John Carew scored twice and for good measure and a little more pull in contract talks, Martin Laursen scored the other.

Laursen has now scored 6 this season and he's now our joint second top scorer along with Maloney and Carew and only one goal behind Gabby.

Olof Mellberg was ill and was replaced at right back by Craig Gardner but apart from that there was no changes from the defeat to Manchester United.

Moustapha Salifou also made his debut with a minute to go and the Holte End had quite a nice song for him.

Martin Laursen was man of the match and overall it was a great result. You can't complain when you win 3-1 at home.

Liverpool away next week, no report from Doc as he's in India on holiday, but if you've got something to say you can say it below.

Comments (45)

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xandeh said:

Great game to watch overall, always good to see us win, especially against teams which are supposed to be our "mediocre equals" Only bad thing about today was blues got a point away at Arsenal, oh well. Beer time. Have a good night all

January 12, 2008

Chrisodon said:

I'd have liked a clean sheet out of this match but reading do score alot oh well maybe next week. But still great to have the points and be sitting on 39 points! we could go 4th next week let's all hope. One other thing with Laursen being joint second top goal scorer i think it highlights our need for a quality finisher that'll guarantee 10-15 goals a season.

January 12, 2008

taglor said:

Great result, well played Villa.

January 12, 2008

PaulE said:

A good job done well. We're level on points with Liverpool and I'm glad Salifou has finally set foot on the pitch!

January 12, 2008

swb said:

I don't really agree with ya there chrisodon, that laursen scoring 6 goals shows the need of a striker? Why? Simply because laursen scores his goals after corners and free kicks. I'm really happy that Villa is looking to be a magnificent scoring team this season. They have the players to score with the ball in regular play, and they are really deadly on freekicks/corners with laursen, knight, mellberg, adding to carews muscles and height I prefer having 3 players scoring 6-7 goals each at this stage of the season, rather than having that one striker scoring 10. It makes us less vulnerable to injuries. With one out, there are two-three left to fill in the gap and do an equally good job. Because lets face it, Villa doesn't have a powerplay style to have a van nistelgoal in front scoring. They need the muscles and speed O'neill is creating. Next week we'll start our path to a Champions League spot hopefully

January 12, 2008

oldman villain said:

i agree swb better to have several players scoring goals then just one but it would be nice to have a goal poacher as such,another good win, now bring on the pool nxt week all fingers crossed etc,....damian quiet this week, oh i forgot villas season is over lol

January 12, 2008

Az_ said:

Obviously it's great that we are getting goals from defence midfield, but if we had an out and out goal scorer we would find goals a little easier and would generally be more threatening. I think this is something that sets us apart from the top teams, among a few other things of course. I think we are lacking in defence more than anything. Doesn't really make much sense with the likes of Laursen and Mellberg but we do concede quite a few and sometimes it costs us games, others just our precious goal difference. Either way, it sounds like we put out a solid performance today and it's good that Salifou has finally made his debut even if it was in the last minute.

January 12, 2008

legend said:

Great result - a secure win, professional, very good standard of football. I remember watching us, not very long ago, occassionaly struggle for one half and pull out all the stops in the second. Today, it was of a high standard from back to front - we got the goal and were confident, never looked back. Davies/ Laursen are really solid - Barry got better and better, Coker consistent and the third goal Young/ Aggy/ Carew combination was great to watch. Reading play everything through Hunt - they never gave up and it was pleasing to see the quality Villa have obviously got shine through. We are almost naturally improving as a team. I heard two blokes picking faults with players making missed passes as I walked away from the game - they pay so are entitled to an opinion - my own is that this Villa side is improving as the season progresses, in spite of last weeks result, we are moving forward. Up the Villa.

January 12, 2008

Az_ said:

defence and midfield*

January 12, 2008

smylhr said:

great result, pitty about the referee tho!! utv

January 12, 2008

bristolvillian09 said:

promise that defoe will sign for villa before january the 31st...

January 12, 2008

sam_villa 1 said:

SALIF SALIFOUUUUUUUUUUU SALIF SALIFOUUUUUUUUUUU

January 12, 2008

Michael P said:

Good result, I'm well pleased One more reason to build on what we have done so far this season..by the way, can anyone tell me how the Salifou song goes? Cheers and up the Villa!

January 12, 2008

gazza said:

Couldn't really say we had a bad player today, should have been more, Carew deserved his goals and I felt Gabby deserved one also. Reading are no push overs,so am really pleased with the result as they do score a lot of goals. Laursen for Prime Minister.

January 12, 2008

villain of the north said:

I'm with chrisodon. He didn't say we don't need other players who can score, he said we need a top striker who CAN score more than the rest. Which is what your top teams build around anyway. Look at arsenal, chelsea and manutd. They all had respectively, Van Nistelrooy, Henry and also Drogba who could powerfully put the ball in the net on a regular basis, then the rest of hte team is made up of strong players also who can meet that goal tally on a day when the striker doesn't do his job. We're building a great side here, but it still needs a top notch striker with that extra cutting edge. None of our strikers can really boast that ability yet.

