Newcastle 2 Villa 1: ‘Again another unforced error’

The title is the words said by Aston Villa legend Alan McInally while commentating for Sky Sports pretty much sums up not only today’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, but our season as a whole.

I have been stating for months now, that we are in fact our own worst nightmare and the sooner we cut out the stupid mistakes the better for everyone in a Claret and Blue shirt.

Some might say I am being a little harsh based on today’s performance but I am sick to death of reading, writing and watching the same old drivel.

Newcastle away is never easy and we don’t have the best record against them either, but never the less I felt we could go up there and take something from the game If we stick to what I have been saying for months.

Danny Guthrie and James Perch hardly scares you as an opposition midfield does it? And I felt Stiliyan Petrov and Ciaran Clark should have the best of them – of course I was wrong again.

But that takes me to another moan – consistently playing players out of position. Lets face facts, Ciaran Clark is a defender, not a midfielder, and Stephen Ireland is a centre midfielder, not a winger – not exactly ground breaking stuff is it?

The home side took the lead on the half hour mark when returning striker Demba Ba scored from close range after (wait for it, this will surprise you) the Villa back four failed to clear there lines.

Following injuries to Leon Best, Stephen Warnock and Ryan Taylor, six minutes was added on by the forth official in the first half and that’s when Villa pounced.

Former Geordie winger Charles N’Zogbia did well down the left before drilling the ball across goal which was converted by Robbie Keane – making it three in as many games for the on-loan striker.

In the second half, Newcastle always looked like the side who would score, and with 19 minutes remaining on the clock there new £10million striker did just that.

Papiss Cisse brought down a cross on his chest and smashed the ball into the top corner of the Villa goal, leaving Shay Given no chance.

The defeat sees Villa’s decent run on the road come to an end, while Newcastle move level on points with Chelsea as they continue to knock on the Champions League spot door.

Player Ratings

Shay Given (6) – Didn’t really have a chance with either goal.
Stephen Warnock (5) – Consistently making mistakes.
Alan Hutton (6) – Tried.
Richard Dunne (6) – Gave the ball away cheap at times and should of done better on the second goal.
Carlos Cuellar (6) – Confident on the ball, but shaky defending.
Ciaran Clark (5) – Simply not a midfielder.
Stiliyan Petrov (6) – Not at his best.
Charles N’Zogbia (6) – Good cross for the goal, but that’s was it!
Stephen Ireland (5) – If you can’t play him in the centre of the park, he shouldn’t play at all.
Robbie Keane (7) – Everything Villa did went through the Irish man.
Darren Bent (5) – Gave the ball away cheaply, and wasted chances.

Subs: Barry Bannan (6), Emile Heskey (5), Gary Gardner (5).

Verdict

I have stuck up for Villa a lot this season, but today I got very annoyed due to watching the same old rubbish. Hoofing a football has never been any good for any football team, especially Villa. We have proved that we we get the ball down and play we can play decent stuff.

The defence continues to be a liability and something must be done otherwise we could find ourselves with a unwanted relegation battle at the end of the season.

And finally playing players out of position doesn’t benefit the players in question, or the football team so just don’t do it!