Signs of promise despite Villa loss

THESE have been seven harrowing days of discovery for Ron Atkinson and his new-look Villa.

And yet in this defeat by probably the most intensely-motivated team in the First Division, there were at least as many positive virtues as in the victory against Arsenal.

Except for the goals, of course - although had Gary Penrice retained his poise on three occasions, the scoreline might have looked similar.

Even the most sustained pressure seen of Villa's six matches so far this season failed, however, to bring them the equaliser their dynamic second half performance warranted.

Palace, wearing the colours of Brazil, played for the opening 20 minutes as though they had been stamped with Pele’s magic.

A beguiling move led to lan Wright's scrambled goal after three of them, even if Shaun Teale missed a momentary opportunity to clear the Andy Gray pass that caught the entire Villa defence standing like spectators at mardi gras.

Worse, Paul Mortimer was guilty of reckless defending when he flicked at Eddie McGoldrick's cross, sending the ball thumping against the bar and into Wright's path.

The Palace music was bound to die, however, and as it did, never fully to revive, so Villa found they could match them in most areas, the assurance of the superb Paul McGrath spreading to his two fullbacks and beyond. For probably the first time this season, Gordon Cowans found the pace of the game and Kevin Richardson, perhaps more confident because of it, began to make decisive runs.

Either would surely have triggered Cyrille Regis or Tony Daley to an equaliser had England's Geoff Thomas not bestrode Villa Park like a latterday if quicker Ron Atkinson.

As commanding as Palace had been, however, Villa played a hectically exciting 20 minutes to introduce the second half.

Regis, already the priceless bargain of the season, out-jumped defenders by clear inches and there were no fewer than six chances before Penrice and Richardson had the best of all after 58 minutes.

Cowans struck an inswinging pass to spring the offside trap, but Penrice could only jab the ball at goalkeeper Nigel Martyn in front of him, while Richardson rolled the rebound against the foot of the far post.

Again the beating waves of attack had to fade and Villa, unable to make the decisive penetration that might well have led to more, became duly exhausted of ideas.

Palace's survival, though, still depended on interventions by Martin as Cowans swept in a low shot and Mortimer leapt to a header.

Villa's stunned start had proved costly and confidence is bound to have been shaken by the loss of eight points from the last nine.

But Atkinson is unlikely to make hasty changes. Teale is discovering that constant exposure to First Division pace can be wearing, especially against a team which presents it from every angle. He appears to have the character to come through.

There was more tidiness, as well as bite, about the midfield in the second half but Palace were well aware that Daley had to be quelled and prevented him from making a single run into their area.

Finally, then, to the most encouraging moment of the night. Dariusz Kubicki, making his home debut, was under pressure from Wright's cross to the byline.

Trouble? The Polish international flipped the ball off his hip, twisted away from the line and cleared.
Blessed skill.