Source: SKY_Sports
Villa v Rapid Vienna live!
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 55 No need for anything fancy from Villa now. Keep things tight, keep the passing game flowing and see out the final half an hour or so. Personally I can't see Rapid finding a way back into the game.[LNB] Moments before the goal Mark Turberfield, tuning in from Nashville got in touch hoping for a second from his beloved Villans. Always happy to help![LNB]53 GOAL VILLA - CAREW. Great goal from Carew, who has grown into the game and has looked sharp. He picks up the ball down the right, cuts inside and slots inside the near post. Villa are on their way into the group stages if we stay like this.[LNB]52 Carew in again. Smart one touch stuff from Villa results in the frontman lofting over from close range. He is given offside, but positive signs for the hosts.[LNB]51 So close from Villa as Carew tries an audacious flick which slips narrowly wide. Great effort and unlucky not to produce a fine goal.[LNB] Thnaks to Lee Emerson for getting in touch from NYC. He is backing Villa to win 3-0. He thinks the new defenders on their way will help to keep the back four on their toes![LNB]49 Young is left bemused by an offside call. He thought he was away, but the linesman's flag pulls his back.[LNB]48 Off the line from Cuellar. Guzman is between by a fierce drive from Hoffmann and is thankful to his centre-half for bailing him out. The corner is woeful and drifts out for a throw.[LNB]47 Rapid have started brightly and have Villa pegged back at the moment.[LNB]46 Thumping effort from Hoffmann after good interchange on the egde of the box. He gets under his effort, though, and fires high into the stands.[LNB] Rapid get the second period up and running.[LNB] We are ready for the off again. Can Villa find a second? We are about to find out![LNB] You can also bet inplay at skybet.com. Villa are now 1/8, with Rapid slipping to 20/1. Villa to win 2/0 and book their safe passage through is 13/5.[LNB] Remember you can get in touch with your thoughts on tonight's game by contacting me direct at Chris.Burton@bskyb.com. What can we expect after the break? More goals?[LNB] Villa 1 Rapid 0. Tale of two spot kicks. First one missed by Young and the second put away by Milner. Villa are level on aggregate and know one more after the break will send them through. One for Rapid and they will need two. All still to play for![LNB]45+1 Yelavic goes down and stays down. The referee tells him to get up, and then calls for the physios. Can't make up his mind![LNB]45 Villa indulge in a bout of keep-ball as the half draws towards a close. They will be happy to be back in the tie and have no need to do anything foolish at this stage.[LNB]44 Long ball from Shorey towards Carew is only inches away from finding its target. Soma cuts it out, but if it had cleared his head the Villa forward was away.[LNB]43 Good response from Rapid as they win another corner, off Beye this time. Played in short, but that allows the Villa players to race out and block the resulting cross.[LNB]42 Another corner as Davies throws himself in front of a low cross from the right. Can Rapid find an equaliser. No they can't as once again the delivery fails to test Villa's defence.[LNB]41 Shorey concedes a corner. Flick at the front post has Villa worried and Davies is forced to volley behind again. Carew deals with the second set-piece with ease.[LNB]40 Ridiculous from Hoffman. He is fouled by Petrov, before rolling about half the length of the pitch. The decision went his way, so no need for the theatrics![LNB]39 Villa Park is now rocking. It's not full by any means, but those in attendance are doing their best to inspire their side to victory.[LNB]38 GOAL VILLA - MILNER. Milner takes over penalty duties and makes no mistake. Payer went the right way again, but Milner's effort rifled into the corner. Scores tied on aggregate.[LNB]38 Young again tumbles in the box and the referee points to the spot again. Dober on this occasion knocks him to the ground.[LNB]37 Milner does well to rob Katzer of the ball. Unfortunately the ball bounces of his shin too far ahead of him and he is unable to track it down before Rapid hammer clear.