|
There was no doubt that we needed a massive lift and, despite the defeat and our exit from this season's Carling Cup, there is no doubt we got that massive lift with a performance worthy of much more than the result.
I was looking forward to the game very much. I read a thread on the site's message board of Burnley's bogey grounds and make no mistake Villa Park was right at the top of the list in the 1950s and 1960s. For that reason I wonder just why I like this ground but it really is one of my favourites. Maybe it's the colour scheme I like.
I had a good view from my seat in the upper tier of the 'Deadly Doug' Stand, and thanks to Martin O'Neill for having the away fans moved from those awful seats behind the goal and I was there in good time to learn that Laws had made six changes to the side that had started the Reading game.
I expected Lee Grant would be in goal, knew a replacement would have to be found for the suspended Leon Cort and that Chris Eagles would sit the game out to ensure he was fit enough for Saturday.
But there were three other changes that saw Andre Bikey, Wade Elliott and Chris Iwelumo all on the bench. Laws confirmed that three of the changes had to be made and I have assumed that the decision to leave Bikey on the bench was the third.
It's strange; going to the big Premier League grounds for cup ties was something special, but I suppose having been to them all for league games last season it's sort of removed that now. Even so, there was a good Burnley following in a healthy crowd.
I was surprised to see Jack Cork to continue in the holding role with Graham Alexander playing further forward. It's certainly a clear indication that Laws wants his loan man in that role where he has been such an influence in a number of recent games.
We did well enough in the first half but didn't create too much in the way of opportunities on goal, but there again neither did Villa really although it is fair to say they had the edge. The closest they came to a goal was when the ball was played in to Nigel Reo-Coker who looked a certain scorer.
It was the obnoxious Ashley Young who got the ball in for him and in truth Reo-Coker should have scored but somehow Grant produced a brilliant double save to deny him and then topped that to prevent Barry Bannan scoring from the follow up.
I wondered whether Grant was destined to become the man of the match on a heroic night for Burnley, but by the time I was leaving his wasn't the goalkeeper's name on everyone's lips.
Other than that, we reached half time at 0-0 comfortably, but the second half was very much a different story as the Clarets turned it on and gave the Premier League side one hell of a tough night.
Martin Paterson came close with a left footer that went just wide but when he next went for goal it was the turn of the Villa keeper to keep them his side in the game. He made a top save to deny Pato and then recovered to keep out a Jay Rodriguez from the rebound.
Needless to say the Burnley fans had been taunting the 39-year-old American because of past associations. All it ever seems to do is inspire these players.
If anyone looked likely to win it at his point it was Burnley and that forced Gerard Houllier to dip into his experienced bench, bringing on first Emile Heskey and then Stewart Downing, two England internationals.
Downing should have scored but made a right mess of his shot when clean through and as the 'If Heskey plays for England so can I' chant reached a full crescendo he did what he did twice against us last season - he scored.
Once Danny Fox and committed himself up the pitch we were in trouble and the ball was played down for Marc Albrighton. Michael Duff just couldn't quite get across early enough and when the ball came in Heskey did what he does best and got there ahead of Tyrone Mears and slotted home.
"He's crap, how can we let somebody so crap score?" I heard. Me, I'd have him in the Burnley team every day of the week if I had the chance.
What a pity the obnoxious Ashley Young chose this moment to make himself look even more stupid than he'd done all night. I don't care how good a footballer he is or might be, last night he looked to go down at every opportunity; he was petulant, complaining about every decision and on more than once occasion kicking the ball away. Now, there he was enjoying the moment of what looked like a match winner and all this toss pot could do was wind up the Burnley fans. Says everything about him.
There were just four minutes left, it was cruel and we were now facing an exit. Laws sent on Steven Thompson with a goal needed and incredibly it came, courtesy of a dodgy decision that actually went our way.
Heskey was pulled up for a foul and yellow carded, but he'd played the ball cleanly and it was a poor decision from referee Jones. Grezza took the free kick and found Ross Wallace on the right hand side who in turn crossed to the far post. There was Clarke Carlisle rising above the Villa defence.
Clarke got his header absolutely spot on. It was down and in the corner and even Friedel couldn't get to it. We'd taken it to extra time.
Just six minutes in and we were slack in allowing Villa's second sub Downing to wander from left to right, but there wasn't much we could do when he unleashed his shot. Somehow Grant got a touch on it but not enough to prevent Villa going in front again.
I suspected that might be it. It was, but not without one hell of a fight. Thommo played in Elliott who looked a certain scorer before being pushed over by Albrighton. A clear red card but you've guessed it, Friedel brilliantly kept out the free kick from Wallace. It dropped for Mears and his ball cannoned off a Villa defender's arm. We appealed for a penalty but it would have been a ridiculous decision to give it.
Thompson and Elliott combined again, but again Friedel was the winner. That was all in the first half of added time and after the break the game seemed to die as players became more and more tired.
We just needed one last chance and it came right at the death at the Holte End. Of all people it was Mears getting into the box before unleashing a left footer but Friedel yet again saved brilliantly with Chris Iwelumo having no chance of getting anything onto his header from the rebound and Carlos Cuellar was able to head off the line.
That signalled the end of our Carling Cup campaign for another season.
Choosing a man of the match was difficult. We'd players who inspired the performance in all areas and Clarke Carlisle, apart from getting the goal, was as good as anyone for me.
We were all disappointed as we left the ground, but there was a real buzz from the Burnley fans. Everyone of us knew our team had given everything and with any luck at all we'd have been in that quarter-final draw on Saturday.
It's another defeat, yes, but it sure as hell lifted the gloom that had hovered since Saturday.
The teams were;
Aston Villa: Brad Friedel, Habib Beye, Clark, Carlos Cuellar, Eric Lichaj, Marc Albrighton, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell (James Collins 118), Barry Bannan (Stewart Downing 64), Stephen Ireland (Emile Heskey 59), Ashley Young. Subs not used: Brad Guzan, Nathan Delfoneso, Jonathan Hogg, Daniel Johnson.
Yellow Cards: Nigel Reo-Coker, Emile Heskey.
Red Card: Marc Albrighton.
Burnley: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Danny Fox, Jack Cork (Steven Thompson 87), Dean Marney (Wade Elliott 69), Graham Alexander, Ross Wallace, Martin Paterson (Chris Iwelumo 105), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Brian Easton, Andre Bikey.
Yellow Card: Dean Marney.
Referee: Mike Jones (Chester).
Attendance: 34,618.