On This Day
Villa end a run of 11 games without a win with two late goals to beat Watford.
Since the turn of the year, and the return of their first team goalkeepers, Villa have a win, a draw and a loss in the League and as a result climb back up to 14th place.
Villa win for the first time in twelve Premier League games and the first time since November as Martin O'Neill's side beat Watford to sit 14th - having been 4th in the table when they last won.
Meanwhile a swathe of changes to the Villa squad are underway with the transfer window now open.
Right back Phil Bardsley makes his Villa debut aged 21 after joining on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season to become the 796th player to play for Villa in first team League or Cup football.
Full back Jlloyd Samuel, 25, makes his 200th and final appearance in a Villa shirt before moving on to Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2007. Jlloyd had made his debut aged 18 under John Gregory and over his 9 seasons with Villa had a record of W71 D52 L77, 3 Goals, 10 Assists, 26 Bookings and 1 Red Card. Tragically Jlloyd was killed in a car accident aged just 37 in May 2018.
Forward Milan Baroลก, 25, is put out of his misery as he makes his 51st and final appearance in a Villa shirt (40 Starts) before moving on to Olympique Lyonnais in an exchange deal that brings Villa legend John Carew to the club. Baroลก had joined Villa in August 2005 from Liverpool for a fee of ยฃ7,960,000 and started with great success with his first 25 appearances delivering 10 Goals and 6 Assists at a goal involvement rate of one for every 1.56 games. Thereafter however things worsened, considerably. Baroลก would score three times and create one assist in his second 25 appearances to leave with a record of W14 D19 L18, 13 Goals, 7 Assists and 7 Bookings at a goal involvement rate of one for every 2.55 games. His actual performance across those final 26 appearances was one goal involvement every 6.50 games.
Steven Davis secures his 30th win in a Villa shirt on his 97th appearance (80 Starts) to make it W30 D31 L36, 9 Goals, 5 Assists and 3 Bookings so far in his Villa career.
Gabriel Agbonlahor secures his 10th win and 11th goal involvement in a Villa shirt on his 37th appearance (31 Starts) to make it W10 D13 L14, 7 Goals, 4 Assists and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.
Wilfred Bouma secures his 10th win in a Villa shirt on his 36th appearance (33 Starts) to make it W10 D10 L16 and 2 Bookings so far in his Villa career.
Olof Mellberg collects his 25th booking in a Villa shirt on his 212th appearance to make it W70 D61 L81, 6 Goals, 6 Assists and 25 Bookings at a rate of a card every 8 games so far in his Villa career.
GK Thomas Sรถrensen | ๐ฉ๐ฐ |
CB Olof Mellberg | ๐ธ๐ช | ๐จ |
CB Gary Cahill | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
RB Wilfred Bouma | ๐ณ๐ฑ |
RB Phil Bardsley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | ๐ข |
M Gavin McCann | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ฅ |
M Gareth Barry | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
M Steven Davis | ๐ฌ๐ง | ๐จ |
F Milan Baroลก | ๐จ๐ฟ | ๐ด | ๐ |
F Gabriel Agbonlahor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Juan Pablo รngel | ๐จ๐ด | ๐ |
Martin O'Neill | ๐ฌ๐ง | 2006-2010
Substitutes
๐ W Patrik Berger | ๐จ๐ฟ | for CF Juan Pablo รngel | ๐จ๐ด | 72โ |
๐ FB Jlloyd Samuel | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | for F Milan Baroลก | ๐จ๐ฟ | 79โ |
Unused Substitutes
GK Stuart Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Liam Ridgewell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Aaron Hughes | ๐ฌ๐ง |
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
๐จ Steven Davis (3)
๐จ Olof Mellberg (27)
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: ๐
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Matchday Squad
Unavailable
Not recorded
Team News
Steven Davis, Juan Pablo รngel and Phil Bardsley (debut) replace Isaiah Osbourne, Liam Ridgewell and Aaron Hughes.
Team Stats
Starting XI Average Age
| 25.92 |
Oldest Player |
CF Juan Pablo รngel | ๐จ๐ด | 31.26 |
Youngest Player |
F Gabriel Agbonlahor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 20.28 |
Debut Appearances
๐ข RB Phil Bardsley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #796 | Loanee from Manchester United
Final Appearances
๐ด F Milan Baroลก | ๐จ๐ฟ | 2005-07 ๐ 51 | 40 (11) | โฝ 13 | ๐ฅ 7 | ๐บ 4 | #782 |
๐ด FB Jlloyd Samuel | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 1998-07 ๐ 200 | 171 (29) | โฝ 3 | ๐ฅ 10 | ๐บ 55 | #741 |
Starting XI
Substitutes
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 3
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 4
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
None
๐
๐
โฝ
๐ฅ
Sub 5
๐ฉ
๐จ
๐ฅ
Scorer(s) | Own Goal | 86โ | Gabriel Agbonlahor | 90โ+2 |
Assist(s) | Gavin McCann | 90โ+2 |
Match Timeline
๐ข | 1โ Debut, Phil Bardsley
๐ | HT Aston Villa 0-0 Watford
๐จ | 66โ Booking, Steven Davis
๐ | 72โ Sub off, Juan Pablo รngel, Sub on, Patrik Berger
๐จ | 74โ Booking, Olof Mellberg
๐ | 79โ Sub off, Milan Baroลก, Sub on, Jlloyd Samuel ๐ด
โฝ | 86โ Goal, 1-0, Own Goal, Gavin Mahon
โฝ | 90โ+2 Goal, 2-0, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Assist by Gavin McCann
๐ | FT Aston Villa 2-0 Watford
Season | 2006-07 |
Matchday | #28 |
League Game | #24 |
Manager Game | #28 |
Saturday, 20 January 2007
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Martin OโNeill | ๐ฌ๐ง | County Londonderry, 2006-2010
Referee: Peter Walton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Northamptonshire, 2004-2011
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: ๐จ 0-0
FT Score: ๐ฉ 2-0
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
Last 5: ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐ฉ
Officials
Referee: Peter Walton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Northamptonshire, 2004-2011
Previous 5 vs. Watford: ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐จ
Head to Head
Total ๐ 17 | ๐ฉ W7 (41% ) | ๐จ D5 | ๐บ(71% ) | ๐ฅ L5 (29% ) | โฝ 31 | ๐ฅ 23 | GD 8
Match Stats
Not recorded
Martin O'Neill | ๐ฌ๐ง | 2006-2010
๐ 28 | ๐ฉ | 8 ๐จ | 11 ๐ฅ 9 | 1.25
Villa Career Form:
Mid Table
What they Said
โIโm not so sure what I feel.
