Aston Villa 1 Cardiff 0: O'Neill relief as Agbonlahor brings Bluebirds to heel

24 September 2009 12:28
Gabriel Agbonlahor's cheeky finish ensured Martin O’Neill’s side did not fall in this competition for the third successive year to Championship opponents at Villa Park. The England striker showed a touch of class after just three minutes as Villa reached the last 16 for the first time since 2006. In the past two seasons they have fallen to Leicester and QPR, but Agbonlahor’s fourth goal in as many games proved enough to beat willing but limited Cardiff. O’Neill said: ‘We have avoided the unwanted hat-trick and I always felt we were reasonably in control, even if Cardiff played some really nice football. Agbonlahor compensated for the loss of Villa’s most potent attacking force after Ashley Young was forced to miss the tie with a calf injury. He revelled in the extra responsibility, flicking home at the near post from John Carew’s cross as O’Neill’s favourite player once more came up trumps for his admiring boss. The Irishman has fielded Agbonlahor in all but nine fixtures since he took over from David O’Leary just over three years ago and, with a full summer’s rest, he has returned to action looking as lean and hungry as he did 12 months ago, when he first forced his way into Fabio Capello’s plans. What will have pleased the Villa boss most, however, was that a side made up largely of fringe players managed to overcome just the sort of lower-league opposition who have posed them problems in the past. There was no recall for Nigel Reo-Coker, with O’Neill still unwilling to draw a line under last week’s training ground spat between the pair. He was scarcely missed and the hosts’ margin of victory should have been greater, with James Milner thumping a 58th-minute penalty against a post after Gabor Gypes had bundled over Stiliyan Petrov. Milner’s miss handed Cardiff the impetus, but they failed to take advantage. With seconds to go, Jay Bothroyd finally forced the ball past Guzan after Villa had failed to defend a free-kick. The assistant ruled out the finish for offside, much to the fury of Cardiff boss Dave Jones. He said: ‘I’ve been in to see the linesman. It was a goal. Jay was onside. I’ve behaved myself and not said anything that I shouldn’t have. The truth is that I would like to throttle him and the referee.’ That late disappointment aside, Cardiff’s 5,000-strong travelling support left Villa Park frustrated that their team did not try to force the issue earlier. The Championship’s leading scorer, Michael Chopra, was only introduced on the hour and he added an edge up front the visitors had lacked. However, it would be harsh to question Jones’s methods when he maintains such high standards despite selling so many of his best players. His night started poorly. Carew occupied a couple of players down the right flank and his low centre was turned home by an outrageous backheel from Agbonlahor which left keeper Peter Enckelman rooted to the spot. O’Neill said: ‘Gabby is bang in form. It was another great goal. Maybe three-quarters of the way through last season he wouldn’t have even attempted that kind of finish.’ Guzan, Brad Friedel’s understudy, pulled off a fine stop on the quarter-hour, adjusting his body in mid-air to keep out Gavin Rae. Joe Ledley then nodded over the resulting corner and Bothroyd fizzed a left-footer inches wide. And that was as good as it got for Cardiff until the final seconds. In between, Carew headed over a Milner cross and the England winger fluffed his spot-kick. Rapid Vienna, is now in danger of losing the job himself. It was a minor point on a night when the result was everything. After a slow start, Villa’s season is picking up. ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Guzan; Beye, Collins, Cuellar, Shorey; Delph, Gardner (Albrighton 79min), Petrov; Milner, Carew, Agbonlahor. Booked: Beye, Delph. CARDIFF CITY (4-1-4-1): Enckelman; Matthews, Gypes, Gerrard, Capaldi; Scimeca (Chopra 60); Burke, Rae (Wildig 90), Ledley, Whittingham; Bothroyd. Booked: Gyepes. Man of the match: Gabriel Agbonlahor. Referee: Anthony Taylor

Source: Daily_Mail