork, strong in every department.
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