The_Steve

Unlucky Bent.

Drop Collins please

Good play there by Hutton to shield the ball and draw the foul. Lively start.

Well, they've had a good run of fixtures. Besides Spurs and Arsenal on the opening day they haven't really been tested by the bigger sides. Their next fixtures are Man City, United and Chelsea. So we shall see how their form lasts.

I thought Heskey did a decent enough job against Sunderland, moved into the channels won some flick ons, passed it decently enough. What are the chances of Bent missing another sitter today? Quite high I imagine.

Who else is exactly going to replace Heskey today? Ireland? Laughable. At least Jenas would get a run out at some point you'd hope. For all your criticisms people aren't really offering any better alternatives.

Jenas on the bench no Bannan today.

Well Hutton is far better than Beye and the most natural out on the wing so I'd stick with him and have Cuellar as second choice.

Chris Foy helped get the crucial assist in the build to Sunderland's first goal.

Yes he did get an assist. Honestly, I think he's better going forward than Warnock.

Every striker goes through bad patches. I have faith Bent will put the bad performances behind him.

Did he not injure their goalkeeper and flatten one of their midfielders today :winkold:

I'm sorry, but I really disagree there. 1) Beye is a huge liability, yes Hutton is far from perfect but in my eyes he gets forward well. 2) Heskey - He was brought in a psychical presence to hold up the ball for the wingers, which he did. He even tracked back a little. I'm sure if it was Ireland today people wouldn't be so critical but I guess because it's Heskey he's fair game. He made some mistakes sure but there were equally inept players on the pitch today like Collins. For all the criticisms, I don't see people offering alternatives to Heskey's current role in the team. Shall we play a chronically out of form Ireland or wait for Jenas to get fit and gamble?

Oh because Ireland is really lighting up Villa Park with his performances recently, once Jenas is fully fit I'm sure we'll see him slot in Heskey's role. Who I thought did a decent enough job today.

Not really, he gave almost every 50/50 to the home side. Foy was poor for us today.

Hutton's crossing was better than Warnock's today.

Foy got the foul on N'Zogbia wrong leading to Sunderland scoring, he got the Bent foul wrong when he was through on goal, he got the decision wrong to award the free kick leading to the second equaliser. Big decisions went against us today.

Let down by: 1) Chris Foy 2) Our inability to defend set pieces.

Better performance from N'Zogbia today. Encouraging all round.

Get in big James. Well deserved.

Booking surely for Vaughn? Course not Foy's in charge.

Of course it was in no way a good save though.

Ref has been a homer all game, no surprises.

**** off Foy. Arms all over N'Zogbia.

I know people consider Heskey to be something of a Donkey, but a foal? Really? N'Zogbia was fouled by Vaughn leading up to the equaliser after exchanging passes with Heskey. The man is a machine at times.