Aston Villa Reserves in victory over Arsenal
STEWART Downing gave manager Martin O’Neill more food for thought as he set Villa on their way to a victory over the Gunners that opened up a five-point lead at the top of Reserve League South.
Villa overcame their second-placed rivals with goals from Marc Albrighton and Craig Gardner but it was Downing’s assist for the opening goal and his perfomance over 75 minutes at Underhill which was the major talking point for the fans.
Kevin MacDonald’s side had been a goal down after Sanchez Watt headed in Fran Merida’s free-kick.
But Merida was given his marching orders soon after for an off-the-ball incident and immediately Villa capitalised with Barry Bannan cutting inside to Downing, whose volley found Albrighton, who thumped home past Gunner keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Villa were ahead before the break after Bannan set up Gardner, who is also on his way back from injury.
VILLA: Parish, Roome, C Gardner, Herd, Clark, Delph, Albrighton, Weimann, Delfouneso, Bannan, Downing. Substitutes: Hofbauer (for Delfouneso), Dau, McGurk (for Downing), G Gardner (for Delph), Carruthers, Williams.
