RECAP: WEEKEND ENGLISH ACTION Andrew Vorce - Monday, November 9, 2009
Brad Friedel's five-star Aston Villa trampled Bolton while Clint Dempsey scored the equalizing goal in an entertaining away trip to Wigan.
Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton Wanderers
Brad Friedel was beaten just once in a strong team performance by Aston Villa as Bolton Wanderers' defensive errors cost them dearly.
Ashley Young got the scoring started just five minutes in, scoring a predators' goal. James Milner started the play, with John Carew heading Milner's cross goalwards. Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to parry the header, but Young was on hand to smash home the opener.
In the 29th minute Tamir Cohen was forced off with a thigh injury, with Bolton introducing Johan Elmander. With Bolton pushing for the equalizer, Carew was able to play down the wing and attack the defense. The Norwegian dribbled along the touchline, slotting a trailing pass to the onrushing Gabriel Agbonlahor who smashed home two minutes from half.
With the half time whistle looming, Elmander earned the number nine shirt with an opportunistic goal. Gary Cahill was unlucky to hit the post, but Elmander tucked away the rebound to give his team a vital lifeline before half time.
Milner further cemented himself in Martin O'Niell's squad, becoming provider once again. Carew showed good strength to beat the Wanderers defense before latching on to the England international's cross in the 53rd.
James Milner was presented a chance to get his name on the scoreboard with a 70th minute penalty, but Jaaskelainen did well to keep it out. Steven Sidwell got to the rebound, however, which bounced off the post and into Milner's path for a tap in.
Carlos Cuellar ended the rout with a backwards header from a Milner cross five minutes later. Craig Gardner was the only Villan carded, while Cahill, Cohen, Kevin Davies, and Paul Robinson picked up cards for the visitors.
Up next for Villa is a trip to Burnley in two weeks in Premier League action following the international break.
Hull 2 - 1 Stoke
Jozy Altidore went 83 minutes, making way for Jan Vennegoor of Hasselink to hit the winner over ten-man Stoke City.
Stoke went up first through Matthew Etherington in the 29th minute with a piece of individual play. The striker was left to roam the left wing, running 30 yards before smashing past Matt Duke on the near post from eight yards out.
Hull came out eager to put their best foot forward, and after an hour played Seyi Olofinjana hit one back for the home team.
With Hull needing a goal, Olofinjana showed amazing control on a squared ball across the edge of the 18. The striker used his first touch to beat two defenders on the turn before sending in a pinpoint side-footed curler to the upper right corner.
After entering for Altidore, Vennegoor of Hesselink was allotted seven minutes to salvage the game, and when Abdoulaye Faye was shown his second yellow card to give Hull the man-advantage, the Dutchman did not disappoint.
Hull had a deliberate build up, with the ball ending at the feet of Jimmy Bullard. The former Fulham man took a shot from distance that Thomas Sorensen was only able to parry out, and Vennegoor of Hesselink kept his composure to send home the rebound on the stroke of full time.
Bernard Mendy was the only player booked for the home team, while Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, and Glenn Whelan joined Faye in the referee's note book. Up next for Hull City is Jonathan Spector's West Ham at home on the 21st.
West Ham 1 - 2 Everton
It was an all yank affair as Jonathan Spector played all 90 minutes against Tim Howard's Everton with the away team coming away with all three points.
Tim Cahill continued to be influential for Everton as he and Luis Saha combined for the first after 27 minutes. Cahill's run into the Hammer's defense drew three defenders with him, allowing Saha the space to side-foot home the Australian's easy lay back from 18 yards out.
Fan favorite Dan Gosling put Everton well in the clear in the 64th minute. The Evertonian youngster had his initial shot blocked after some sloppy Hammers' defense, but the defender wouldn't be denied twice as his rebound was too strong for Robert Green.
Tim Howard was unable to keep the shut out with the link-up of two second half Hammer substitutes. Alessandro Diamanti played Junior Stanislas through with a lobbed pass and the front man's speed had Howard beaten.
Stanislas took a touch to control before chipping Howard who was eight yards off of his line, but was robbed of the goal as Tony Hibbert tried to clear off of the line, only to smash it into the roof of the net for an own goal.
The yellow cards went all one way with Marouane fellaini, John Heitinga, Tony Hibbert, Jack Rodwell, and Joseph Yobo all being booked for Everton. The Hammers will travel to Hull after the international break while Everton travels to Manchester United.
Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham
Clint Dempsey was a 90-minute man as he scored the equalizing goal in Fulham's away trip to Wigan.
Erik Nevland was unlucky not to put Fulham up after ten minutes played, with the Fulham man's lofted header completely beating Chris Kirkland only to smack off the left hand post.
Three minutes later the hosts scored the game's opener. Wigan won a corner after a defensive lapse from the visitors, and quickly made them pay. The Cottagers defended the initial threat, but were unable to keep the Latics at bay for long.
Erik Edman's long ball found Paul Scharner, who headed back across the face of goal to Emmerson Boyce. The defender's first touch set himself up from six yards out, and he smashed home the volley with 13 minutes played.
Mark Schwarzer kept Fulham in it as Charles N'Zogbia's shot was destined for the far corner, only for the keeper to tip it onto the cross bar.
