Barry optimistic despite Reds result

Aug 13 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

GARETH Barry remained optimistic for Villa's chances this season despite the opening-day reverse to bogey team Liverpool.

The Reds continued their nine-year unbeaten record at Villa Park with Steven Gerrard's fine free-kick after Barry's penalty had cancelled out Martin Laursen's fluke own goal.

"We felt at half-time that the game definitely wasn't over and as the second half went on we thought we had the possession," Barry said. "We were putting a lot of balls into the box and causing them problems.

"We always knew they were going to be dangerous on the counter-attack, but we got the break and it was just so disappointing to concede straight after.

"We got the equaliser after battling away and it was then a sickener to concede a goal so quickly."

Barry and his team-mates were aggrieved at the free-kick awarded against Stiliyan Petrov, which handed Gerrard his chance to strike.

"We're disappointed with the free-kick being given against Stiliyan, because he got a touch on the ball and Gerrard wasn't really going anywhere."

Barry said no blame could be attached to Laursen but admitted the goal knocked the stuffing out of Villa.

"We started very brightly, but their first goal put us on the back foot for ten minutes. Other than that we felt we had good possession of the ball and on another day, with a few breaks, we could have got a few more goals.

"The first goal was really unlucky. Stuart Taylor made a great save - one of many - and Martin Laursen was unlucky to stick the ball back across into the net.

"You can't really do anything about that and it's one of those breaks that will hopefully go in our favour later on in the season."

Barry made no mistake from the spot after Jamie Carragher's handball but could find few positives from his first Premier League goal of 2007.

"I was confident taking the penalty because I'd scored one the previous week, but sadly it wasn't enough," he added.