Analysis from Everton 1 Villa 1

7981935 Few things come guaranteed with John Carew – but write off the Villa forward at your peril.

Despite his place being well and truly cemented in the hearts of the Holte End, most would agree the giant Norwegian has to be in the mood to play to his undoubted potential.

Boss Martin O’Neill has often remarked the enigmatic striker can be “anything he wants to be”, while qualifying his praise with a call for greater “consistency” from the player.

His sentiments would surely be shared by Carew’s former coaches at Rosenborg, Valencia, Roma, Besiktas and Lyon.

The fact Villa became the star’s sixth club in seven years when he signed just under three years ago in itself says it all. O’Neill is not the first to have been frustrated by Carew’s lack of consistency.

At the beginning of the year, another chapter in the nomadic striker’s globetrotting career appeared to be drawing to a close. After the infamous lap dance scandal, a succession of niggling injuries and, most significantly of all, the January arrival of Emile Heskey, the writing looked on the wall.

Carew had other ideas, though, scoring seven goals in his last 14 games of the campaign. It was impossible for O’Neill not to play him.

After such a strong finish last term, big things were expected of the 30-year-old this time around. Had he finally found the consistency that had eluded him throughout his career?

But, low and behold, the goals dried up – he arrived at Goodison Park with just one in the Europa League this season. So, how typical the day he lost his Premier League place to Heskey he stormed off the bench to score within a minute of his arrival.

Never ever write off Carew. Frustrating? Absolutely. Unpredictable? Undoubtedly. But, on his day, world class.

Ask any Villa fan whether they’d rather have him or not and you’ll get the same answer from each and every one. Saturday’s goal will have merely reinforced that view.

For Villa it was the highlight of an otherwise mediocre afternoon in which they conceded a sloppy goal in first-half injury time, as well as losing Carlos Cuellar to a particularly harsh red card.

Match of the Day’s decision to screen the game last – behind games such as Burnley and Hull spoke volumes. No sides have met more often in the top flight, this was the 189th clash, and there will have been few worse.

Saturday’s point at Goodison made it 18 from Villa’s first 10 games – a start which has kept them within arms-reach of the top four. Twelve months ago they were two points better off but a win over West Ham on Wednesday or Bolton on Saturday would put them ahead of last year’s return at the same stage.

The absence of any European distractions could also be a boost to their league challenge but, all of a sudden, the Carling Cup has become a major component of this campaign.

Saturday’s quarter-final draw away to Portsmouth may have thrown up another tiring trek for supporters following last week’s trip to Sunderland. But few will have been disappointed.

Pompey at home aside, it could barely have been better after Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City were all avoided. Win at Fratton Park and Villa are one round – and two legs – away from Wembley.

But it looks as though Stadium of Light shoot-out hero Brad Guzan will be forced to settle for the League Cup for now, after standing down for Brad Friedel to make his 200th consecutive Premier League appearance.

The only other change saw Steve Sidwell return at the expense of Nigel Reo-Coker. Just as was the case against Wolves a week ago, Villa gave possession away too cheaply and as a result invited pressure from the home side.

James Milner and Steve Sidwell were particularly culpable and if there’s an area Villa still miss Gareth Barry in then this is it. Only Stiliyan Petrov looked comfortable on the ball.

Friedel was comfortably the busier of the two goalkeepers and was called into action in the opening 10 minutes, tipping over a looping Yakubu cross which threatened to creep under the crossbar.

The fit-again Nigerian was proving a real handful and, while possessing the muscle of Heskey, he provides a goal threat too. He should have been on the scoresheet just before the half hour when he was picked out by John Heitinga inside the box, only to head narrowly beyond the upright.

Only once in the first half did Villa truly threaten and it came courtesy of their two full-backs. Cuellar headed across the box to Stephen Warnock but the full-back failed to connect cleanly and volleyed inches past the post.

With chances at a premium, a stalemate appeared inevitable at half-time – but David Moyes’ men had other ideas.

A minute into stoppage time Cahill’s cross from the right was inadvertently steered into the path of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov by Yakubu and the Russian stroked a shot beyond Friedel.

But if that was a bad time to concede Villa could not have picked a better time to score – thanks to you know who.

Warnock picked out at Agbonlahor at the back post and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Tim Howard, but there – just 45 seconds after replacing the injured James Milner – was Carew to fire in the rebound. That made it four in his last four games against the Toffees.

Having thrown themselves a lifeline, the hope was Villa would kick on from there. But, despite the best efforts of the buccaneering Petrov, it never came. Just like last year, there was to be a dramatic ending but instead of goals it was red cards.

First to go was Bilyaletdinov, with three minutes remaining, for a dangerous lunge on Petrov which eventually forced the Villa skipper off.

But referee Lee Probert evened things up three minutes later when he sent off Cuellar for a second bookable offence, despite the Spaniard appearing to get a toe on the ball before Yakubu.

By Brendan McLoughlin

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This article was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 am.