Borgs

Joe Bennett. Honestly lad, just go and take the red card out of the ref's pocket and show it to yourself on the way off if you're going to keep this up.

I question the wisdom of lying down when you're literally the last line of defence if you haven't won the free kick and you can actually get up and walk.

Only two left now that Lowton's gone off... Gerrard and Baines.

We only went backwards to the 'keeper because Gabby's simple, 8-yard pass was off the mark.

Gabby's been sloppy. Errant touches and passes... if he can just improve his technique massively this one afternoon we'll be more threatening.

Bennett will walk later if he carries on like this.

You mean, like he did when the Canaries came to Villa Park? Has the man learnt anything from it?

Baker MOTM for certain. Impenetrable.

Should've won it but couldn't lift their heads (particularly Zog and Benteke) to find a better option on multiple occasions.

Not sure knocking long straight balls in to the domain of a commanding six-five 'keeper is going to work.... how 'bout we take the next free-kick or corner short?

He does some really daft things, young Joe. Really, really daft.

I actually worry less in these situations than I do when we're a goal in front. Seems Villa can always get an equaliser, as opposed to successfully defend a lead.

Holman's fresh and if he plays his terrier-like way he's going to exploit their lack of a sitting Karagounis.

Zog was OK but if Lambert was like me he just got plain sick of watching the guy slaughter excellent opportunities.

You didn't really think we'd keep a clean sheet, did you?

I don't think Zog will be here next season. For what I imagine we're paying him, I hope not... tunnel vision but not good enough to carry it off.

About time this was in the bag. Forget Sunderland - I see grave danger for Stoke City.

Was it Lowton or Westwood that hit a similar distant volley at Villa Park earlier this season?

Jesus. Don't score the easy ones will you? What a cracker!

Honestly - you've just got to laugh at the calamitous defense sometimes. Not the goal, but the falling over each other to clear two minutes ago.

Utterly deserve to be level. We do, I mean, for being so farking profligate.

Off goes Ryan Shyte-on. What a dismal game. I hope that he's actually better than that for his sake.

They're terrible. Completely blunt. Yet we still don't have enough goals, I feel.

Bowery is looking a bit tired.

Yep should sub him, done reasonably well today mind...

He has, and he tracked back well to pressure Kightly, so I'm not sure he's sufficiently knackered. I'd sit on the changes for the moment.

For a measure of their impotence I refer you to their fans shouting loudly for Steven N'Zonzi to have a crack from a good thirty-plus yards.

Why is Bowery in there? He has done nothing all half. I understand that Lambert wants to catch Stoke on the counter, but why not put in N'Zogbia who is fast and not a League 1 footballer? 

 

Didn't he win the challenge for the goal ?

He did. Harsh, Czechlad. Bowery's got limited on-ball quality, but to say he's done nothing...

Decent half. Should've, not could've, had two. Stoke were gradually coming back in to it but it's actually not due to increased impetus or intensity on their part. We're going to have to convert on the counter if we continue to play the way we were in the second quarter.

foul on weiman?????????????

I thought the second one as he released it back from adjacent to the byline was more a foul than the first challenge.