Hasta la Villa
20 August 2007
Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 0
I have been to some nil-nil games and enjoyed it because chances have come and gone and just because there were no goals did not make it a bad game. Unfortunately this match did not fall into that category!
As ever we arrived full of expectation, especially after a fine opening away win at Bolton. But again we left disappointed after having only one real shot at goal and that from a centre-back, Rozehnal, which Carson saved well.
The fact that Steve Harper was man of the match in quite a few of the fans books tells its own story. He made himself big and it was more that the ball hit him than he saved it when Laursen was given a free header from 6 yards out from a corner. All credit to the stand-in 'keeper. He topped that in the second half when the impressive Reo-Coker capped a fine run with a bender which was curling into the corner until Harper flicked it away at full stretch.
It is maybe a bit unfair to cast judgement on the team after one home game but it has to be said that Villa were the more likely to win the game and they, to my mind, are only an average side who will do well to finish in the top half. Similarly it may be unfair to attempt to judge Michael Owen who appeared after the hour mark to a rapturous welcome. He scarcely got involved but you can never argue with his pedigree and it might do us a favour if he gets a run out against Germany to improve his match fitness.
On the plus side N'Zogbia, Butt and Milner all did well but Viduka looked out of sorts. A lot is expected of him but he was asked to play up front on his own for the most part and this is the hardest job in the world if the others do not support right through the game.
I feel that the system we play is better geared to away games when we can break with pace against the opposition.
Let's hope I am proved right at Middlesbrough next Sunday!
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