Scunthorpe United v Aston Villa

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

English League Cup

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Mulligan, Hinds, Foster, Williams, Taylor, Sparrow, Baraclough, Morris, Sharp, Keogh
Subs not used:
Lillis, Crosby, Byrne, MacKenzie, Ridley

Aston Villa :
Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Barry, Petrov, McCann (Whittingham 42), Davis, Agbonlahor, Angel, Moore (Baros 69)
Subs not used:
Taylor, Laursen, Berger

SULSESC REPORT

by Steve Sumner at Glanford Park

ON a night of Premiership casualties in the Carling Cup, Martin O’Neill must have been happy to get away from Glanford Park with this victory.

Whilst United had opportunities to at least take the match into extra-time, a Villa win was a fair result. In fact, it could have been a much more comprehensive win. Villa hit the woodwork at least three times, once from a Richard Hinds header, and had half a dozen chances which went inches wide of either upright.

Not that this match was all Villa. The Iron played some exciting football at times and just lacked the finishing touch or killer ball into the middle.

In the first minute of the game, Andy Keogh fed Billy Sharp, but Villa ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen was quickly off his line to smother at Sharp’s feet.

From a corner, Dave Mulligan caused some panic in the visitors’ defence, but the ball was cleared. From another corner, Steve Foster put the ball over the bar. Cleveland Taylor, cutting in from the right, put a decent cross along the ground that was far enough in front of Sorensen for the ‘keeper to remain stationary, but Sharp was not far enough forward to get a foot to the ball.

Not that Sharp had a bad game, quite the opposite. Billy, to my mind, has improved greatly this season: he chases more balls down, drops back to help in the link play, and is still leading the line by scoring the goals, no longer going AWOL after scoring.

Another chance was created by Billy playing a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Andy Keogh as Keogh broke into the Villa half, beating the offside trap. Unfortunately, the final effort from Keogh went straight to Sorensen.

Villa had not been quiet all this time and had raided forward down both flanks, generally shooting from distance. From one such break, Joe Murphy saved well from Luke Moore; from another, Juan Pablo Angel hit a post; and soon after, Gareth Barry’s effort skimmed the top of the crossbar.

On 42 minutes, the deadlock was broken, Luke Moore raiding into the Scunthorpe penalty area with Richard Hinds for company. Moore went down and the referee awarded a penalty. From where I was, it was not possible to comment on the genuineness of the penalty.

However, at half-time, we had a text from Martyn Girdham who was watching the match on Sky advising that Hinds was lucky to stay on the pitch, it was that blatant. Murphy, though, guessed right and saved Angel’s penalty, only for the ball to rebound back to the Columbian who had no problem finishing from eight yards with Murphy now out of the way.

Scunthorpe started the second-half as they had the first, still looking to attack, but as the players tired Villa appeared more and more in control.

Finally, Villa extended their lead. A deep cross from the right was met by an unchallenged Angel whose powerful header from ten yards left Murphy helpless, the ball going in to the ‘keeper’s left.

Still United refused to give in. Despite the obvious tiredness of several players, notably Morris and Baraclough, Laws made no substitutions. This possibly had to do with the fact that the bench consisted of one ‘keeper, three defenders and Neil Mackenzie.

On 73 minutes, Scunthorpe won another corner on the right. The ball was swung into the middle and missed by all the defenders and goalkeeper, allowing Sharp to head in from three yards out.

Despite continuing to attack with pace, the Iron struggled to get bodies forward to forge an equaliser and Villa were content to control the ball from the halfway line.

This was a creditable result against a very strong, physical, fit and full strength Villa outfit. We can only hope that bodies recover quickly enough for the forthcoming trip to Bournemouth.

On this sort of form, and IF they can stay clear of injuries, I would be surprised if United are not at least contesting the play-offs of League One come the end of the season.