Heskey hits Villa winner

Published: 09 Aug 2009 - 16:30:00

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Aston Villa's pre-season preparations concluded on a high note on Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Serie A side Fiorentina at Villa Park. Villa boss Martin O'Neill handed a debut to new ¦pound;6million signing Fabian Delph but it was experienced campaigner Emile Heskey who hit winner for the hosts after 14 minutes, the striker reacting quickest to Ashley Young's cross to prod home at the near post. Fiorentina spurned a great chance to pull level with 15 minutes remaining when Curtis Davies handled in the area, Alberto Gilardino crashing the resulting penalty against the upright. A late goal from Fabio Quagliarella condemned West Ham to a 1-0 defeat in their Bobby Moore Cup clash against Napoli. A keenly contested encounter at Upton Park ultimately went the way of the Italians after Quagliarella looped home a superb flicked header over Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green after 78 minutes. The visitors were on the back foot moments later, however, when Manuele Blasi was sent off for a second yellow card just 26 minutes after entering the fray as a substitute. The hosts pushed for an equaliser in the final minutes and came close through Junior Stanislas in stoppage time, but Napoli's 10 men held on for the win. Blackburn's strikers drew yet another blank in a 2-0 loss at Dundee United. Rovers missed a host of chances in a goalless stalemate against Hibernian in midweek and again failed to fire as their Scottish Premier League hosts ran out comfortable winners thanks to strikes in each half from Andis Shala and Prince Buaben. Rovers manager Sam Allardyce freely admits his side could be short of goals in the coming Premier League campaign but of more immediate concern will be the fitness of Chris Samba, Paul Gallagher and Ryan Nelsen, who all picked up knocks.