Such a nice feeling to be relaxing on a Saturday evening on the back of 3 points for the Villa! And I think it's fair to say that we owe pretty much all of it to Gabby Agbonlahor. I actually thought he started the game poorly, giving the ball away a bit too easily and not making the most of promising positions. However as soon as he scored his goal he seemed to turn into a man possessed.
First things first I think that goal deserves a mention. Bannan, who had a very impressive game before fading late on, sending an inch perfect ball down the left for Gabby to run on to. He then ran at his marker, cut inside and rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. It was a taster of what Gabby has to offer this season if he can keep up his level of performances. He has the speed to terrorise any defence in the league and now he is starting to develop some skill to go with it which can make him unplayable at times. He is also starting to improve his level of finishing which makes him even more dangerous as now he doesn't need 3 or 4 chances before he will take one.
For the second goal he went on a magnificent run down the left, leaving Emmerson Boyce for dead before delivering a perfectly placed cross for Bent to volley home his first goal in front of the Holte End so a special congratulations to him. As for Gabby's role in the goal, there is nobody else in our squad who has the ability to do that, his pace being the key factor but now he is finally starting to use his pace more effectively.
Other than Gabby, I felt there were plenty of other positives to take from the game. As mentioned earlier, I felt that Barry Bannan looked very creative and created pretty much all of our chances in the first half before almost scoring a cracking 25 yarder in the second half. Stephen Ireland is far from the finished article but I saw moments of promise and I feel that given a lengthy run of games in the first team he could become a key figure this season for us. As ever the defence looked solid, and I was especially pleased with Warnock's display. I thought he was terrific today. Last but not least another mention to Shay Given, who after being so quiet for most of the game came up with a couple of quality stops to preserve a clean sheet which will go down well in the camp.
2 comments:
You could see both Bannan and Ireland trying to feed Darren Bent yesterday and those will come off the more they play together. Bannan is so like sid Cowans it is scary to think what a player he could become. I'm one of warnock's worst critics but he was really promising yesterday, full of energy.
I think ireland just needs to get a long run of games under his belt and he will come good. The one worry with bannan is a big team taking an interest to him then he is as good as gone. Warnock surprised me yesterday, long may it continue!
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