Five minutes before half time Fulham had a free kick at the other end, and the Cottagers wasted little time to draw even with their set piece.
The free kick found Dempsey in the heart of the area, and as the American turned, Titus Bramble's mistimed challenge knocked him down. Dempsey showed confidence to step up to take his own penalty and sent Kirkland the wrong way to tie things up.
Dempsey had another chance off of a free kick, but both keepers showed fantastic resilience to keep the scoreline even. Bramble and Edman were the only two booked for Wigan, while Dickson Etuhu picked up a yellow for Fulham. Up next for Dempsey and company, a visit to Birmingham City in two weeks.
Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Queens Park Rangers
Frank Simek started his second successive game for Wednesday, but was unfortunate to be substituted in the 72nd minute due to injury after playing well.
Jay Simpson scored the first goal in the tenth minute of the game. Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt received the ball on the edge of the area, and slid an inch-perfect pass to the striker, who slotted the ball past Lee Grant for his seventh of the season.
The lead did not last long as Jermaine Johnson scored his third Championship goal of the season in the 13th minute of the game. Darren Potter won the ball in midfield, and passed to the winger, who ran down the left wing and then cut in before shooting across Radek Cerny into the bottom-right corner of the net.
The winner came in the 82nd minute from an Alejandro Faurlin corner, with Kaspars Gorkss scoring his first-ever goal for the visitors after stooping low to head the ball in.
The Owls remain 17th in the Championship Rankings, and will next travel to 23rd ranked Ipswich Town on November 21st after a week off for International games.
Wycombe Wanderers 4 - 4 Brighton & Hove Albion
Jon-Paul Pittman played for 81 minutes, and scored one of the goals in a thrilling FA Cup game that saw three penalties, two red cards and end-to-end action throughout.
Brighton took the lead in the third minute of the game with an Elliot Bennett strike. The winger fired in from the edge of the penalty area, scoring low into the centre of the goal.
Wanderers equalized when Matt Harrold converted from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. Pittman crossed the ball into the area, and Adam Virgo was penalized for pulling on Harrold's shirt.
Brighton were reduced to ten men in the 33rd minute when on loan defender Justin Hoyte was sent off for a wild kick on Pittman.
The Chairboys took the lead five minutes later with the third goal in a week from on-loan Scott Davies. Kevin Betsy crossed from the right, and the midfielder volleyed the ball from twenty yards into the top-right corner of the net.
As the first half came to a close everything was level again, when home defender Craig Woodman was sent off in the 46th minute after a foul in the box on Nicky Forster. The forward scored his tenth of the season from the resulting spot-kick.
The Seagulls took the lead in the 51st minute with a goal that owed a lot to luck. Glenn Murray ran down the right before cutting into the area, and then saw his shot rebound off defender Lewis Hunt before looping over helpless goalie Scott Shearer.
Pittman drew even once again in the 61st minute with a clever chip over keeper Graeme Smith. The forward was quickest to a selfless header from strike partner Harrold, and scored into the top-right corner from three yards out.
The hosts went ahead with Harrold's second of the game in 70th minute. Betsy crossed from the right, and the forward got ahead of his marker to score into the top-left corner.
The visitors pushed forward looking for an equalizer, and it came in the 82nd minute, as the result of the third penalty-kick of the game for hand-ball in the area, which was dispatched by Murray.
The home players were furious at the ruling, as the right wing cross from Bennett had hit Matt Bloomfield on the arm at point-blank range.
The teams will replay at Brighton on November 18th for the right to host Rushden & Diamonds. Bottom ranked Wycombe return to League one action on Saturday at sixth-place Huddersfield Town.
Oldham Athletic 0-2 Leeds United
Mike Grella saw only five minutes action as a late substitute, but made the most of the playing time with a goal as Leeds pushed past Oldham to reach the second round of the FA Cup.
The visitors opened scoring in the 35th minute with a great goal from Jonny Howson. The midfielder took a pass from Robert Snodgrass, and hit an unstoppable 20-yard shot into the top-right corner for his second score of the season.
Shortly after entering as a substitute, Grella scored from close range in the 94th minute of the game.
Fellow substitute Aidy White laid a lovely pass into the forward's path, and the American lashed it into the top-left corner of the goal from five yards out.
United will host Grimsby Town on Tuesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and will then travel to Brighton & Hove Albion for League One action on November 21st.
Notes
Zak Whitbread will not feature for Millwall when AFC Wimbledon come to The New Den in the FA Cup on Monday.
Marcus Hahnemann was on the bench for Wolverhampton as Arsenal won 4-1.
Jay DeMerit missed the game with an eye injury as Watford beat Preston North End 2-0 at home.
Ian Joyce was an unused substitute as Southend Crashed out of the FA Cup 3-0 at Gillingham.
Jemal Johnson missed Milton Keynes Dons' 1-0 FA Cup win over Macclesfield due to a calf and groin injury.
Seb Harris did not make the bench as Northampton Town beat non-league Fleetwood Town 2-1 to reach the next round of the FA Cup.
Eric Lichaj was unavailable due to suspension as Lincoln City were 3-1 winners im their Cup game at AFC Telford.
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