January 12, 2008

nan was a fan said:

Exciting times ahead.I am currently wallowing in the joy of Villa.Wake up Saturday morning.3 points here we come. Games can't come soon enough. Need more midweek fixtures. Surely 4th is on.

January 12, 2008

Rokin45 said:

Anyone else desperate for us to get defoe before the end of the transfer window, we have been linked with him for months and even last few summers, i feel it will happen in the end. but would be play defoe with carew and put gabby on the right?

January 12, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

Really good result these are the sort of games we have to win Unlike last season when we wasnt but hey keep lookin >>>> Laursen has got to stay give him what he wants we cant lose a player like him

January 12, 2008

davevilla111 said:

Liverpool are interested in Defoe which might not mean anything although I suspect he would choose them rather than us. I am not sure we do need another striker but I think MON does and so he will pursue one. I feel the right midfield and right defense is where we need to strengthen do that and the current strikers and players we have will score goals. After all we are one of the highest scoring teams in the prem, away from home i think we are the highest, and that despite having our main striker in Carew injured for some weeks. I thought today Carew, Young, and Gabby were outstanding Reading were unable to cope with them at any time in the match.

January 12, 2008

Chrisodon said:

I Think we need Defoe for the liverpool match or a striking addition of equal or better quality something extra to pep up our attacking force. Because we've got defenders that score that will worry them but given that extra dimension i really feel we could take something out of the game. But in response to a comment. We're not exactly a free scoring team our defenders have been great in scoring 10 between them. but look at our midfielders they have 10! now while some people will say thats good, It's actually the 2nd worst return only beaten by pompy with 9 from 5th place to 9th! Where as Man City have 18, Everton 19, & Blackburn 14. And while our strikers have been scoring we've still not got a player that can secure 10-15 goals a season. Point is what happens when teams start defending set pieces better or we lose Laursen in the summer ? That's when our midfielders will need to pull there socks up and actually start scoring. Until then i don't personally see us as a free scoring side.

January 12, 2008

Chrisodon said:

LW instead of RW because we can just put young on the RW.

January 12, 2008

tonebone said:

great result. we need a winger yes. it doesnt matter whether its right or left tho as young plays on either. right back i assume will def happen. But we still despite what some say need a striker aka defoe!!!! i keep giving facts out about him and get thid over the last 3 seasons he has scored more goals per minutes played than any other player in the prem. that includes henry by the way. just sign him up for god sake!!!

January 12, 2008

davevilla111 said:

Yes a LW would also be good although Youngs ability to cut inside and shoot is part of the danger he poses. He hasn't scored goals from doing this yet but he will as he develops. I really don't think we need a striker although another one would be always be welcome but as i say MON does so we will buy one I'm sure. I fancy us to get something out of the Liverpool game as i think we are better away from home when we can sit and use the pace of Young and Gabby to break at speed. Whatever happens its been a long time since we had 39 points and its still only Jan.

January 12, 2008

Lloydy said:

Damien, your not singing, your not singing, your not singing any more, your not singing anymore, he thought it was all over!!! NOT ANYMORE! Sprint not a marathon, all is well Damien...all is well!

January 13, 2008

Az_ said:

Watched the game on match choice. Think we could have kept a clean sheet if it weren't for MON bringing on 3 substitutes at the end, we totally loosed concentration when he did that. Either way, a very impressive performance. Gardner did great at right back, he's not a player I have seen enough of to come to a proper judgement, but I thought he did well considering it's not his preferred position. Carew in particular was simply astonishing. I'll admit I didn't rate the guy at first but he's playing some excellent football at the moment and I think he was very close to grabbing Man of the Match, for me anyway.

January 13, 2008

Jeremiah said:

I was just able to watch the match. I thought it was a great performance. Though shaky on the defensive end a bit - though part of that could be because Reading is so determined in attack - I thought we played very well. In attack we were as good for a 20-30 minute stretch in the second half as I think we've been all season. As maligned as Carew has been at times for his finishing, he definitely has had the look of a top-knotch international striker in recent matches. I thought everyone else played well. Petrov hasn't been mentioned, but I thought he was very sharp and creative in midfield. Everything else has been mentioned already, I'm just really happy with the way Villa responded to the FA Cup loss to ManU.

January 13, 2008

ConVilla said:

if we dont sign laursen up..i will be livid.

January 13, 2008

Azz said:

We had 39 points last season

January 13, 2008

swb said:

I seriously don't get this talk about a striker thats gonna give us 10-15 goals a season, and they you're bringing up Defoe? I mean, give me a break. The guy can't get the ball across the line standing 5 inches away from it! You keep talking about Carew not being a scoring machine (and o'neill isnt using him as one either, he's someone that's supposed to keep the ball up there) and your best idea is to bring in defoe? Sorry there, but I just can't see him there instead of Carew, perhaps as a sub to Young or Abby, but nothing else.

January 13, 2008

villain of the north said:

SWB, your opinion on defoe is baseless. The stats don't lie, and prove he is a quality striker even when not starting a match.

