Aston Villa 2, Portsmouth 0: Mat Kendrick's big match verdict
Sep 21 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
With that, the former Newcastle winger, who issued an apology for inexplicably having the blues at St Andrew’s, rapidly restored his burgeoning hero status.
For fellow scorer Agbonlahor an early-season glut of goals – including another Second City derby winner – have helped him race along the road to redemption with the Villa supporters.
Not that the Brummie striker particularly needed to make amends following the gruelling demands of last season, even though his inevitable loss of form led to the fans’ frustrations momentarily bubbling over with him.
O’Neill has been proved right in allowing Agbonlahor extra time off over the summer to freshen up while the England hopeful himself deserves credit for using the extended break to bulk up his physique. With pace and power Agbonlahor burst on to Milner’s flick from Brad Friedel’s long kick, shrugged off the challenge of Tal Ben-Haim, before blasting a bullet of a shot past James and in off the post on 43 minutes.
Not even losing his footing at the vital moment could unsettle Agbonlahor who will surely be back in Fabio Capello’s affections as well as the Villa supporters’ if he can continue his early scoring streak throughout this World Cup season.
O’Neill is reluctant for Agbonlahor to add any more muscle, mainly because the striker appears to have the perfect blend of strength and speed – and not because the gaffer is scared of losing his status as Bodymoor Heath’s hardman.
While Agbonlahor has been given a clean slate by the supporters it is the third successive clean sheet – and second with the new defensive trio of Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock – which has provided the platform for Villa’s push up the table.
If filling Martin Laursen’s boots was a daunting task for any defender on his own, then between them Dunne and Collins are doing a passable impression of the Great Dane by forming a virtually unbreachable barrier at the heart of the back-line.
And on the rare occasions when the defensive double act was bypassed, Friedel kept out strikes from Jamie O’Hara, before the break, and Fredric Piquionne and Kevin Prince-Boateng during Pompey’s second-half purple patch.
Villa themselves had other chances to score with Ashley Young almost forcing Aaron Mokoena into doing what Fulham’s John Pantsil did in the last home game and heading into his own net, but James produced a fine reflex save with the England veteran also palming away Petrov’s hooked half-volley.
John Carew has clearly not lost his touch with the ladies after being pictured last week with teenage lingerie model Lauren Budd, but his hopes of scoring on the pitch during his first league start of the season were dashed when he fluffed a shot from Agbonlahor’s cut-back.
Still, such is his standing among his adoring worshippers and his improved relationship with the manager that the Holte End darling has no need to kiss and make up with anybody. Which is more than can be said for Reo-Coker.
