Wayne Rooney was guilty of a glaring miss at Villa Park as Manchester United missed the chance to close the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool with a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
Villa had received a massive confidence boost with their win at Arsenal last weekend and they were well worth a share of the spoils over the 90 minutes. United were the better side in the opening 45 minutes although clear-cut chances were at a premium.
In the second period it was Villa who looked the more likely to make the breakthrough as they hustled the visitors out of their stride for long spells with James Milner in splendid form.
Villa keeper Brad Friedel was called into meaningful action for the first time after 14 minutes to turn aside a swerving drive from Cristiano Ronaldo, who had cut inside the recalled Nigel Reo-Coker with ease.
Van der Sar went down at his left-hand post to comfortably save a 20-yard effort from Reo-Coker after he had made a powerful break from the halfway line. The game opened up more towards half-time and Ashley Young produced a superb tackle to deny Ji-Sung Park in the Villa box as the South Korean prepared to shoot after being found in space by Rooney.
Villa began the second half promisingly and Ashley Young almost caught Van der Sar out of position with a curling effort from 20 yards out which looked destined for the top corner until the Dutchman recovered to tip it over the bar. Michael Carrick's overhead kick dropped into the path of the England striker, who volleyed high and wide when he would have been expected to at least hit the target.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side pressed for a winner in the closing stages but rarely looked like finding it, completing an unusual day when none of the Premier League's so-called 'big four' could muster a goal between them.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1
Nicklas Bendtner rescued a 1-1 draw with a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium and keep the Gunners top of the table. However Arsenal's revival and fighting spirit which need to continue if they are to stay the course in the race for the Barclays Premier League.
An own goal from Philippe Senderos looked to have proved enough to hand a determined Villa side victory, which would have been a first home defeat of the season for Arsenal. And while there was plenty of effort, Arsenal lacked a decisive touch in the final third, with strike pairing Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott unable to conjure up a finish in front of goal.
Villa within inches of going 2-0 up when Almunia pushed a fierce 20-yard drive from Shaun Maloney onto the angle of post and crossbar. Arsenal, stunned by falling behind, slowly regrouped and mounted a decent spell of pressure. Space opened up for Alex Hleb, but the Belarussian skewed his drive wide from 20 yards.
Arsenal made an electric start on the resumption as Walcott darted in on the right side of the penalty area following a neat one-two with Fabregas and then drilled a low, angled shot which Carson saved well at the near post. Villa's final sub, Marlon Harewood, almost grabbed a second when he brushed off Senderos, only to be denied by another good save from Almunia. Arsenal pressed in the closing stages - and rescued a point when Bendtner stabbed home from close range.
An own goal from Philippe Senderos looked to have proved enough to hand a determined Villa side victory, which would have been a first home defeat of the season for Arsenal. And while there was plenty of effort, Arsenal lacked a decisive touch in the final third, with strike pairing Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott unable to conjure up a finish in front of goal.
Villa within inches of going 2-0 up when Almunia pushed a fierce 20-yard drive from Shaun Maloney onto the angle of post and crossbar. Arsenal, stunned by falling behind, slowly regrouped and mounted a decent spell of pressure. Space opened up for Alex Hleb, but the Belarussian skewed his drive wide from 20 yards.
Arsenal made an electric start on the resumption as Walcott darted in on the right side of the penalty area following a neat one-two with Fabregas and then drilled a low, angled shot which Carson saved well at the near post. Villa's final sub, Marlon Harewood, almost grabbed a second when he brushed off Senderos, only to be denied by another good save from Almunia. Arsenal pressed in the closing stages - and rescued a point when Bendtner stabbed home from close range.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Reo's old pals act
Source: The Mirror
Nigel Reo-COKER reckons his partnership with Gareth Barry in Aston Villa's midfield is "perfect" and will inspire Martin O'Neill's side into Europe.
Reo-Coker has thrived in central midfield alongside England star Barry since a £7.5million move from West Ham last summer, helping Villa to sixth in the Premier League.
"Our partnership has worked well," said Reo-Coker, 23, ahead of Sunday's trip to Reading.
"We have the perfect balance and now people are telling me that Gareth has really stepped up to another level. We hope to continue in the same vein and get into Europe."
Nigel Reo-COKER reckons his partnership with Gareth Barry in Aston Villa's midfield is "perfect" and will inspire Martin O'Neill's side into Europe.
Reo-Coker has thrived in central midfield alongside England star Barry since a £7.5million move from West Ham last summer, helping Villa to sixth in the Premier League.
"Our partnership has worked well," said Reo-Coker, 23, ahead of Sunday's trip to Reading.
"We have the perfect balance and now people are telling me that Gareth has really stepped up to another level. We hope to continue in the same vein and get into Europe."
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Nigel Reo-Coker's Official Blog is Launched
To all readers,
We have now launched the Official Nigel Reo-Coker Blog.
Stay tuned.
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