SOBS ON VILLA

For the first time in yonks, the Lads welcomed the Villains to Wearside and rescued a point despite playing most of the game with ten men and a referee with a tenuous grip on the rules. Going behind to a Matty Cash thunderbolt, we kept our cool and deservedly equalised with about twelve to go when Issy popped it home after a lifted ball into the box. Happy days, I suppose.

Still smiling from last weekend's point at Palace (and surviving the crammed train back to Victoria) I booked Villa Dave on our bus, placing him handily upstairs at the front so that any sharp braking would threaten his safety. Especially with our Ian riding shotgun. We call it the ejector seat. As it was an early kickoff we landed in the Colliery bang on ten - the quietest I've ever seen the place, even if I did have three Villains in tow and sat next to a table of Norwegian SAFC fans who had a mutual Norwegian Villa mate. Having introduced the Norwegians to Double Maxim, met up with some old Villa acquaintances and filled my pockets with their loose change (that they're not allowed to take in, thanks to Coventry's antics a few years back) we were in as the foghorn blared...

... but not until the team had been announced:

Roefs

Hume Alderete Mukiele Reinildo 

Sadiki Xhaka (c) Le Fee

Rigg Talbi

Isidor

... and a bench of Patterson, Mayenda, Brobbey, Neil, Geertruida, Ballard, Adingra, Traore, and Masuaku.

Let's get carried away!

We kicked off and attacked the North end, and went straight on the offensive with Reinildo away down our right, but it ran for a goal kick in the first minute. After a corner on our left, which Hume slung in, a poor touch gave the visitors a corner of their own, which we cleared. Twelve in, a Talbi cross was headed over as Rigg popped some nice passes about on his Prem debut - and he looked at home in the environment.

A long throw from Mukiele on about 20 caused a bit of panic in the Villa box but they got it away and we won it back thanks to a terrific challenge by Alderete in the centre circle. A tremendous save by Roefs was rendered unnecessary by an offside flag - probably the only thing the officials gave our way in the first half. An obvious dive by a Villa player just before the half hour brought a free to them (baffled of Bishop will be moaning about this one for a while).

A bright spell by us was ended with a foul by Cash, but Reinildo put his foot up afterwards (right into Cash's nuts, to be fair, and well deserved) and was sent off. Not a word to Cash, though, as the ref played to the cameras. 

With a man advantage Villa obviously pushed us back, but we defended in stoic and ordered fashion - and we were always likely to catch them on the break. Talbi came under a lot of pressure as they targeted that side of our fomation, but we managed without a left back. Somehow.

Three added minutes were announced, and we filled them with the same patient play to go in level, which was just about correct.

No changes for the second half, not even in the ref's willingness to play to the cameras and not even when their man tried a lie down in our box. We worked a bit of space but shot over three minutes in, then a long throw (wow, we can do long throws) caused a bit of panic and we hit something off the bar. With American football dominating corner kick defending, we quickly fell into Premier League mindset and dealt with it. We had one hoofed off the line as we reminded the visitors that we were still a threat, then won a corner on our left as the ref pointed for a goal kick.

Hume was hours late with a fitting tackle, but there was no card and not even a free kick. When we did get a free it went forward and Issy was there in the box to pop it home with fifteen to go, and no more than we deserved. 

BOOOOOM!

A few minutes later, on came Mayenda, Geertruida, and Matsuaku, with Issy, Talbi, and Enzo making way. From then on, it was our defensive organisation against Villa"s half hearted attacking and we looked more likely to get something despite their excessive possession in our defensive areas.

In the last minute there was no card for a ridiculously late one on Hume in our box, then five added were announced. A knackered Sadiki made way for Neil, we played it out and got our just rewards.

Man of the Match? Sadiki, who covered more ground than a very large carpet with a crop duster attached, just ahead of Hume for that ridiculous air tackle that flung their man up in the air late on.

A very good point that underlines our right to be where we are... top half.