Saturday December 8, 2012 Day 16 Finished Villa Park

  1. Premier League - Villa and Stoke share spoils in bore draw

    Premier League - Villa and Stoke share spoils in bore draw

    Aston Villa and Stoke City played out a pretty dire 0-0 draw at Villa Park that sees both sides extended their respective unbeaten Premier League runs. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Aston Villa
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Thursday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4 That’s it from a pretty drab affair. Aston Villa certainly had the better of it but with a lack of midfield runners they failed to turn their dominance into an advantage. Stay here for the report.
    • 90+4 Villa throw the ball in the box but Stoke repel the last attack of the match.
    • 90+3 Shotton with a long throw but the hosts clear. Delph is caught by Shotton and that could be a second yellow for the right-back. Indeed it is and he is off.
    • 90+2' Delph whips it into the box. Stoke clear. Westwood looks for Bent but Begovic is there again. The final ball just hasn’t been there.
    • 90+1 Three added minutes here.
    • 90' Herd looks for Benteke at the far post but Begovic claims.
    • 89' Great challenge from Lichaj – he times the challenge perfectly as Jerome bears down on goal albeit at an angle. The ball comes off the forward for a goal-kick.
    • 87' Guzan comes to claim a Shotton cross. Villa break but a couple of last ditch Stoke challenges prevents Benteke from having a clear shot on goal.
    • 85' Benteke’s influence on the game has waned following the introduction of Bent - he is caught on the ball.
    • 84' Lowton has been Villa’s best player today and he runs at the Stoke defence before sliding the ball in to Ireland whose attempted cross drops on the roof of the net.
    • 82' Ireland looks for Bent over the top but the attempted clipped ball is charged down. Bent has barely had a touch since coming on.
    • 80' Crouch's first action is to draw a foul just inside his own half. Stoke launch it into the box, Herd clears. The ball finds its way to Jerome, who drops a shoulder and makes a yard on the edge of the box but his effort s wild and skews off for a throw.
    • 78' VILLA SUB: Bannan is replaced by Delph.
    • 77' Bannan lifts a ball to the far post – Lowton attempts to get to it but Huth comes across to usher him off the ball. The Holt End is not shy in showing its disappointment at what they saw as a foul – you've got to say that Huth did flick his elbow into the face of the Villa player.
    • 76' STOKE SUB: Crouch, formerly of Villa, replaces Jones. As Shotton is yellowed for kicking the ball away following a free-kick.
    • 74' Crouch warming up as Shotton launches another throw into the box. Easily cleared.
    • 72' Villa moving the ball forward at pace but Stoke have done very well to stay compact – just as it looks like they’ll get a yard of space to work the ball forward a Stoke player intervenes.
    • 70' Both teams with an orthodox front two now.
    • 69' STOKE SUB: Etherington is replaced by Jerome.
    • 68' A rare chance for Stoke. Jones flicks to Walters but his effort is wild from an acute angle. Chance there.
    • 67' VILLA SUB: Bent and Ireland on for Holman and Agbonlahor.
    • 66' Walters’ cross is stabbed out for a corner following a decent ball in behind from Whelan. Guzman punches clear.
    • 64' Shawcross blocks a Holman shot from outside the box but there is more of a threat of a goal this half.
    • 62' Shotton launches a long throw into the box but the hosts clear. Villa have been defensively sound so far.
    • 60' With Stoke a little further up the pitch, Villa are finding more space in the attacking third. Benteke shows some great feet inside the Stoke box to work some space but his effort is blocked.
    • 58' Jones wins a header with two players ahead of him, which is pretty illustrative of much more ambitious Stoke this half.
    • 57' Stoke playing further up the pitch this half.
    • 55' Stoke having a decent spell of possession. Guzan takes a deflected cross under extreme pressure from Jones. The pair square up as the referee blows up for the foul.
    • 53' There’s a couple of feisty challenges out there at the moment – still no yellow card but the way things are going there’ll be a yellow soon.
    • 51' Agbonlahor now has a sight of the goal but he goes down under the challenge of Shotton. Clamis for a penalty but nothing doing – he was simply off balance.
    • 49' Villa again having the better of the early exchanges of the second half.
    • 47' Bamteke passes up a very presentable chance in the first minute of the second half but he attempts to side-foot his effort from just inside the box. Begovic claims easily.
    • 46' Second half underway.
    • 45+2' That’s it for the first-half – no goals but a bit of action.
    • 45+1 Bit of a ruckus as the half finishes. Jones clips Clark, whose momentum takes Clark through Whelan. Horrible collision and the Stoke players are incensed. Free-kick to Villa though that Bannan plays short before clipping it towards Benteke but it runs out for a goal-kick.
    • 45' One minute of added time.
    • 44' Agbonlahor makes a dash down the right but again only Benteke is in attendance in the box. The cross is over-hit though but the hosts desperately need to get more runners into the box.
    • 43' Lichaj has offered an outlet all game for the front players with some super running – but this time Benteke over-hits the pass and the ball trickles out of play as the wingback stretches out a leg.
    • 42' Stoke have their first corner of the game but Westwood clears at the near post.
    • 41' Benteke gets into space down the right but his cross is cleared easily with only Agbonlahor in the box. Both sides need to really improve their midfield runners.
    • 39' Villa – led by Benteke – have dealt admirably with the physical threat of Stoke.
    • 37' Lowton’s ball just has too much on it as it bounces and carries through to Begovic with that man Benteke looking to get a leg to it.
    • 35' Lichaj gets in behind the Stoke defence but his pull back is behind Benteke. Huth only half clears and Benteke’s attempted over-head kick is cleared by Whelan. The Irishman takes a whack in his face for his troubles.
