Source: FOOTYMAD
Villa Boss Got It Sadly Wrong And Faces Consequences
Premiership review (Saturday) ... Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0Man City 1 Wigan 0Bolton 3 Aston Villa 2Birmingham 1 West Brom 3West Ham 3 Stoke 0Newcastle 1 Everton 2Fulham 3 Blackburn 2 Aston Villa's woes continued. After Gérard Houllier threw in the towel at Man City in the FA Cup in midweek by playing a weakened side, Villa lost 3-2 at Bolton in a game that could have justified his decision. Villa took the lead as Kyle Walker on the right found Darren Bent to tap home from close range after 15 minutes. Bent also hit the post for Villa, before Gary Cahill levelled for the hosts on the stroke of half-time. Villa retook the lead as Marc Albrighton volleyed home Stuart Downing's cross after 64 minutes, then Ashley Young had a 70th-minute penalty saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen after being fouled by David Wheater. Cahill blasted Bolton level after 75 minutes and Ivan Klasnic won it for the hosts four minutes from time. Arsenal could not find a way past the Sunderland defence as they failed to put pressure on Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United. With United facing Liverpool on Sunday the Gunners had the opportunity to pull to within a point, but Sunderland, who had lost four in a row before this one, claimed a goalless draw at the Emirates. Marouane Chamakh headed Jack Wilshere's cross against the bar after 75 minutes, while at the other end Wojciech Szczesny exorcised some Carling Cup final demons with a great save from Danny Welbeck. Kolo Toure ended an awful few days by watching Manchester City beat Wigan 1-0 at Eastlands. Suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into his failed drugs test, Toure turned up to support his team-mates anyway. And he was rewarded with three points, but only after an horrific howler from Ali Al Habsi gifted David Silva his first-half winner. At the other end of the table, West Ham lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a 3-0 win over Stoke at Upton Park. The Hammers took the lead in the 21st minute as a mix-up between Marc Wilson and Asmir Begovic allowed Demba Ba to tap in, before an unmarked Manuel da Costa rose to head home Thomas Hitzlsperger's free-kick eight minutes later. Hitzlsperger's rocket seven minutes from time made the points safe. That scoreline was enough to take them above Birmingham, who lost 3-1 to West Brom at St Andrew's to give Roy Hodgson his first win as Baggies boss. Second-half goals from Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison and Paul Scharner enabled the Baggies to leapfrog their local rivals in the battle for survival. Jean Beausejour pulled one back for Blues moments after Mulumbu gave the Baggies the lead, but they were well beaten. Bobby Zamora scored his first home Premier League goal in more than a year to give Fulham a 3-2 win over Blackburn at Craven Cottage. Fulham went ahead eight minutes before the break as Damien Duff fired from a narrow angle and Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson could not save after a slight deflection, but Grant Hanley's deflected shot in stoppage time levelled things up. Duff beat Robinson at his near post to put Fulham back in front a minute before the hour mark, but Junior Hoilett volleyed Rovers level from close range after 65 minutes. Zamora, on as a second-half substitute, converted from the spot a minute from time after Hanley fouled Aaron Hughes.
