Source: Telegraph
Martin O'Neill sent off in niggly Aston Villa friendly
As is often the way with such things, it has not quite worked out like that. [LNB]Things started badly when it was realised that the programme for the tournament carried a picture of Gareth Barry, regardless of his move to Manchester City. Martin O'Neill was then listed on the team-sheet for their first match as Martin O'Leary, and Emile Heskey was concussed after six minutes. Matters haven't got a whole lot better since. [LNB] Related ArticlesO'Neill: City can win titleVilla target WarnockO'Neill disappointed by poor startSport on televisionPremier League Transfer TalkThe race for the Champions LeagueTrue, Heskey has recovered, but Luke Young has been sent home with a thigh niggle, Stilyan Petrov will almost certainly miss the start of the season after dislocating his shoulder, and while tournament organisers at least got his name right this time around, O'Neill was sent off following a sideline fracas in the first half of Villa's match against Mexican club Atlante on Wednesday night. At least a corker of a header from Ashley Young means Villa are still in the tournament. [LNB]It was Young who was inadvertently responsible for his manager's exit, putting in a beefy tackle on Atlante's Diego Cervantes, who promptly threw a tizzy. O'Neill thrust the match ball into the defender's chest and told him to get on with it (or words to that effect), and was dismissed for his troubles, going nose-to-nose with the Fifa official before retreating to the stands, from where he spent the rest of the match in a state of some agitation. [LNB]He will have been appeased by goals from Marc Albrighton, John Carew and Young, which mean Villa will stay a while longer in Spain after theri 3-1 win. But their squad now looks distinctly without depth. Rather than more matches, what O'Neill could really do with is some signings. [LNB]
