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  • Carew (22), Laursen (55), Carew (88)
  • Harper (90)
  • Date:2008-01-12
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Villa Park
  • Attendance:38288
  • Referee:Rennie, U

Live Commentary

90mins

The final whistle goes and Villa take all 3 points, however, despite the scoreline, Reading did play well and do have some positives to take home.

90mins

James Harper scores! A consolation for Reading as the away team brean, good work by Long and Lita provides Harper with a simple finish.

90mins

Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew and Ashley Young are replaced by Marlon Harewood, Moustapha Salifou and Shaun Maloney.

89mins

Shane Long replaces Kevin Doyle.

88mins

John Carew scores! Villa break very quickly, and in the end, Carew is left unmarked in the box to finish comfortably and seal the game for the home side.

85mins

Not long to go now, and it seems that Villa have this game in the bag, Reading though will be disapointed that both goals came from set pieces.

83mins

Carew puts the ball into the back of the net, however the flag had already been raised against Agbonlahor.

81mins

Carew hits a great shot on goal, and Marcus Hahnemann tips it over the bar, and that was a wonderful save from the Amercian.

79mins

Laursen has a great header on goal, however, the effort just goes over the bar, and Laursen has really shown some form today.

76mins

Dave Kitson is replaced by Leroy Lita.

75mins

Barry, starting for the 300th time for Villa, fires a shot right across the face of the goal, and Barry comes close twice in two minutes.

74mins

Barry gets a flick on at the near post from a Villa corner, but the ball goes onto the roof of the net, unlucky for Barry there.

73mins

Bobby Convey replaces Ulises De la Cruz.

71mins

However with only 20 minutes to go and two goals down, you feel Reading really needed to score in that great phase of chances they had in the last ten minutes.

69mins

Reading haven't given up just yet, and are showing an array of attacking potential.

64mins

Carson makes a fantastic one-handed save from a Brynjar Gunnarsson effort, and that was going in before Carson intercepted.

63mins

Villa break very quickly and look odds on to score, however, De La Cruz defends very well and is able to clear the ball.

61mins

The ball bounces all around the box after Carson lets the ball slip, Brynjar Gunnarsson has the best attempt on goal but all to no avail.

58mins

Laursen once again heads towards goal from a corner, however this time, Marcus Hahnemann makes a great save.

58mins

Has this goal ended Reading's hopes of winning this game? If Villa continue to play in the manner they are now then it quite possibly is.

55mins

Martin Laursen scores! Vill put in a corner, and the Villa player rises above the Reading defence once again and leaves Hahnemann with no chance.

52mins

A very bright start from Villa this second half, and it could have been a lot better for the Villa if Reading were to have their keeper sent off, but Uriah Rennie made the right decision.

48mins

Gabriel Agbonlahor was running through on goal when Hahnemann came out and fouled the Villa striker, the resulting free-kick however resulted in nothing.

47mins

Marcus Hahnemann seems to catch Agbonlahor just outside the box and receives a caution.

45mins

The second half begins and Villa will be looking to keep the edge over Reading, however, the Royals are still very much in this game.

45mins

The ref blows his whistle and Villa have just edged out Reading in an entertaining half of football and go into the break a goal up through John Carew.

45mins

There will be two minutes of stoppage time to be added.

42mins

Marcus Hahnemann slips as he went to play the ball, but he is able to clear it before Agbonlahor can close in.

40mins

Kitson drives the ball towards goal from range, but unfortunately the effort is wide and Villa have the goal-kick.

37mins

Shorey loses possession and the ball goes out of play, and as the final ten of the half approaches, Reading are no way out of this game.

34mins

Agbonlahor is certainly looking dangerous today as his pace is seriously testing Cruz at the back.

30mins

Kitson, making his 100th league start for Reading today, is limping off the pitch and it looks like this could be serious,

28mins

Petrov strikes a great effort on goal, it takes a deflection of Cruz, however a goal-kick is awarded, and Martin O'Neill is furious.

27mins

The game was relatively equal up untill that goal, and Doyle especially will be regretting his miss only minutes before that Villa goal

24mins

Ulises De la Cruz is booked for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor.

22mins

John Carew scores! Ashley Young put in a good ball from a Villa free-kick, and Carew rose above the Reading defence to head Villa into the lead.

20mins

Gabriel Agbonlahor has a good shout for a penalty, but it isn't awarded, Reading go down the other end and Doyle misses a sitter as he blazes over the bar.

19mins

Reading hit Villa with a fast-paced counter attack, however Hunt is unable to produce a quality ball into the danger area when it mattered.

17mins

Villa produce a great move, and Agbonlahor puts in a great ball into the box, only for it to be just ahead of Barry as Marcus Hahnemann collects.