    • 33' Looking at that again, Nzonzi lashed out at Baker and he could have gotten a red there.
    • 32' The throw comes in but the flick from Jones is collected by Guzan.
    • 31' Long throw from Shotton coming up but the referee Mr East has to delay the throw to step in and sort out some hustle and bustle involving Nzonzi.
    • 29' Villa keep the ball well through their defence and midfield as Stoke drop off and offer their hosts time and space on the ball. Westwood picks up the ball in some space between the Stoke midfield and defence but Benteke checks his run in behind the Stoke defence just as the ball is played.
    • 27' There is a little bit of a sedate feeling to this fixture now as Stoke have done very well to take the early sting out of Villa’s play.
    • 25' Jones finds Walters in the right channel, they move it across the midfield to Cameron. The American finds Jones whose knockdown header is cleared by Clark with Whitehead lurking.
    • 24' Stoke having a little bit of possession now – Baker rises with Jones to head clear.
    • 23' Despite all their possession, Villa are yet to test Asmir Begovic.
    • 22' Jones is cutting an isolated figure up front thus far with Stoke resorting to long balls into the big Trinidadian, but, even if he wins it, there is very limited support.
    • 20' Benteke draws another free-kick as the possession stats for the last five minutes reads 80% in favour of the home side.
    • 19' There is – as there has been at every home match this season –a minute’s round of applause at 19 minutes gone in support of Stiliyan Petrov.
    • 18' Benteke is holding the ball up very well at the moment and Cameron goes through the back of him as the Belgian makes a decent turn. Bannan over the free-kick from the edge of the box – he manages to get enough whip on the ball but gets underneath it. Goal-kick.
    • 17' Stoke are sitting rigidly deep at the moment. Baker looks to make a quick break down the left but he is hauled back. Bannan lofts the ball into the box but Huth clears.
    • 16' From a Villa point of view, everyone wants the ball. Three at the back is offering them lots of options.
    • 14' Guzan collects a cross from Etherington with ease. It was a quick break but there was only Jones in the box.
    • 13' Bannan wins a tackle in midfield and slips the ball to Benteke, who, in turn, releases to Lowton. Lowton comes inside his man but his left-footed effort from outside the box is tame. Decent move.
    • 12' Chance. What a block. A Villa corner is not cleared and Benteke’s volley that was well hit and on target is blocked heroically by Shawcross. What a block.
    • 11' Possession stats thus far read Aston Villa 69% to Stoke’s 31%.
    • 10' This is a very confident start from the hosts but for the first time there are no options for the man on the ball and Lowton puts it into touch.
    • 8' Herd looks for Benteke in behind but the Belgian goes too soon – close that though.
    • 6' The hosts are really pressing Stoke back. Their midfield five are really having the run of the Stoke midfield.
    • 4' Cameron nudges Agbonlahor near the corner flag and Bannan whips the free-kick to the near post. Huth clears for a corner. The visitors clear but a decent start from Villa.
    • 2' Only QPR have scored less Premier League goals than Villa as the hosts begin with a decent bit of possession that culminates with Agbonlahor over-hitting a pass to Benteke. Shawcross gets a foot in and the ball breaks to Lowton, whose clipped cross is cleared for a corner.
    • 1' Referee Roger East gives his whistle a blast to get us underway in the West Midlands - Villa defend the Holt End.
    • 14:55 MATCH ODDS: Aston Villa (6/4) Stoke City (11/5), Draw (23/10)
    • 14:50 Tony Pulis (Stoke City): “We won’t be selling any of our big players in January. The money situation at the end of the year is just enormous. We wanted to quell all the speculation now and say to everyone concerned, ‘No one will be leaving’.”
    • 14:45 Managers quotes: Paul Lambert (Aston Villa): "I think in the last seven games only the two Manchester clubs have beaten us. I think people tend to overlook that. We've been unfairly criticised at times because we are young and people look at us and think 'young team' but if you look at the way things are going at the moment, we are doing really fine. These players have to be thrown in at some stage in their career but I have every faith in them to do what they can for our club."
    • 14:40 But, five of the last seven Premier League meetings between Aston Villa and Stoke have ended as draws, including three of the four played at Villa Park - and with only eight goals scored in the last six matches between Villa and Stoke, this one could be a low scoring game.
    • 14:35 Last weekend’s win over the Baggies saw Stoke up into ninth place and, if other results go their way, they could go as high as sixth with a win. An unbeaten run of three games has pulled Paul Lambert’s men slowly away from the relegation zone into 15th - a win for the Villains could see them open a five point gap over Southampton in 18th. Table.
    • 14:30 Kenwyne Jones continues up front following an impressive showing last time out against West Brom. Cameron Jerome is fit for selection after an ankle injury; while Peter Crouch, who lost three teeth following a collision with Fabricio Coloccini, has had a mouth guard fitted and returns to the squad - both forwards are on the bench as Jones is rewarded for a good run of form.
    • 14:25 An ankle injury rules out Enda Stevens while Joe Bennett has failed to recover from a knee injury. The calf problem that ruled him out of games with Reading and QPR continues to keep skipper and centre-back Ron Vlaar on the sidelines as Villa look to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.
    • 14:20 TEAMS: Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Lichaj, Holman, Westwood, Bannan, Herd, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Weimann, Williams, Delph, Bent. /// Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Shotton, Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington, Whitehead, Jones, Walters. Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Upson, Kightly, Crouch, Wilkinson, Jerome.
    • 14:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Aston Villa and Stoke City from Villa Park.

