Walsall 1 Aston Villa 2: Mat Kendrick's match verdict
JAMES Collins’ calf injury took the gloss off another useful workout for Villa as Martin O’Neill’s men prepared for Portugal with a victory over their near neighbours.
The Welsh international pulled up in pain just 30 seconds into last night’s friendly at the Banks’s Stadium and was replaced by Carlos Cuellar.
Goals in each half from reserve team youngster Andreas Weimann put Villa in control before Walsall sub Alex Nicholls pulled one back with his first touch 14 minutes from time.
Villa named a line-up packed with reserve and youth team players with most of O’Neill’s big-hitters rested ahead of today’s trip to the Algarve for this weekend’s Guadiana Cup duty.
Collins, Brad Friedel and John Carew were the only members of last season’s regular first XI to start, while they were joined by most of the players the manager has put on the transfer list.
Steve Sidwell made his first appearance of pre-season, alongside Nigel Reo-Coker in central midfield, with Nicky Shorey and Habib Beye at full-back and Curtis Davies soon joining them.
