|
This, frankly, was the test. Having put fifteen goals past mediocre opposition in three games, nobody really knew just how good Villa were.
Away to Everton. A deserved 5th in the Premier League. Only recently out of the running for fourth. And probably in their project to assault the big four about two years ahead of Villa, having gained both Champions League and UEFA Cup experience in the last two seasons.
I feared for Villa in the first ten minutes. The Blues took the game to us with pace and passion and skill, and were buoyed by a Goodison crowd who were really treating this as a cup final. Yakubu looked to have the better of Mellberg and Knight early on and the prognosis was dim. Villa couldn't wrestle the ball from the Toffees midfield early on, and things didn't look good.
But you have to say one thing about this side that O'Neill has built: they know how to "dig in". They dug in, worked hard, won the ball back and then started to dominate the game. Driven by a superb first half performance by Stiliyan Petrov, and supported by the tireless running and impeccable vision of Gareth Barry, David Moyes knows that Villa were ultimately unlucky not to be ahead at the break.
I hate to criticise referees. But you have to say that in the first half big John Carew repeatedly and fairly beat his man just to be whistled for a foul. Sorry ref - you can't blow up just because a player is big. And that's how it seemed.
So to the second half. None of us would have expected anything else. Everton threw the kitchen sink at us, and found themselves a goal.
Against a top side playing with confidence, an opposing crowd with their dander up and many neutrals shouting for Everton, many a team would have folded. Villa didn't.
Villa dug even deeper, and showed that with our pace and power, and the belief that O'Neill has instilled in the players, we can always come back and score. We did it twice, and it says it all.
Gabby didn't play a big part in the game - but his foot was there when it mattered. John Carew bullied and battered the Everton defence for ninety minutes, and was pulled and shoved by some streetwise defenders throughout. But he was always going to score, and he did. I genuinely believe that everyone in the ground knew that Carew would score sooner or later - he was unplayable again.
Some of us may be disappointed with a draw. But that in itself tells a story: two years ago, we were all going home sick to death of the Villa after a 0-0 draw against Fulham.
After less than two years under Martin O'Neill, we've left Goodison thinking that Everton may just have got out of jail.
A massive transformation - and a Villa team that I am genuinely proud to support.
Villa: Carson 7 Mellberg 6 Laursen 6 Knight 6 Bouma 7 Reo-Coker 6 Barry 7 PETROV 9 Young 7 Agbonlahor 6 Carew 8
Man-of-the-Match: PETROV - Villa's engine, superb anchor play and intelligent passing.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