14mins

Carson nearly makes a mess of a Reading free-kick, Shorey played the ball into the box and Carson almost spills it, but manages to re-gather.

13mins

The game has become a brighter affair in the last 5 minutes or so as both Reading and Villa play a better variety of football.

10mins

Marcus Hahnemann makes a great save from a Petrov effort, and the keeper pushed it round the post for a Villa corner.

9mins

Villa lose the advantage as a quick free-kick is pulled back by the referee, much to the anger of the home crowd.

7mins

A relatively slow start to this game as both sides play a cautious passing style of football.

3mins

Reading have the first corner of the game, Shorey puts it in, but the ball goes over everyone's head and is out for a goal-kick.

1mins

Despite being named in the starting line-up, Mellberg pulls out due to a virus and is replaced by Craig Gardner.

0mins

Aston Villa are currently on a great run of form and will be confident of victory over a Reading side that seem to be leaking goals in at the back as Uriah Rennie gets the game underway.

0mins

Gunnarsson returns from a ban and starts, however, Duberry fails a late fitness test as Reading play with: Hahnemann, Murty, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Shorey, De la Cruz, Harper, Cisse, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle

0mins

O'Neill has no injury worries as Carew shows no ill effects after returning last week as Villa start with: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor

Match Preview

Aston Villa will be hoping to maintain their push for a European place when they play host to Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Villa are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table, having lost just five times in 21 games this term.

Boss Martin O'Neill has moulded his small squad into a well-drilled outfit, with the return to full fitness of central defender Martin Laursen making a massive difference to Villa's backline.

However, the Dane has yet to agree a new contract at Villa Park and both he and fellow stopper Olof Mellberg could yet leave the club in the summer.

O'Neill currently has the luxury of few injuries to contend with, although striker John Carew is a major doubt due to a knee problem and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen may yet leave in search of first-team football.

Last time out, Villa lost 2-0 at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round, but they are unbeaten in their last five league games, having seen off Spurs 2-1 in their previous Premier League outing.

Reading arrive in the Midlands trying to improve on a dreadful away record this season, having picked up just three points on their travels this term and having conceded 29 goals in ten away games.

Royals boss Steve Coppell has moved into the transfer market to bolster his squad with the signing of midfielder Marek Matejovsky, while Stephen Hunt and Leroy Lita continue to be linked with moves away from the Madejski Stadium.

The only injury problems for Coppell are the continued absences of John Oster and Glen Little, but other than that he has a full squad to choose from, although Michael Duberry will need to shrug off a knee problem to feature.


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Match Report

Big John Carew and the hugely talented Ashley Young combined to destroy Reading and lead Aston Villa to their third successive Premier League win.

Young tore the heart out of Reading's feeble defence and it was Carew who provided the finishing touch with two opportunist goals to take his tally to six this season.

Their latest fan, American actor, Tom Hanks, would have been delighted with Villa's latest performance which was highlighted by their clinical finishing.

The feature of Villa's success was again their lethal finishing from set-pieces. Their first two goals from Carew and Martin Laursen were scored from accurate crosses by Young.

It took their tally to 20 from set-pieces this season and they have emerged as the most dangerous team from these sorts of situations.

Carew, who had his best game of the season, grabbed Villa's third in the 88th minute with James Harper replying for Reading a minute later.

But it was hardly the Royals' best preparation for their FA Cup replay with Spurs and they desperately need to shore up their defence.

Only some brilliant saves from Marcus Hahnemann prevented an even heavier defeat.

The outcome might well have been different if Kevin Doyle, who is reported to be on Martin O'Neill's wanted list, could have enhanced his prospects but the Irishman failed dismally with a gilt-edged chance after setting himself up following a long clearance from Hahnemann.

With only Scott Carson to beat, Doyle inexplicably lofted his shot over the bar.

It proved to be an extremely expensive mistake as, a few minutes later, Villa took the lead when Carew headed home a free-kick from Young in the 22nd minute.

Unfortunately the game was often spoilt by the decisions of referee Rennie who appeared to want to impose himself at every opportunity.

The Royals often struggled to get to grips in midfield where Nigel Reo-Coker and Gareth Barry dominated for Villa.

Reading, however, often conspired to be dangerous on the break. They often played with three strikers and Dave Kitson went close to an equaliser four minutes before the break only to shoot just wide.

Ten minutes into the second half Laursen headed in his sixth goal from Young's corner.

It was from a Young run which allowed Gabby Agbonlahor to set up Carew to fire past Hahnemann in the 88th minute.

Villa then made three substitutions only for their disorganised team to allow Harper to snap up a Leroy Lita pass and fire past Carson.

Aston Villa

Reading

Corners

137

Fouls

1511

Goal attempts

146

Shots off target

63

Offsides

30

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