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Aston Villa v Leicester City
Worthington Cup
Semi Final 1st Leg 25..1.2000
Aston Villa 0 Leicester City 0
Boring Boring Leicester
Peter Gilbert 25.1.00
Driving to a football match on a slow news night you are always
likely to hear something relating to 'your' game, and so it was.
John Gregory was interviewed and said 'Some people think of Leicester
City as a Nationwide team.' Oh yeah JG don't forget AV haven't
beaten us for 12 years and have never beaten us in The Premiership.
But he went on 'If Emile Heskey was up for sale we'd buy him.'
Oh yeah JG in your dreams why would he want a move downwards!
I predict that John Gregory will have walked the plank at Villa
before Emile is ever up for sale. It annoys me that these teams
think that our players would want to leave us for a 'named' club
you hear Liverpool or Leeds fans claiming they've already signed
him then we knock them out of a Cup or beat them in the league,
then they go quiet for a while and so it goes on.
Anyway enough of this we have Guppy,Flowers, Izzett, Taggart,
Impey, Oakes and Flowers back for this game and we started with
Elliott and Heskey up front playing in our sparkly away kit of
dark blue shorts, yellow socks (why do some people say stockings?)
and yellow shirt(why do some people say jersey?)
We kicked off and looked immediately bright with some great passing
and interchange play which was unfortunately brought to a halt
by a Villa interception after 45 seconds. In the last minute
of the game Zagorakis had a spectacular long range scissors kick
plucked out of the air on it's way to the top corner of the goal
by David James. Unfortunately the 90 mins. or so in between saw
an inept Villa side thrashing away aimlessly at a well disciplined
Leicester City rear guard action which was not entertaining football
but was nevertheless gripping stuff.
Our wing backs Guppy and Impey were a manifestation of our performance
in that they seldom crossed the half way line.
After 70 mins. Heskey got a dead leg in a challenge but prior
to that he looked a real threat and it seemed that everyone within
a 1 mile radius of Villa Park panicked horribly everytime he
got the ball, particularly it has to be said Gareth Southgate
and the whole of The Holt End.
After 55 mins. Villa replaced Stone and Watson with two young
lads Walker and Delaney and they did brighten things up somewhat.
Villa tried to work up a head of steam, a good cross was
met by a Southgate volley, who made a good connection but Flowers
pulled off a wondrous save.
City used all their subs, Guppy, Impey and Izzett went off clearly
not match fit and were replaced by Walsh, Campbell and Zagorakis.
This signalled Elliott to go back and defend while Walshy prowled
about looking for one of his specials, which unfortunately didn't
materialise.
Oakes played well as did Gilchrist who seems to be a genuine
addition to our already impressive back line. Taggart was like
a rock and Sinclair nibbled away at Joachim all night never allowing
the ex City player any opportunity to get into gear.
Yes an impartial viewer might criticise this game as boring but
really the onus was on Villa to come at us. They tried but couldn't
get it together in any form that posed a threat.
In the final moments Oakes took a whack on the thigh and Gilchrist
received an unpleasant head wound that gushed blood, but a sponge
and a wadge of Vaseline was all they asked and they resumed normal
service.
At the end of the game we sang Boring Boring Leicester to the
Villa fans as if to say;'Here we are - come and get us!' They
could not come up with the goods but there is still a lot of
work to do before any of us dared mention the potential prize
on offer.
Driving back we hear from Mr Gregory again 'We're quite happy
- all we need now is a 1-1 draw, perhaps Leicester will cross
the half way line in the next match.'
Yes JG perhaps we will, but you can be sure that if you cross
the half way line we'll be waiting for you........................
See you next week.
Now about this Chelsea team .........
.'
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