[LNB]36 Soma gets the better of Carew again. The Villa striker, understandably frustrated, then tugs down Patocka and sees yellow.[LNB]35 Milner and Young have swapped sides for the time being. Strange choice as both men appeared to be doing fine where they were. Carew is outmuscled by Soma as he looks to escape down the left. First signs of frustration from the supporters.[LNB]34 Drazan with his first mistake as his over-hit pass gives the bucaneering Katzer no chance.[LNB]33 Milner almost slides a ball into the path of Young, but Dober is on hand to cut it out.[LNB]32 Young is still reeling from his penatly miss and mis-times a challenge. He has no complaints as he is cautioned.[LNB]32 Young wastes the opportunity he made all on his own. His effort is down low to Payer's right, but he it is too central and he is able to keep it out. Villa still trail.[LNB]30 Great play from Young as he is knocked down, gets back up, breaks into the box and is felled by Heikkinen. He is then shown yellow.[LNB]30 Villa get lucky as Petrov and Delph fail to talk to each other and Paticka nips in between them.[LNB]29 Payer has to backtrack to stop a Shorey cross from catching him out. The full-back was looking for a team-mate and almost found the top corner.[LNB]28 Brilliant from Milner as he finds a yard in the area. He leaves his marker on his backside, but his driven cross is hammered clear. More composure needed when Villa get in positive positions.[LNB]27 Villa are camped in the Villa box and win another corner. Young takes this time, and his delivery his headed clear at the front post. Not the best from the England winger.[LNB]26 Corner to Villa won by Heskey, who had drifted out to the right. What can they make of this? Taken short and then drifted to the back post, where it is nodded behind again. Rapid then concede a third corner in quick succession. Shorey picks out Davies, but he fails to send his header goalwards.[LNB]25 Shorey looks to pick out Carew from inside his own half. Once again, though, the Villa striker uses foul means to see off the attentions of his marker.[LNB]24 Villa continue to dominate without threatening. Rapid appear to be well-drilled and will not be blown down tonight. O'Neill is going to need to earn his money if he is to turn this tie around.[LNB]23 Ball into Carew's feet on this occasion. He looks to spin his man and get in a cross. He does the first bit well but his delivery drifts tamely behind.[LNB]22 Carew is penalised for a push in the box. He won a high ball and seemed to have presented an opportunity to his team-mates, but the whistles halts him in his tracks.[LNB]21 Very close from Hoffman. His free-kick dips up and over the wall and flashes inches wide of the post. Guzman hardly moved. He is either very composed or he thought it was in.[LNB]20 Hoffman breaks into space and is bundled to the ground by Cuellar 25-yards from goal. The Villa man goes into the book.[LNB]19 Katzer gets forward, but is soon pushed towards the corner. Good work by Cuellar. Another example, though, of Rapid's promise down the left.[LNB]18 Young gets a telling off. He prevents Dober from taking a free-kick and is lukcy to escape a yellow card. He has a point, but needs to be careful when kicking the ball away.[LNB]17 Milner is fortunate to brush past his man. He breaks down the line and throws in a hopeful cross. There are a few Villa shirts in there, but they are unable to get a telling touch.[LNB]16 Positive from Rapid as Yelavic brushes off a couple of challenges. He eventually loses the ball after a heavy touch, but the Austrians have given a few indications that they are not here to hold out for 0-0.[LNB]15 Delph has looked tidy on the ball so far. He keeps things simple and keeps Villa ticking over. The youngster could be a real star this season. Meanwhile, Young feels he should have a free-kick on the edge of the box, but the ref waves away his protests.[LNB]14 Hopeful punt from Petrov is aimed towards Carew, but gives the languid frontman no chance. Villa need to remain patient and not try too much too soon.[LNB]13 Great ball from Young as he cuts inside onto his right foot. He skids a ball into the six-yard box, but there is no Villa player on hand to provide a finishing touch.[LNB]12 Katzer, the Rapid left-back, looks useful and is keen to get the ball forward whenever possible. Working in tandem with Drazan, he could prove to be quite a threat.