Saturday 19th September 2015, Barclays Premier League,
Villa Park, Kick-Off 3:00pm |
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Aston Villa |
0 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
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0 - 1 |
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Berahino (39) |
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Managers |
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Tim Sherwood |
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Tony Pulis |
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Starting XI |
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Brad Guzan |
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Boaz Myhill |
Alan Hutton |
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Craig Dawson |
(c) Micah Richards |
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Gareth McAuley |
Joleon Lescott |
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Jonny Evans |
Jordan Amavi |
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Chris Brunt |
(Veretout 82) Carlos Sánchez |
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James Morrison |
(Bacuna 76) Carles Gil |
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Darren Fletcher (c) |
Ashley Westwood |
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Claudio Yacob |
Jack Grealish |
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James McClean (Olsson 90+5) |
Gabriel Agbonlahor |
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Saido Berahino (Gardner 67) |
(Gestede HT) Scott Sinclair |
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Salomón Rondón (Lambert 90+1) |
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Substitutes |
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Jordan Veretout |
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Jonas Olsson |
Leandro Bacuna |
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Craig Gardner |
Rudy Gestede |
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Rickie Lambert |
(gk) Mark Bunn |
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Anders Lindegaard (gk) |
Ciaran Clark |
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James Chester |
Joe Cole |
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Callum McManaman |
Jordan Ayew |
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Serge Gnabry |
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Bookings |
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(foul 62) Gil |
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Brunt (foul 21) |
(foul 82) Amavi |
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Morrison (foul 34) |
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Yacob (foul 78) |
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Attendance:
36,321 (2,870
Albion fans) |
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Referee:
Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) |
Assistant 01:
Mike Mullarkey (Devon) |
Assistant 02:
Stephen Child (Kent) |
Fourth Official:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire) |
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Official Matchday
Programme |
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●
Albion record three consecutive top-flight away clean sheets for the
first time since 1983 when they set a club record run of five in a row. |
MATCH REPORT
Saido Berahino struck to
continue his West Brom comeback as the Baggies claimed a deserved victory at
Aston Villa. The striker poked in his first goal of the season - and first since
since threatening to strike earlier this month - to clinch a 1-0 win at
Villa Park. It was all Albion as they
out-thought and out-battled Villa during a tight Barclays Premier League derby.
There are no issues between the Baggies squad and Berahino, despite his
off-field antics as he tried to force through a move to Tottenham, and his goal
underlined his value to the side. Albion had scored just once in their previous
three games. He also repaired any lasting fractures with the West Brom fans and
the 22-year-old threw his shirt into the travelling support at full-time. But
Villa's worries continue to grow, with Tim Sherwood's side without a Barclays
Premier League win since the opening day following another tepid display. They
host fierce rivals Birmingham in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday and defeat is
not an option after an unconvincing start.
The Baggies started Berahino,
along with James Morrison and James McClean, for the first time since rejecting
two deadline-day bids from Tottenham and made a bright start as Brad Guzan
produced a fine stop to keep out Salomon Rondon's flicked header inside two
minutes. Albion's £12million record scorer impressed all afternoon as he gave
the visitors a fine unselfish focal point, even if he failed to score. It was in
stark contrast to Gabby Agbonlahor who toiled against the strong
Albion defence,
who have now kept four straight clean sheets. Agbonlahor has now scored just
four goals in his last 31 games and his lack of penetration leads to legitimate
questions over his role in the Villa side. He lost out in every aerial tussle
but did worry Albion after 26 minutes when he wriggled free on the left and
crossed for the onrushing Carles Gil, who was denied by a brilliant block by
Claudio Yacob. It was Villa's best opening but they relied on Guzan five minutes
later when he tipped Darren Fletcher's drive wide. The game desperately needed
a goal as it threatened to limp to half-time, and Berahino kept to the script as
he delivered six minutes before the break. A brilliant Craig Dawson tackle
allowed McClean to cross from the right. He found Rondon to lay off for
Morrison, and his 18-yard effort was deliberately deflected past Guzan by
Berahino.
Villa were jeered off and
Sherwood reacted by sending on Rudy Gestede for Scott Sinclair at the break.
Carlos Sanchez and Gil shot straight at Boaz Myhill during a muted Villa
response as Albion comfortably maintained their lead. Guzan claimed Rondon's
drive at the second attempt on the hour before Villa were denied a penalty after
65 minutes. Berahino looked to be inside the area when he blocked Alan Hutton's
cross, with referee Martin Atkinson giving a free-kick for handball just outside
the box. It infuriated Villa, although whether the ball hit Berahino's arm was
also up for debate, but they wasted the free-kick. Albion broke and Rondon shot
straight at Guzan before Villa cursed the officials again with 20 minutes left.
Micah Richards headed past Myhill but the hosts had already been awarded a
free-kick following a foul on Jack Grealish. Villa, though, never looked like
breaking the Baggies down again and Gestede headed over in injury time to waste
their final chance.
Sporting Life
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