What a good do

Last updated : 27 October 2004 By David Clark

Fine Claret - Robbie Blake
Last year’s semi-finalists had no answers to a Clarets side full of craft, guile and a solid formation that Villa could neither find a way through or round.

David O'Leary's post-match comments of "disgusting" and "embarrassing" would do little to lift the misery on 3,000 sorry souls from the visiting section as they watched their side beaten for only the third time this season.

For the victorious Clarets side this was night full of positives. After the mystifyingly poor last home game, here was a side weakened for various reasons by the losses of Sinclair, Moore and Chaplow, yet their deputies on the night shone alongside their counterparts.

Make no mistake, this was a result fully deserved by a hard working, well organised Clarets side led by a magnificent Robbie Blake, who inspired the show from the front - the Clarets could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty with the game finely balanced at 1-0.


Selecting a full strength squad, O'Leary's side came to win and win well, their chorus line of some 3,000 also expected and the arrogant early chanting from the visiting section suggested a cruise into the last sixteen was anticipated, though the highly unoriginal "shall we sing a song for you" went some way to creating a good atmosphere on the night.

Clarets had clearly set their stall out for a night of containment, with a counter attack policy when given the chance to do so. Steve Cotterill deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation with Grant given the holding role in front of the back four, a role he would enjoy to the full in a gutsy display.

There was no counter attack involved though in the opening goal, Blake superbly turned his man on the left edge of the area and his lofted cross was headed back down and across Sorensen by an airborne Branch as the visiting section fell silent.

Hendrie, showing neat footwork, tried a quick reply but his curled right footer drifted wide of Coyne's left hand post.

However, it was the Clarets who took the eye with neat interplay often causing Villa problems who seemed to be caught out by Clarets neatness and frequent interceptions by Hyde and Grant locked down the centre midfield area from where they were able to feed Blake whose footwork and close control was back to an admirable best.


When called upon, the defence was resolute and Duff, deputising for the suspended Sinclair, dropped in alongside McGreal as though he'd been there all season long.

Approaching the half hour mark Sorensen looked to have been beaten by Blake's wickedly deflected shot, but fortunately for the 'keeper the ball span out off Mellberg for a corner from which the 'keeper did well to tip over Branch's flicked header.


Grant's neat turn and flick sent Blake away into the area and his ingenuity took him past a defender in Premiership style. Grant was the only home booking on the night, cautioned unnecessarily by an otherwise faultless Foy for a hard but seemingly fair sliding challenge on a whinging Hendrie.


A slight misunderstanding between Roche and Duff five minutes from the break caused a moment of anguish, but the dependable McGreal was on hand to clear up as Angel looked to capitalise.

Down at the other end, Grant should have done much better with the clearest opening in the half, but he shot over the bar from the edge of the area when really Sorensen should have been called into action.


The half ended with a free kick only twenty yards and left of centre from which a disappointing Solano should have done much, much better. With the half-time whistle came a sense of increasing optimism in the home sections and increasing pessimism in the visiting section.


HT 1-0.

Sour Grapes - only 8,000 home fans left too many empty seats
The second half began brightly. Blake was very close to a second Clarets goal but his free kick was kept out, just, at the expense of a corner, whilst Angel's angled volley was just over the angle, Villa's frontline for once staying onside.

Ten minutes into the half and Villa so nearly equalised. A harshly awarded free kick against McGreal was put into the area where Delaney was unfortunate when blocking a goal bound header from one of his team mates.


No matter, Clarets went down the other end and Samuel's clumsy challenge on Duffy in the area allowed Blake the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot. Sorensen saved superbly at full stretch, tipping Blake's corner bound low drive to the 'keeper's right, the visiting section buoyant at the great save.


The save briefly deflated the Clarets and Branch was right place, right time heading Angel's header away from the line moments later as play switched quickly from one end to the other.

On the hour mark Branch was again in action, this time superbly lifting the ball over Mellberg's head and volleying just over the bar from the edge of the area before Samuel was replaced by Hitzlsperger.

Half way through the half and Clarets doubled their lead with the most unlikeliest of scorers, Mo Camara. A short corner taken by Grant was quickly returned to him by Blake, curling the ball into the six yard area Camara glanced home with glee for his first goal for the Clarets and his first in over five years.

Clarets were now rampant, Villa looked shell shocked and Blake was very unlucky when losing his footing at the key moment, after Valois' delightful cross picked out the lone striker in the area, the move receiving a "shall we sing a song for you" chant back to the now anxious visiting section.

Hyde tried his luck after a superb solo run as Clarets looked to continue the now attack minded performance.


Moore
replaced Solano but Clarets kept up their tempo yet sadly no one was on hand to finish a great low cross driven across the face of goal by Camara with fifteen potentially long minutes remaining as Villa fans started to leave the ground in numbers.

With ten to go Angel stopped the queues for the exits when pulling a goal back with a superbly directed header from the penalty spot that left Coyne without a chance, following a good run and cross from the right wing by sub Moore.


Anxious looking Clarets fans seeking fast moving second hands were briefly concerned, but hopes of a Villa comeback were thwarted when, with five minutes remaining, Jean Louis Valois danced through Villa's rearguard before despatching a powerful right footer past a helpless Sorensen.


Villa fans now queued for the exits in great numbers, the result was no longer in doubt and it was left to an immaculate Coyne to maintain his calm collection of crosses as Villa looked forlornly for further consolation.

The hand shakes over, Clarets can now look to the last sixteen and hope for a further cash bonus to come from this cup run as the competition enters its serious phase.

FT 3-1.

Att:- 11,184.

Sour grapes:-

It's disappointing when only 8,000 home fans turn out to watch a Premiership side rated in the country's current top ten. True there have been three home games in eight days and true the last home game was disappointing, but how is the club supposed to progress and match supporter ambitions when many fans stay away?


Fine Claret:-

A hard choice as there were many fine performances in this the best display by the Clarets under Steve Cotterill. My vote goes to Robbie Blake. Back to his best with a performance, full of running, desire and fantastic foot work. Never mind the penalty, more a great save than a bad miss, this was an inspirational performance from Robbie Blake.