Analysis of Bohemians 2 Villa 1
Monday 26th July 2010, 9:00AM BST.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill has enough to concern him off the pitch without getting too wound up by a 2-1 defeat to Bohemians in Dublin at the weekend.
The claret and blues, in fact, created more than enough chances to have cantered the game at Dalymount Park and posted enough positives to make the trip worthwhile.
But, after John Carew had equalised an early goal from Conor Powell, Villa were beaten by a winner from substitute Enzo just nine minutes from time.
Still, a manager who has James Milner’s future and a few weeks of intense transfer activity to sort out, will have noted perhaps the most encouraging outing to date of young winger Marc Albrighton and an exciting cameo from nippy Scottish forward Barry Bannan.
Albrighton was particularly impressive in the first half, as was Stewart Downing on the opposite flank.
Downing, revelling in his first full pre-season at Villa, was closest among a cluster of chances frittered away with Gabby Agbonlahor also unable to take a couple of half-chances in his first run-out of the pre-season schedule.
It was something against the run of play when the home side scored. Goalkeeper Brad Friedel, whose kicking has not so far been at its best, miscued a clearance straight to Powell who took his opportunity splendidly by lobbing the Villa No 1.
Carew swapped with Agbonlahor at the interval and scored for the second match running thanks to a goal crafted by Albrighton.
The youngster got around full-back Matt Doherty and picked out his giant colleague for a close-range header.
They almost repeated the move moments later only for Carew to head wide and instead it would be the Irish who had the last word when Enzo fired past Friedel.
But returning Dubliner Richard Dunne took the defeat in his stride.
He said: “I’ve played a couple of times against Irish teams, I know how well organised they are and they always give us good games.
“I said it was going to be a very hard game and it was.”
By Martin Swain
UK Sport
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