COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Aston Villa (H)

By Ken Buckley   ::  10/09/2011

Blues dominate but only draw

Arteta has gone but our two new recruits did not get a start, instead the manager chose a strike force of Cahill and Osman with Fellaini and Rodwell in centre-mid and Coleman and Bilyaletdinov patrolling wide. Hibbert replaced Neville in an otherwise unchanged back five.

Not a recognised striker on view for the Blues but as events unfolded we hardly noticed. As early as the first minute we were appealing for a pen when Dunne put Osman to the turf but the ref waived play on.

The next meaningful action saw Baines whip in a good corner for Jags to get a good head on and with ?goal? in our throats Bent headed away off the line. The ball went back to Baines who whipped it back in for Osman to shoot on goal only for Given to push away and still within the first quarter of an hour Jags had another header wide when better may have been expected. Just a few minutes later Heskey left the field injured with midfielder Bannan coming on.

Just a minute later we took the lead. Coleman had a gallop but his pass was poor but both Dunne and another Villa player got in a mess and the ball was pinched by livewire Cahill who looked up and fed Osman who side-footed home with some aplomb. Standing ovation was accorded to the little man.

Villa had been conspicuous by their lack of goal attempts but around the half-hour mark Bannan let fly from some 30 yards but straight at Howard who gathered.

It was all the Blues then till half time as Osman brought a good save from Given after a curler from the edge of the area; Fellaini did well to set that one up. Fellaini then had a go himself but shot well over the bar when a little steadiness may have been beneficial. Just before the break Rodwell let fly and had the shot deflected which left the keeper flat-footed and beaten only for the ball to drift wide.

H/T and the chat was of how well we had performed first half considering the team put out. Many wondered would we get a glimpse of our two new boys in the upcoming half.

Second half started with Villa in the ascendency pinning us back and many of us wondered if the dreaded early second half goal syndrome would strike today. We were certainly tested and it took a good reading of a situation and a timely block by Fellaini to thwart Delph in full flight on goal. Then the speedy Agbonlahor bore down on goal but Distin not just matching him for speed but overhauling him and making a superb tackle to deny the Villa man which drew a standing ovation from those assembled of a Blue persuasion, a truly superb bit of defending.

Next action of note saw Jags fail miserably to put us two up when the impressive Fellaini headed back across goal only for Jags to nod over the bar, he must have known he should have done better but we clapped and cheered anyway. Villa were having a good spell as we neared the hour mark but it was quite a surprise when the ball fell to the unmarked Petrov outside the area and he had the time to look up and let fly a superb shot that left Howard helpless and hit the back of the net before Howard hit the deck. A real stunner for us fans but in truth what a goal (I clapped) Howard remonstrated with anyone within earshot but the score still read 1-1.

The Villa took heart from this and pushed on but with a crowd of just under 33.000 in good voice the Blues responded and on 70mins Baines took a corner Cahill got a header in and Given pushed away but straight to Jags who seemed to be pushed down. ?Penalty? we yelled, the ref agreed and Baines left Given stranded and Goodison rocking.

 Both teams made a sub some few minutes later and the introduction of Drenthe in place of Bilyaletdinov to raucous cheers, for Villa Albrighton replaced Blue target? N?Zogbia and these subs seemed to pep up both teams. For about ten minutes Drenthe was winning over loads of fans with his pace, control and nous but then went back into his shell a little suggesting he will need time to settle but could turn out to be a worthwhile punt.

80mins. showed on the clock and it looked as though we could see it out but hey we are Everton and from Cahill losing the ball in midfield and claiming injury but the ref would have none of it and Agbonlahor raced on to the ball and fed the sub Albrighton wide, he was afforded the time to look up and curl in a cross that was met by the head of Agbonlahor and the net was troubled, from my seat I thought Howard should have got something on it but maybe not.

Barkley and Vellios were introduced for Cahill and Coleman and both played a cavalier cameo and both came close to getting the winner With Vellios beating Given to a through ball but side-footing just wide and Barkley after a swashbuckling run bringing a fingertip save from Given as he turned the shot over. After 4mins of injury time the final whistle and the players although only drawing when they should have won were given a good ovation.

MotM ? Baines.

Overall a good entertaining game. Given our squad difficulties, I thought the manager did his best to find a way to win and but for some poor finishing this team could well have outclassed Villa who have made an unbeaten start to the season. Vellios I thought could be well-worth persevering with and Drenthe when fully fit can be what he wants to be. Let?s hope he is what we want him to be.

Wigan next in another home fixture and a good chance to take all three points, it will be fascinating to see the line-up after another week's training. If we can steer clear of serious injury we may yet have a half-decent season but a few injuries and or suspensions at once will see us well stretched.

Still soon be Saturday and all raring to go again. See you there.
UP THE BLUES
 

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