Popular Post John Posted October 31, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 31, 2019 Villa made 9 changes last night, but our Black Country visitors outdid us by making 11. This game was not therefore played at the level or intensity that we can expect when these two teams meet again in a week and a half. Wolves clearly demonstrated through their team selection, like Brighton before them, that this competition was not a priority for them. They paid the price for that decision and I rather hope Liverpool will play their kids in the next round as well! There was no real tempo to this game, particularly in the first half. Wolves played a big part in this, because both teams need to contribute towards a game for it to sparkle. The young side that Wolves selected lacked experienced players alongside them and it showed. This was a game that looking at the team sheets, we were expected to win. We did so, without needing to get out of second gear and we didn’t. We did what was necessary to win and that was not too much last night. This game was therefore some way off the blood and thunder that would normally be associated with a local derby, that was a cup tie to boot. That’s not our fault alone. It takes two to tango and although the game was a bit of a damp squib, we did win it and are now within touching distance of another potential Wembley appearance. The game looked a bit like a friendly, until they equalised, and we then quickly restored our goal advantage. A one-goal lead is a slender one, but it had always looked like being enough to take us into the last eight. It wasn’t to be a happy ending for visiting fans last night on their big day out. It wasn’t to be too much of a spectacle for us either, but victory was ours and that is what the record books will show. My player ratings from a game that proved that we have the greater squad strength of the two Premier League outfits are: Jed Steer – 6 – Pulled off a vital save from Cutrone on to keep us ahead. Stood little chance with their goal, Cutrone having ran between Conor and Kortney to meet Taylor Perry’s 54th minute cross, he then poked it inside the near post and past Jed. It was otherwise a quiet evening for our keeper. Ahmed Elmohamady – 7 – Captain for the night and his experience told at times. Got a fine touch at the near post on Lansbury’s 57th minute cross to give us what proved to be our winner. Ezri Konsa- 7 – Looked very composed. Kortney Hause – 7 – Easily won challenges in the air and he will have enjoyed this win. Neil Taylor – 4 – Almost took this game into penalties with an awful, casual, badly under hit attempted back pass that was pounced upon on the edge of the box by Cutrone. He looked destined to hit an undeserved second equaliser as he ran into the box, but Steer did very well to make ground towards him and block his shot with his legs. Anwar El Ghazi – 7 – Put us ahead on 28 minutes. Lansbury threaded a lovely ball past a defender and Anwar hit it with his right and the ball trickled in past Ruddy’s right hand for our opener. Hit an effort wide of the right-hand post from around 30 yards in first half stoppage time. Headed a 65th minute Elmo cross that Ruddy saved at the near post and was then unlucky when he hit a 70th minute Taylor cross that hit Bennett, which would otherwise have found the net. A decent enough showing, but he could have done even more against these opponents. Henri Lansbury – 7 – Started quietly but later imposed himself on the game and was involved in both of our goals. Headed an 80th minute Trezeguet cross wide of the far post, when he should really have been on target. Douglas Luiz – 7 – Hit a speculative 21st minute shot over the bar from around 25 yards. Lost possession too easily just inside his own half to Taylor Perry and that casual moment led to their equaliser. His quality otherwise stood out in the middle. Conor Hourihane – 6 – A fair display. Trezeguet - 6 – Hit a 62nd minute shot wide of the near post, having been found inside the box by Hourihane. Kept busy. Keinan Davis – 7 – MOTM – Held the ball up well once again, won the ball in the air and ran strongly with it. He does everything, other than really look like scoring. If he were able to add goals to his game, then we would have a £25m striker on our hands. Left the field having appeared to pull a hamstring on 49 minutes and we missed him up front. Substitutes: Jonathan Kodjia – 5 - Replaced Davis on 50 minutes. A welcome return to the first team following injury, but he will need to show more than this and to find his match fitness quickly, with Davis likely to be out for a period. John McGinn – Replaced Lansbury on 81 minutes. His coming on, demonstrated the comparative strengths of the two benches. Not on long enough to earn a rating, but he did gather an unwanted yellow card. Hit an 83rd minute shot just over, having seen an effort a minute earlier blocked. Up the Villa! John Lewis 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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