The narrative before the evening kick off at Villa Park centred on Erling Haaland’s quest for a third consecutive hat trick, as Aston Villa faced the prospect of a third consecutive defeat.
Surely Villa would be easy fodder for Pep Guardiola’s machine like outfit and their cyborg Norwegian centre forward. City had eviscerated Nottingham Forest in midweek whilst Villa limped to a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal. The pre-match mood of Villa fans was one of acceptance of defeat – a grudging realisation that this was unlikely to be the turning point the club needed.
Football, bloody hell, eh?
Villa lined up with a more solid looking midfield with neither Coutinho or Buendia starting. Douglas Luiz, not at Arsenal after all, returned to the side and added an impetus next to Kamara in the centre. Jacob Ramsey ostensibly started on the left – adding an attacking menace when Villa pushed forward but becoming a fourth midfielder in transition. It seemed sensible, and, as if to counter the speculation that he doesn’t ever seem to have one, it also seemed Gerrard had a plan.
Pictured: Douglas Luiz, not in North London
The first half started as many thought it would with ex Villa loanee Kyle Walker failing to square to Haaland in the centre after just 4 minutes. It was a warning for Villa and a sign that the game would be played on a knife edge – teetering between implosion and solidity. And so it unfolded. City were dominantly cruising, Kevin De Bruyne threading his trademark through balls without his trademark accuracy as Gundigan and Haaland again failed to connect. The Gundigan chance especially rang alarm bells as he ghosted between Cash and Konsa – a poor understanding we have seen before this term.
Thirty Seven Years Young
Then something changed, prompted by a hamstring injury to Cash. On came 37 year old Ashley Young. Amazingly he seemed to single handedly lift the team around him and Villa Park itself as he threw himself into a challenge immediately. He then came out on top in a tussle with De Bruyne and set Luiz away to put through Ollie Watkins who, as ever, narrowed the angle for himself too much. No matter Villa Park was raised and noisy. Maybe, just maybe.
Pictured: Ashley Young lifted the team and the stadium.
Cue the Inevitable
Tyrone Mings had dealt with Haaland admirably throughout the first half, but the Norwegian opened the scoring on 50 minutes. De Bruyne’s looping cross seemed to catch Emi Martinez off guard, coupled with Konsa seemingly unaware of where he was, Haaland had an easy finish at the far post. What transpired wasn’t quite as Villa fans may have feared – full credit to the team at this point who demonstrated a character and fight that has lacked on occasion recently. Inevitably City had chances – De Bruyne hit the crossbar with Emi motionless on his line, before the Argentinian number one saved smartly from Haaland. But Villa were now cowed and Ramsey should have done better when put through by Watkins and Leon Bailey flashed a long range effort wide.
A Bailey Banger
Having gone close, the Jamaican made no mistake in the 74th minute sweeping in Ramsey’s centre with Villa’s first (and ultimately only) shot on target. Absolute scenes ensued in B6 as some of the frustrations of recent weeks seemed to burst out positively into the early September evening air.Bailey had given Villa a different outlet throughout and worked harder than in some previous incarnations. The goal was deserved.
Pictured: Leon Bailey celebrates the equaliser.
In what remained there were of course chances for City as Mahrez and Rodri went close. And there remained those individual Villa errors that have stalked the side for some time that threatened to let City back into the game. But on the whole Villa seemed to be determined to be resolute and not let a point slip. There was a steel to the decision making that was enlivening for Villa Park to see – exhibit A being when Martinez and Mings collaborated to take the sting out of the game following the equaliser. But, as earlier Villa were not completely cowed and should have been allowed to take the lead with ten minutes left.
John McGinn had been replaced by Coutinho earlier in the second half, marking a warranted acknowledgement that the Scotsman is not proving an integral part of this team. The Brazilian, after good work from Watkins danced around City on the edge if the area before bending in a glorious shot past his fellow countryman Ederson. Alas, the whistle had been blown for offside – allegedly against Coutinho when coming back from an earlier phase. Replays would clearly show he was not offside, but VAR were not involved as the whistle had been blown and City players had ostensibly stopped. On a day of VAR controversy and general poor refereeing across the league, it seemed at odds with what we see much of the time when play is allowed to progress far too long even when an offside is obvious. Why was play not allowed to continue?
A win would have flattered a Villa side that had to dig deep to contain and channel an imperious team in Manchester City, but as the whistle blew on a valuable draw there was a sense of immense pride around Villa Park. Arguably for the first time this season, Villa fans could head out content and imbued with hope that this could be a turning point. It goes without saying that this needs to be a turning point – starting with Leicester next week.
Some faith restored – now for the follow up.
As always – UTV.
AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall
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One Response
Not a bad report.
However.should have started by saying trying to avoid 4th consecutive defeat.
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