Villa 2 - Newcastle 0, 27-08-06

After 12 consecutive unbeaten run, we finally lost in this away fixture. The manner which we conceded both goal was awful, dreadful, terrible defending! The first goal was a snap shot just inside the penalty box at the center.. Carr and Moore tries to block from either side while bramble was not positioned well enough to block the shot direct on.. 1-0 to Villa.. Sigh.. Just 2 minutes into the game and we've conceded a soft goal..

Martins made his debut upfront alongside Milner! Milner is a willing runner and a very determined player but a striker he is not.. He doenst have the mindset to be a striker and tends to drift wide.. Martins meanwhile has to play targetman which doesnt suit his abilities at all.. He did show flashes of his skill with his good ball control and short distance pace, but with villa defending with 2 layers of defence, it was hard for him to utilize his abilities.. Too make things worse, he was strechered of in the 60th minute clutching his knee! Dejavu? Landing akwardly ala Owen? Its like a bad omen for strikers to put on a black n white shirt as they will be jinxed with a long term injury! Sighh... Oh yeah we conceded a second goal from a supposedly delightful through pass when it can actually be cut out if our centrebacks had ANY DECENT PACE!!! Bramble and Moore cant sprint even if their lives depended on it!

Angel slots the second goal :(

Solano and Babayaro were both correctly substituted at half time, Solano was just not effective and SLOW while Babayaro was easily beaten time and again by the villans right wingback.. In comes NZogbia and Luque.. There were some moments of promise after the start of the second half but after losing Martins in the 60th minute, we lost our impetus to attack and Villa was content with 2 goals with the occasional counter attacks.. To the ratings:

STARTING LINEUP:-
Given - 7
Did ok but honestly, he could have save both the goals he conceded

Carr - 5
Was not solid at the back, extremely poor at crossing! Shitty service from the right flank!

Babayaro - 4
Defensively weak, forward foray not worth mentioning!

Moore - 5
Below average performance, poor clearence, looks poor against pacey strikers

Bramble - 5.5
Could be blamed for both goals but gave a better second half performance and help kept the scoreline down

Solano - 4
Poor performance, doesnt have pace, passing wasnt good, poor deadballs delivery too

Duff - 6
After running riot against Ventspils, had a 'quiet' game, tends to drift in then hugging the right toucline, had some attempts at goal and not many crosses

Parker - 7
Was all over the pitch, contributing in attack and defence including a last ditch tackle, just no end product in the last 3rd of the pitch

Emre - 5
Not affective against 2 layers of defence, cant break it down with his range of passes, suspect temperement, overall should have done better

Milner - 5.5
All running but poor end product/crosses, doesnt have the mentality to be a striker

Martins - 5.5
First debut for the magpies, showed some nice touches/ball control but then got strechered off injured! :(

SUBS:-
Luque - 3
Lazy, poor first touch, looks clueless on how to perform as a striker.. Went AWOL after Martins went off.. His mindset of a forward must change to suite premiership games! NOT the other way around!!

NZogbia - 7
Did well and must start next game.. Played well as a pacy leftback! He should play there more often! Then Duff could play on the left and Milner on the right..

Butt - 5.5
Did ok shielding the back four but was caught way upfield when villa executed some fast counter attacks.. Should be given the chance to partner Parker in midfield