The Villa Match Zone

Friendly – Telford United v Aston Villa – Match Re-Run

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One half of Aston Villa’s squad headed to Telford United yesterday, with the other half heading to Kidderminster Harriers as we opened up our pre-season game schedule ahead of the 2018/19 Championship campaign.

Splitting the squads is nothing new in football these days and it’s something Steve Bruce has chosen to do previously to ensure as many players as possible push themselves by getting minutes under their belts. Bruce was in attendance at this game to cast his eye over this set of players.

The group that headed to New Bucks Head took a 3-0 victory with goals coming from a Jonathan Kodjia brace (a brace of assists from Ritchie De Laet) and Conor Hourihane. Whether or not it benefits us on the pitch this season with Kodjia starting brightly or benefits our negotiating position off the pitch this summer on his value, he also grabbed himself an assist.

Ritchie De Laet was pushed into the right midfield spot as Bruce dictated Mitch Clark and James Bree would take the fullback spots.

After the doom and gloom of this summer, a solid 3-0 win is to be applauded, even if at this stage results do not matter and it’s all about fitness and avoiding injuries.

Villa:

Steer, Bree, Chester, Bedeau (Mooney 65), Clark, De Laet (Birch 85), Whelan, Hourihane, Green, Davis (Taylor 65), Kodjia.

Subs:

Sarkic, Revan, Ige, Pastorek, Tait, Guy, Sea.

Goals – Kodjia (20), (75), Hourihane (80).

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