Aston Villa v Blackpool - Mat Kendrick's big-match verdict

Nov 11 2010 by Mat Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

BLACKPOOL might boast the Big One at its famous pleasure beach – but it was Aston Villa who took their fans on a rollercoaster ride last night.

And while we’re on the subject of big ones don’t underestimate the magnitude of last night’s dramatic victory for Gerard Houllier’s fledgling Villa Park tenure.

Having already dropped 10 points which would have put them in the Champions League reckoning by letting leads slip this season, Villa couldn’t contemplate another throwaway.

So, after twice going in front through Stewart Downing and Nathan Delfouneso and twice being pegged back by Villa and Blues oldboys Marlon Harewood and DJ Campbell, James Collins’ last-gasp winner was more thrilling than any seaside attraction.

The Premier League victory, only the second in seven matches for Houllier, lifts Villa up to joint seventh in the top-flight table.

And with Manchester United the next visitors to Villa Park on Saturday it will restore the players’ and fans’ belief in Houllier’s claret and blue revolution.

Even though Ian Holloway made 10 changes to save Blackpool’s best players for their winnable West Ham clash at the weekend, Villa started slowly.

Their 28th minute opener came against the run of play. It is a slight exaggeration to say the Tangerines were taking the pith, but they were certainly on top at that stage with their 4-3-3 formation allowing them to edge the midfiled battle.

With such a young midfield and attack, Villa were crying out for elder attacking statesman Ashley Young and Downing to lead by example. And the first time they did, it led to the opening goal, albeit courtesy of a decisive deflection.

Downing drove forward down the right and after exchanging passes with Young showed quick feet on the edge of the area to beat Richard Kingson with a right foot strike via Dekel Keinan.

It speaks volumes about Villa’s limited striking options that their 11th league goal sent the winger clear as Villa’s top scorer for the season with five.

As strange as it seems with bad boy John Carew and new darling Emile Heskey out and Gabby Agbonlahor feeling his way back in, even Harewood would have had a chance of first team football in B6 now had he not left on a free at the end of his contract in the summer.