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Lame Lions Limp On

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Well, I can keep this one brief.

Pathetic.

First 30 minutes City had 8 shots to our total lack of shots, not one shot on or off target! How Vassell missed his chances will remain a mystery but shows just why Villa did let him leave, he could be awesome if he believed in himself, but he will always be average.

Alan Hansen at half time (I stuck by my guns, as did another 20 000 fans and stayed at home) by saying Villa were ‘less than ordinary’ and looked like ’11 strangers’. The pundits were right, we could have gone in at half time 4 or 5 down.

The second half we rallied a bit but never really looked likely, then Baros scored a great goal, he fought hard to get the ball, passed it to Steven Davis who neatly passed the ball back and Baros finished with aplomb. ONE single moment of quality which could have been enough to seal an undeserved (and would we have cared?!?) victory if it wasn’t for the fact the team don’t know how to slow the game down, don’t know how to waste time and don’t know how to keep the ball.

I was going to say, until the 94th minute equaliser, that you don’t need a good manager (we haven’t got a good manager) when you have a lucky one, but the young Micah Richards rose well to a well flighted corner and forced a replay. On that display we won’t progress into the quarter finals, that said, O’Leary has already insulted the home fans by saying the players find it easier away from us at opponents grounds, so lets see if he can actually rally the troops.

Thank goodness Andy Cole (sorry, Andrew Cole) wasn’t playing tonight, he’d have got double figures!

Player Ratings

Sorenson 5.
One superb save but at sixes and sevens far too often.

Mellberg 6.
The defence was missing in the first half.

Delaney 6.
As above. Off for the second half with a knee injury, lets hope he recovers quickly because Mellberg picked up his 5th yellow and will miss the Pompey game.

Hughes 5.
A couple of decent crosses.

Samuel 5.
No better or worse than the rest.

Barry 7.
Why does he have to do everything by himself?

McCann 4.5.
Poor.

Davis 6.
Would have been less but he helped set up our goal. Looks tired

Milner 4.5.
Totally off colour performance.

Baros 6.
Well taken goal, can’t ask for a better finish.

Moore 4.
No supply, no chances, not much of anything.

Angel on for Moore 63. 5
No service etc etc.

Ridgewell on for Delaney 46. 6
Looked solid and got stuck in.

Manager Rating
O’Leary. When we scored the opener, he turned and pointed at someone. I hope that wasn’t him having a go at the fan who sometimes heckles, surely our ‘good coach’ (copyright O’Leary) wouldn’t be that petty…….again? 11 strangers was what Hanson said, couldn’t agree more. What does O’Leary do in training? And what does he do during the game apart from standing by the dug out gobbing?

Opponent Rating
Pearce. Now he DOES kick every ball and get involved. Inspirational, just needs a goalscorer.

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