SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 10 hrs 26 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
AV
Premier League
Dec 28, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
S

0-0

 
FT

Match Analysis: Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland

:Headline: Match Analysis: Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland: ID:195959: from db_amp
Sports Mole analyses the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sunderland at Villa Park.

Aston Villa have played out a goalless draw with Sunderland in their Premier League clash.

The Villans were reduced to 10 men shortly after the break when Fabian Delph was shown a red card for a high tackle on Jordi Gomez.

Gomez hit the post late on for the Black Cats and Leandro Bacuna saw a shot turned wide for the hosts, as the game finished level.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the events that unfolded at Villa Park.

Match Statistics:

ASTON VILLA:
Shots 14
On Target 3
Possession 48%
Corners 4
Fouls 4

SUNDERLAND:
Shots 15
On Target 3
Possession 52%
Corners 4
Fouls 11

Was the result fair?

A draw was the fair result this afternoon as neither side deserved to claim the three points. It was a very uninspiring first half, with the keepers not forced into making a save of note. Even at the halfway point in the game, it seemed very likely that the game would end goalless.

The turning point of the match came just minutes into the second half, when Delph was sent off. From that moment Sunderland dominated and put Villa under a great deal of pressure, but Paul Lambert's players managed to stand firm and grind out a hard-earned point.

Aston Villa's performance

It really is no surprise that Villa have only scored 11 goals in the Premier League and they started the afternoon very slowly. They posed no threat at all and a speculative effort from Charles N'Zogbia was their only effort on target in the first 45 minutes. Things got harder for them four minutes after the interval, as Delph was rightly shown a straight red card.

Although they saw far less of the ball for the rest of the match, they managed to repel Sunderland's attacks and showed great resilience at the back to claim only their second clean sheet at home this season. It was an encouraging defensive display, but the same problems lie in attack, where they must improve in the New Year.

Sunderland's performance

Gus Poyet will surely see today's match as two points dropped after playing against 10 men for almost the entire second half. His team had done very little before the break, despite a positive opening. With their numerical advantage they would have been expected to find a breakthrough, but despite their constant probing it never came. They were able to get in behind and deliver a number of dangerous crosses, yet a clinical finishing touch was sorely missing. Gomez's late strike against the post almost saw them claim the three points, but it ended up being an 11th draw of the season for the Black Cats.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Ron Vlaar: The Villa captain was at his commanding best today and ensured that his team came away from the game with a share of the spoils. He was strong in the challenge and dominant in the air throughout. With his contract set to expire in the summer there will be plenty of teams interested in signing him and this could have been one of his last games for the club.

Biggest gaffe

Delph will have been a relieved man at the final whistle that his red card did not cost his team. He was rightly dismissed for a poor tackle on Gomez and he will be thankful that his teammates held on to grind out a point.

Referee's performance

Martin Atkinson was forced into making a big decision today and he got it right. There can be no complaints about the red card as it was a reckless lunge by Delph.

What next?

Aston Villa: The Villans will welcome Crystal Palace to Villa Park New Year's Day.

Sunderland: The Black Cats face a tough start to the New Year with a trip to Manchester City on Thursday.

amp_article__195959 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-12-29 17:22:29:
html db last update - 2014-12-29 17:22:29 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .