This game had goalless draw written all over it until Leo Bacuna hit a sweet free kick into the back of the net in the 76th minute. That goal was our first in 7 hours and this along with a second just 9 minutes later secured our second home win of the season and only our eighth from our last 38 at Villa Park.

This was a “must win” game. Games such as these at Villa Park really have to be won and win it we did. Cardiff who started the game ahead of us in the table came seeking a point that they almost got. We had the best of what was some way from being an enthralling game. Cardiff did not create much if anything to worry our defence which registered another clean sheet but we spent a lot of the game finding it difficult to find our own men and to create any clear openings.

That all changed late in the game at a time our crowd were becoming increasingly restless as the prospect of further points being dropped at home seemed inevitable. It was then that Bacuna stepped up to take a free kick and found the back of the net with more than a touch of aplomb as he had done in the only other league game we had won at Villa Park prior to this one. A wave of relief spread around Villa Park as we celebrated Leo’s well executed free kick. The Bluebirds had nothing to offer following that and we went on to stretch our lead and ended a vital game we had struggled to make our own comfortable winners.

We can take some confidence from this win and players that were missing yesterday will have an opportunity to recover before we meet WBA in two weeks time following the international break. Talking of that break it was interesting to see new Ireland assistant manager Roy Keene in attendance and no doubt running the rule over Peter O’Demwingie and our very own Ciaran Clark!

My player ratings from a game that left us back in the top half of the table are:

Brad Guzan – 6 – A very quiet game for Brad.

Leandro Bacuna – 8 – MOTM – Leo was solid at the back and made things happen when moving forward. He was cynically pulled back by Medel when running strongly towards goal and the Cardiff man fully deserved his booking and the consequences that ensued. Leo converted the resultant free kick for our crucial opening goal with a Beckham like strike from around 25 yards on 76 minutes leaving Marshall who had gambled on him going for the other post flat footed.

Ron Vlaar – 7 – A good convincing performance at the heart of our defence.

Nathan Baker – 6 – Almost presented an opportunity to Cardiff on 12 minutes when he left a ball to Guzan rather than make sure it was put to safety himself with a Cardiff forward in close attendance. Other than that a pretty assured display when tested.

Ciaran Clark - 7 – A much improved performance. Showed more confidence as one of three at the back and a fair bit of ability when getting forward.

Aleksandar Tonev – 7 – Gave us pace down the flank and hit crosses in that became increasingly worrisome for the Cardiff defence in the second half.

Karim El Ahmadi – 5 – Works hard enough but he was unconvincing overall yesterday and his place has to be under threat when Delph returns.

Ashley Westwood - 6 –Showed signs of the player he was so often last season and he needs to build and push on from this during the rest of the season. Hit a ball that fell to him outside of the on 63 minutes wide of the post.

Yacouba Sylla – 5 – Won the ball on the edge of the box following a nice back heel from Benteke on 8 minutes making space for a shot that was easily held by Marshall. Not yet at his best of last season and a run of games may well help.

Libor Kozak – 7 – His most impressive performance to date in our shirt and worked well up front. Caught offside in the first minute when he got a good header on target from a nice Clark cross and got a fine downward header on an excellent cross from Bacuna on 50 minutes which forced a save from Marshall. Settled matters on 85 minutes after Clark found Tonev whose cross came off a defender and Lowton did so very well to head it back into the danger area where he headed in nicely into the corner of the net with the keeper well beaten.

Christian Benteke – 6 – Played a ball to El Ahmadi whose shot from the edge of the box was not held by Marshall but Caulker did well to beat him to the loose ball in the 5th minute. Had an on target shot touched past the post by Marshall on 11 minutes after he had cut inside the area and should really have done better on 67 minutes when he headed an El Ahmadi cross wide.

Substitutes:

Matt Lowton – 6 - Replaced El Ahmadi on 74 minutes and made a big difference allowing Bacuna to get forward more often as we chased a win and played his own significant part in our second goal.

Jordan Bowery – Replaced Kozak on 88 minutes. Hit the side netting in the first minute of stoppage time having been found inside the box by Benteke but not on long enough to gain a rating.

Up the Villa!

John Lewis

Source: Player Match Ratings: What a difference a free kick can make!