[LNB]11 First touch fpr Guzan. Drazan again does well down the left and fires in a cross-shot which the Villa keeper skips off his line to collect.[LNB]10 Carew fails to get a head to a long ball into the box from Young. Rapid are then able to clear their lines. The Villa man was being watched by about three Vienna defenders as he jumped.[LNB]9 Having suggested Villa might play a few long-balls, it is Rapid who seem to be favouring that approach at present. It is working and expect them to adopt Plan B very soon.[LNB]8 Carew glances through to Milner. He scampers into space and sees Heskey wide open in the middle. He tries to find his team-mate, but overhits his cross and it flashes across the face of goal. He didn't need to get the ball off the floor, just a simple roll across would have done.[LNB]7 It's going to be interesting to see how Villa approach the game tonight. With Heskey and Carew up top should we be expecting them to go route one at regular intervals? The selection would appear so.[LNB]6 Drazan ghosts in behind Beye and drives to the by-line. He crosses low into the box and Cuellar is forced to knock behind. Davies nods the corner to safety. Early warning to Villa though.[LNB]5 Rapid take a chance by trying to play their way out of trouble at the back. They just about get away with it, with Ashley Young sniffing around for half an opportunity.[LNB]4 Dober tries an ambitious effort from 30-yards, but his drive goalwards is woeful. It cannons straight into the wall, after barely getting off the gound, and Milner clears.[LNB]3 Free-kick to Rapid in a promising position after a foul by Davies.[LNB]2 Villa appear to have settled quickly. They have seen all of the ball so far. Positive start from the hosts, can they turn possession into chances?[LNB]1 Poor touch from Carew as he surrenders possession. Perhaps he is a little rusty on his first outing of the season.[LNB] Villa get us up and running.[LNB] Players are on the pitch and we are just about ready for the off in the Midlands. Promises to be an interesting contest.[LNB] Rapid fans have travelled in force and seem to be enjoying their night out. They are making a lot of noise and are going absolutely barmy. We haven't even kicked off yet![LNB] Stephen Warnock has just been paraded in front of the Villa fans. He will help to strengthen the Villans at the back, and he could soon be joined by Richard Dunne should O'Neill complete a swoop for the Manchester City centre-half. The Villa boss obviously feels he is short at the back. Is that the are which needed most work?[LNB] O'Neill has made a few changes to the side that won at Anfield earlier in the week. Guzan comes in for Friedel in goal, while Heskey, Delph and Carew all start. Has he got his selection right? We will find out soon enough.[LNB] Tonight's referee is Carlos Velasco Carballo from Spain.[LNB]Rapid Vienna team: Payer, Soma, Katzer, Dober, Patocka, Heikkinen, Pehlivan, Hoffmann, Drazan, Trimmel, Jelavic. Subs: Hedl, Thonhofer, Kulovits, Maierhofer, Eder, Boskovic, Konrad.[LNB]Aston Villa team: Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Delph, Ashley Young, Heskey, Carew. Subs: Friedel, Sidwell, Agbonlahor, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Lowry.[LNB] You can also bet inplay at skybet.com. Villa start as 2/7 favourites, with Vienna available at 15/2. A 1-0 scoreline, and extra-time, is 5/1.[LNB] How do you see the game going? Can Villa overcome their first leg deficit and prolong their European adventure? Or will their dreams be dashed before the group stages? Let me know your thoughts.[LNB] You can air your opinion throughout the game by contacting me direct at Chris.Burton@bskyb.com.[LNB] Villa will have taken heart from their 3-1 victory at Liverpool on Monday and should be in confident mood heading into the game. They do have goals in them, it just depends on whether O'Neill chooses to shuffle his pack.[LNB] Villa trail 1-0 from the first leg in Austria and know they have to score to go through. That should ensure that Martin O'Neill's men are on the front foot from the off.[LNB]Welcome to Villa Park for tonight's Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Rapid Vienna.[LNB]
