Wolves 1, Aston Villa 2: Mat Kendrick's big match verdict

Sep 27 2010

“THERE’S only one Emile Heskey, one Emile Heskey, he used to be *****, but now he’s alright, walking in a Heskey wonderland.”

What started with Wolves mocking their visitors with squeaky high-pitched squeals of ‘Villa’ ended with the claret and blue brigade speaking even more highly – of Emile Heskey.

There is a theory that Heskey struggles to score in back-to-back seasons, let alone matches.

But his two goals in two games have given the Gerard Houllier era the shot in the arm it desperately needed and it’s two wins out of two for the French manager – including a derby day triumph which is sure to boost his standing with the Villa Park faithful.

Houllier insists leaked weekend stories of his request for a sabbatical from the French Football Federation were to prompt a quicker exit from France rather than from Villa Park.

And Villa fans won’t be questioning the 63-year-old’s commitment or wanting him to go anywhere else if he maintains this results rate – nor Heskey for that matter.

The zero-turned-hero has undergone an amazing transformation during the last week under Houllier. Having scored 22 goals for the former Liverpool boss during their first season together at Anfield in 2000-2001, he went on to enjoy his best goals-per-game ratio of his career with Houllier’s Reds.

There are tantalising signs of the so-called ‘striker-who-never-scores’ rediscovering that scoring streak in claret and blue. His three goals so far this season against Vienna, Blackburn and Wolves account for almost a third of his 11 in Villa colours. Since retiring from England and linking up with his former Merseyside master, Heskey has a spring in his step.

The force with which he burst forward for Villa’s opening goal is a prime example. Receiving a pass from Nigel Reo-Coker he powerfully advanced to the edge of the box and when his charge was halted he played the ball out to Marc Albrighton on the right.

Villa’s young winger sent a sublime cross skidding across Wolves’ goalmouth and Stewart Downing arrived on Kevin Foley’s blindside to smash in at the far left-hand post on 25 minutes.