Gerrard Gets A Late Surge As He Debut’s In The Villa Dug Out – Match Stats
So, it was the start of Steven Gerrard’s era at Aston Villa today as we welcomed Brighton and Hove Albion to Villa Park for his debut game in the dug out.
It was a bright start and you could see the players were out to impress but some of the same old predictable flaws were on show but by the 30 minute mark, although they had slightly more possession, they hadn’t really threatened us and we had fashioned a couple of decent chances that just hadn’t come off.
As the half edged to a close Brighton did start to do something with their possession, but we also clearly learned that tackling from behind when you don’t touch the ball is no longer a foul in the eyes of the idiot in charge.
We did however need Emi1 to save us on the stroke of half time but for me, the game is there for the taking if we step it up – but how many times has that been true so far this season.
So the second half, it was a bright start and had it not been for a great save by Brighton’s keeper, Tyrone Mings would’ve given us the lead inside of the opening two minutes. Just after the hour mark
we definitely should’ve had the lead, but with Anthony Taylor unable to actually referee, Matty Cash was denied a stonewall penalty and predictably, VAR didn’t bother looking at it.
It was hardly the kind of sustained ‘impress a new gaffer’ performance most were probably expecting though and as we entered the final 20 minutes, the truth is, we just hadn’t done enough again.
With the game drawing to a close, it clicked. Lovely play by Young released Ollie and he nestled it in the top corner.
It was exactly the spark we, and Gerrard, had needed and shortly after Bailey could consider himself unlucky, the ball found Mings in the box and he rifled in one of his own to make it 2-0. You could see the difference in the energy and performance levels now, the perfect end to a game and a massive boost.
The fact we could’ve had a third – well, we just have to build on it now.
Brighton MotM
