Aston Villa vs Everton – How did Villa manage to lose that?

Article by Aston Villa Correspondent Ed Hewings

As I am sure we are all aware, Villa vs Everton is the most played game in the history of the English top flight, and as far back as I can remember, has always produced absolute crackers of games – just think of the 3-3 draw at Goodison last year.

Villa approached this game on the back of a home defeat to Tottenham, which followed a goalless draw against Hull. Everton came into the game with one eye on the Top 4, having dispatched Hull 2-1 at home in their most recent Premier League game. For Villa, Benteke made his long awaiting full return from the hip flexor injury he suffered against Norwich at the start of September. In the other change from the game against Spurs, Bulgarian Aleksandar Tonev was handed his first Premier League start in the place of El Ahmadi. The only change for the Toffees was the first start for Steven Pienaar since his injury in the place of Leon Osman.

Villa started brightly, with the return of Benteke visibly lifting the team, as it did for 10minutes last week in their game against Spurs. Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Agbonlahor starting behind Benteke, and Weimann and Tonev on the wings. Everton lined up in the same formation, with Barry and McCarthy protecting the back 4.

The first minute was mayhem. From the first kick, Villa were on the attack, with Howard sweeping up after the ball ran loose in the Everton box. Quick as a flash, the ball was down the other end, and Everton had the ball in the six yard box. This would set the tone for the remainder of the first half.

Five minutes later, Villa had a penalty. After good interplay from Weimann and Benteke, Coleman caught Benteke’s heels as he raced into the area – although on second viewing, it looked a bit soft, referee Anthony Taylor (who had already given Villa 2 penalties at Arsenal this season) pointed to the spot. Howard excelled himself, and pushed away Benteke’s penalty, which was hit hard and to his right.

A few minutes later, he excelled himself again, pushing Benteke’s half volley out after the big Belgian had broken through Everton’s offside trap – in hindsight Benteke perhaps could have squared to the unmarked Leandro Bacuna, but life is full of such ifs and buts. Everton were all over the place defensively, and Andreas Weimann broke through on 25minutes, yet Howard was out quickly, almost as a sweeper, to put the Austrian off – he subsequently fluffed his lines – something you feel he would not have done last season, an indication of the form he is in.

After that, Everton worked their way back into the game, and they too could have been ahead, but for Villa’s American goalkeeper. Lukaku drifted in between Baker and Vlaar about 4 yards out and got on the end of a delightful chip from Mirallas – Guzan was equal to it, and threw out a hand to deflect the ball to safety.

Villa fans would be left to rue those missed chances. Despite a bright opening 15minutes of the second half, where Agbonlahor dragged a shot from behind him straight into Howard’s grasp (anywhere else and it would have been a goal), Everton came back into the game thanks to an inspired substitution from Roberto Martinez. Leon Osman replaced the ineffectual Ross Barkley, and played in behind Lukaku. He had an instant impact, drifting in from the left to allow Lukaku to stroke the ball inside Guzan’s near post. He was at it again a few minutes later – after Gareth Barry had found space in the penalty area thanks to poor marking from Villa following a corner, Osman found space on the area to drill into the net from the ex-Villa man’s cut back.

Villa will be left to rue their missed chances – the missed penalty in the early exchanges was the pivotal point in the match. Whereas in the game against Spurs, the fans came away disappointed, but fully accepting of the fact that Spurs were the better team – at 5pm on Saturday, the fans were confused. How on earth did Villa not get all three, let alone one, point from Everton.

Dare we say that Lambert has also figured out the best way to play at home? Despite the result, Villa dominated the game for periods, and had 48% possession, something not really seen this season by the Villa faithful. If they can play that well against the lesser team (Cardiff are up next), then they will win more games than they lose.

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