Villa ready to build on Toon performance

Aug 20 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN Laursen believes Villa's encouraging performance at Newcastle has sent a message to the rest of the Premiership that Villa mean business.

The 'doom and gloom' merchants who had circulated following the opening day defeat to Liverpool were changing their tune.

Villa not only contained the Magpies but also created a series of good opportunities with a brand of counter-attacking football that Newcastle coach Nigel Pearson admitted caused them problems.

Laursen said: "We had to perform our very best and we did. We played really well and we showed everyone that we have a very competitive team, a team that can really do something this year.

"If we believe in it and we work hard every time we play, there is enough quality to do really well in this league.

"Newcastle are a very good team and we knew that going into the game. They had a good win on the opening day of the season at Bolton and we knew we were up against a very strong side."

Laursen reserved praise for debutant goalkeeper Scott Carson who not only produced one fine save from David Rozehnal, but also appeared to give the back four added confidence to get about their jobs.

"He didn't have much to do, but what he did have, he did well", he said. "He came out and helped us with his punching. I thought he was good. He was calm and did well."

Laursen came within an ace of only his second goal in Villa colours and first since March 2005, with an early bullet header which smacked against Steve Harper's chest.

And he also had his heart in his mouth momentarily with a headed clearance which bounced into the ground and narrowly over the Villa crossbar under pressure from Mark Viduka.

"I might have scored at either end!", he said. "I thought I was very unlucky with the header. It just hit him in the chest. Anywhere else and it was a goal.

"I would have loved to have scored after my own-goal against Liverpool. But it wasn't to be."