January 13, 2008

Online Bingo said:

i wish they could get back to the good ol days where they were the chams

January 13, 2008 | url

tonebone said:

swb - u r clueless about football if u dont think defoe is a quality striker. In fact watching the sunday supplement on sky today all 4 pundits praised him and said they would love him in there side. And they stated All the england players report on how good he is when training with England. And on top of that he scores more goals comfartably for time spent on the pitch then anyone we have. did u not see his finish aganst us - that was a clinical finish - what we r missing!! gabby has a lot to learn still and is not clinical and Young we play on the wing so thats a ridiculous comparison!!

January 13, 2008

davevilla111 said:

Defoe is without doubt a good striker but he is fourth choice at spurs and has been under two managers that has to tell you something. He also has touted himself to the top four for a year and up to now not one of them have shown any intrest, although Liverpool are rumoured to be keen now. Pundits are pundits because they can't manage so I never really take much notice of them. If Defoe comes my guess is that MON would use him in rotation as you couldn't see him holding down a starting place every week. That of course could be good thing as it would keep others fresh.

January 13, 2008

Leroy said:

You just get the feeling that if we dont sign Defoe or another decent striker, and we dont resign Laursen, we will have lost some momentum. What are we waiting for in regards to the RB situation? I guess what im saying is that its a shame to go to Liverpool, which is such a huge match for us now, with out that clinical finisher as we may not get too many opportunities in front of goal.

January 13, 2008

VillaPD said:

6th in the league, same amount of points as liverpool who are in forth. nows the time to spend and bring in 2 or even three quality players. weve never had such a fantastic opportunity to break into the top 4. we have momentum, liverpool are suffering. if we can get in some quality it could be just what we need to get that champs. league place. sod waiting and holding out for players. get them in before the liverpool game, go there and get a result and 4th is ours for the taking. sign gudjohnsen, a RB (boswinga/miguel) ans a winger, preferably left and swith young to the right.

January 14, 2008

gray owl said:

great performance,but still need a right back please?

January 14, 2008

ozavfc21 said:

that was a cracking performance and very professional. they only scored cause of the substitutions. but glad salifou get a run out. oh and great choice of song for him

January 14, 2008

AK28 said:

Have to agree with VillaPD. 4th is there for the taking so lets go and spend big and bring in quality.Would love to see Gudjohnson and Boswinga in the villa side. And why don't we go and sound out Blackburn with a 15M bid for Bentley? He would be some addition to our midfield. These are the types of transfers we need to need to be making if we are serious about breaking into the top 4.

January 14, 2008

Imhotep said:

Defoe is nowhere near the quality of our current strikers. Villa's style is built on a foundation of hard work, tracking back, strength, and pace. Sure Defoe has some of these things, but can you really see him displacing Gabby, and working as hard at getting around and battling for the ball? There's no chance. Can you see him replacing Carew, a much taller, stronger and a more intelligent, determined player? No chance. If Defoe wasn't English and therefore in the papers so much, you lot wouldn't talk about him anywhere near as much as you do. I only want to see us bring in players with the right mindset and the right footballing style to take us further. There aren't many players available at the moment who could improve us, so I don't expect to see many signings in this window - and rightly so. SWB is right. Defoe isn't the player to get us a load of goals. Its just not how we play. We need to concentrate more on bringing in a right midfielder and a right back at the moment. Thats far more important for us.

January 14, 2008

VillaPD said:

thanks AK28 and i will return the favour and agree with you, Bentley would be one hell of an addition to the team! Bentley, Boswinga/Miguel,Gudjohnsen. Big outlay needed, but randys a rich man and the amount we would recoup in shirt sales, attendances (would be near sell out every game), and money for getting into europe, especially if we got 4th would easily pay for it. you have to speculate to accumulate.

January 14, 2008

andy5759 said:

Pinch me, I'm dreaming!!

January 14, 2008

Chrisodon said:

Get a grip defoe no where near our strikers quality there's having bilnd support and there's support with your eye's open you're in the first section, Defoe wouldn't dislodge Gabby or Carew but gabby would be moved wide right until we get someone in. then he'd be rotated he's a damn sight better than moore and harewood or do you think he's worse than them ?. I Agree we should go for bentley but £15mil is a bit much to start off with £10-12 mil at most. And gudjohnson why do people think that guy is so good he'd totally change our team to a top four club ? to break the top four we need a solid attacking and holding Cm's and we've not got that.

January 14, 2008

AK28 said:

I think Gugjohnson would give us that little bit of guile which is sometimes needed againest the better teams. Totally agree about the 2 CM. Neither are of them are good enough in my mind to really compete with the top 4. Id like to see Barry back on the left wing with young on the right and us a new centre mid play maker. Someone in the mould of Arteta??

January 15, 2008

VillaPD said:

thats exactly what gudjohnsen offers, hes a bit like robbie keane and dennis bergkamp in that he can make something happen. at the moment were lacking something that can produce a little bit of magic. barry on the left, young o the right would be good. id keep NRC in the middle as a holding player and get a good creative CM. van der vaart woud be nice! or riquelme. im not too picky!

January 15, 2008

Leroy said:

Amen Chrisoden

January 16, 2008

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