  • Summary

    • 90+3 Shotton with a long throw but the hosts clear. Delph is caught by Shotton and that could be a second yellow for the right-back. Indeed it is and he is off.
    • 89' Great challenge from Lichaj – he times the challenge perfectly as Jerome bears down on goal albeit at an angle. The ball comes off the forward for a goal-kick.
    • 87' Guzan comes to claim a Shotton cross. Villa break but a couple of last ditch Stoke challenges prevents Benteke from having a clear shot on goal.
    • 80' Crouch's first action is to draw a foul just inside his own half. Stoke launch it into the box, Herd clears. The ball finds its way to Jerome, who drops a shoulder and makes a yard on the edge of the box but his effort s wild and skews off for a throw.
    • 77' Bannan lifts a ball to the far post – Lowton attempts to get to it but Huth comes across to usher him off the ball. The Holt End is not shy in showing its disappointment at what they saw as a foul – you've got to say that Huth did flick his elbow into the face of the Villa player.
    • 60' With Stoke a little further up the pitch, Villa are finding more space in the attacking third. Benteke shows some great feet inside the Stoke box to work some space but his effort is blocked.
    • 51' Agbonlahor now has a sight of the goal but he goes down under the challenge of Shotton. Clamis for a penalty but nothing doing – he was simply off balance.
    • 47' Bamteke passes up a very presentable chance in the first minute of the second half but he attempts to side-foot his effort from just inside the box. Begovic claims easily.
    • 33' Looking at that again, Nzonzi lashed out at Baker and he could have gotten a red there.
    • 29' Villa keep the ball well through their defence and midfield as Stoke drop off and offer their hosts time and space on the ball. Westwood picks up the ball in some space between the Stoke midfield and defence but Benteke checks his run in behind the Stoke defence just as the ball is played.
    • 19' There is – as there has been at every home match this season –a minute’s round of applause at 19 minutes gone in support of Stiliyan Petrov.
    • 12' Chance. What a block. A Villa corner is not cleared and Benteke’s volley that was well hit and on target is blocked heroically by Shawcross. What a block.
    • 14:20 TEAMS: Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Lichaj, Holman, Westwood, Bannan, Herd, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Weimann, Williams, Delph, Bent. /// Stoke City: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Shotton, Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington, Whitehead, Jones, Walters. Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Upson, Kightly, Crouch, Wilkinson, Jerome.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.2 6
      Defenders
      6.6 6
      6.8 6
      6.8 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out66′ 7 5
      Substitution Out78′ 6.6 6
      7.2 6
      7 5
      7.2 6
      Strikers
      6.8 7
      Substitution Out66′ 5.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In66′ 8.5 5
      Substitution In78′ 7 6
      Substitution In66′ 8 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.3 6
      Defenders
      Red Card 6.2 5
      7.8 5
      6.9 5
      7.3 5
      Midfielders
      6.7 4
      6.7 5
      6.6 6
      6.8 5
      Substitution Out68′ 6.7 5
      Strikers
      Substitution Out76′ 6.9 6
      Subs
      Substitution In76′ 7 5
      Substitution In68′ 6.5 5

Comment 4 - 24 of 24

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  1. @Fred: You didn't watch the game. Lambert played a­ 3-5-2 with Lowton and Lichaj pushing up on the flanks.

    From Matteos Maserati, on Mon 10 Dec 16:58

  2. Lambert is good at the talk. I wonder if that's all­ he is? Lambert will be talking his way into the­ Championship at this rate. Five at the back; at home,­ against a club NOT in the top six? That smacks of­ defensive football at it's 'purest'.­ Reminiscent of another Scotsman we had in charge­ recently. Come on Gambolambo. We want some wins.­ Crawling out of trouble, one point at a time is not­ good enough. A draw isn't a 'point saved'.­ it's two points LOST!

    From Fred, on Mon 10 Dec 7:49

  3. Funny that Tony Pulis moaned about the ref, when it was­ his team doing the fouling, and mostly getting away­ with it, the number of times Gabby was blocked and held­ of the ball, was amazing, you have to credit Stoke for­ what they do, its very affected but illegal, i sore at­ least 2 of our players praticularly wrestled to the­ ground in there box, and nothing was given, it was­ easily the worst match i have seen this season at Villa­ Park, Stoke get away with an awful lot, and Pulis­ shouldn't be moaning about what the refs sore.

    From craig, on Sun 9 Dec 22:41

  4. We dominated this whole game, Stoke should consider­ themselves lucky. So difficult trying to score against­ a side that consistantly floods their box with 10­ players.

    From Matteos Maserati, on Sun 9 Dec 5:54

  5. Huth = 20 !!!

    From New, on Sat 8 Dec 19:12

  6. The Back 3/5 were exceptional today. Stoke thought­ they could bully these young guns but came unstuck. ­ Clark had Jones in his pocket and even grew in stature­ when handed the arm band. Walters was reduced to­ mouthing off at Lowton, who was superb. Baker, again,­ was fantastic, as was Herd and Lichaj. Westwood was­ stunning, and thoroughly deserved his MoM.

    From nigel, on Sat 8 Dec 19:08

  7. look at the positives you only have to see stoke once ­ a season imagine watching that every week gives me­ shivers thinking about it

    From DENIS, on Sat 8 Dec 18:40

  8. We sit back to much we need to push forward more or we­ won't get goals

    From Football dude, on Sat 8 Dec 16:48

  9. When the thugs play away a match is likely to finish­ 0-0. Only 1 Yellow Card for them? Surprising.

    From FowlerLegend, on Sat 8 Dec 16:33

  10. Ssssssttttttttooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeee

    From Football dude, on Sat 8 Dec 16:27

  11. C'mon the mighty potters!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Football dude, on Sat 8 Dec 16:22

  12. Huth is the best

    From Mohsen, on Sat 8 Dec 15:25

  13. go on first row for stream

    From Attia, on Sat 8 Dec 14:57

  14. hi its me

    From Attia, on Sat 8 Dec 14:57

  15. Come on you rip-roaring Potters

    From Calvin, on Sat 8 Dec 11:52

  16. C'mon Stoke! £500 bk :)

    From Krzysztof, on Sat 8 Dec 11:31

  17. walk in the park 2-0 to stoke

    From PAUL, on Fri 7 Dec 19:01
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    This will end in a 1-1 draw like it always does, Stoke­ don't score to many but don't conceded to many­ either, not many goals and it could be a 1-0 either­ way, and factor into everything Stoke don't travel­ to well, unless your name is West Brom of cause, Villa­ do have a chance to win but need to have Vlaar­ back,Stoke will make it a physical match but there 2­ CB's will probberly be up against the most physical­ CF they have played against so far this season, so it­ will be interesting to see how they handle it when its­ dished out.

    From craig, on Thu 6 Dec 14:54
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    VILLA 2-1 Stoke are a tough team, but villa s pace­ will nick it .We need the points more than them.

    From PETER, on Tue 4 Dec 15:34

  20. I think that Mateos Maserati should look and the league­ table & pay paticular attention to the goal­ difference of the two sides!

    From GA3, on Mon 3 Dec 11:29
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