โObviously, Iโm relieved and delighted we won.
โI think we deserved to win had a no of clear cut chances in the game.
โI thought under pressure we did very well. I thought our approach play was very good we just could not finish anything off.โ
Martin OโNeill.
"I think that the club is in really good hands with the owner. I am not saying for one minute that we are doing transfers the size of Chelsea in recent years. World-class players cost a lot of money but potential is a different issue. And I believe that he [Ashley Young] has got enormous potential. Overall I have no doubt at all that he's good enough. In this day and age when people are paying a lot of money then we have to try and compete."
Martin OโNeill.
*Aston Villa ended a run of 11 league games without a win by beating Watford.*
Both sides had lacked a cutting edge in front of goal with Milan Baros the main culprit for the Villa as he failed to convert two one-on-one chances.
But the deadlock was broken when an angled Gavin McCann shot struck Gavin Mahon on the six-yard line and went in.
The goal deflated a valiant Watford and they conceded a second in injury-time when Gabriel Agbonlahor shrugged off Danny Shittu and slotted home.
The defeat was harsh on Watford against a Villa side who had started with the lack of belief, confidence and authority that saw them go into the game bottom of the Premiership form table.
There was plenty of effort from the home side but attacks regularly broke down because of stray passes and Watford tried to capitalise.
The visitors mounted some early pressure only to miss the creativity and quality in the final third of the pitch to take advantage of a fragile Villa.
But the Midlanders gradually realised that they could end their recent poor run against the Premiershipโs basement club and had the chances to take the lead without showing the conviction to do so.
Gareth Barry cut inside a defender and looked set to score with a left-foot strike only for Foster to stick out an arm and divert the strike against the post.
At the other end, Hameur Bouazza sent a rasping volley just high before keeper Thomas Sorensen tipped a Will Hoskins strike over his crossbar as the Hornets finished the first half on the front foot.
Villaโs fortunes and play did not improve after the break and the frustration of the home fans grew as the game wore on.
Hoskins again went close for the visitors when he flicked a shot just wide as Villa struggled amid the obvious frustration being vented by their supporters.
Baros could have lifted the Villa gloom when he was played through on goal by Agbonlahor but was denied when the on-rushing Foster came out of his goal to save.
Another chance for Baros saw him send an angled shot wide with keeper Foster to beat as Watford were almost caught out by Agbonlahor as they waited for an offside flag which failed to arrive.
Foster was an irritating barrier who continually thwarted Villa but he could do nothing when McCannโs shot went in off Mackay and then Mahon before Agbonlahor sidefooted in during injury time.
*Aston Villa boss Martin OโNeill:*
โIโm not so sure what I feel,โ he said. โObviously, Iโm relieved and delighted we won.
โI think we deserved to win, we had a number of clear cut chances in the game.
โI thought under pressure we did very well. I thought our approach play was very good we just could not finish anything off.โ
GK Ben Foster | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
LB Jordan Stewart | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Malky Mackay | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ |
CB Danny Shittu | ๐ณ๐ฌ |
CB Adrian Mariappa | ๐ฏ๐ฒ |
M Damien Francis | ๐ฏ๐ฒ |
M Gavin Mahon | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
W Hameur Bouazza | ๐ฉ๐ฟ | ๐ |
CF Tamรกs Priskin | ๐ญ๐บ | ๐ |
CF Tommy Smith | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CF Will Hoskins | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | ๐ |
Aidy Boothroyd | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
Substitutes
๐ | W Hameur Bouazza | ๐ฉ๐ฟ | (LB Chris Powell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |)
๐ | CF Tamรกs Priskin | ๐ญ๐บ | (CF Darius Henderson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |)
๐ | CF Will Hoskins | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | (CF Moses Ashikodi | ๐ฆ๐ฌ |)
Unused Substitutes
GK Richard Lee | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ |
CB Jay DeMerit | ๐บ๐ธ |
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
None
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Opposition Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: โ
League Champions: โ
FA Cup Winners: โ
League Cup Winners: โ
Last Trophy: โ
Opposition Matchday Squad
Opposition Unavailable
Not Recorded
League Table
2006-07
Playing Squad
GK Bobby Olejnik | ๐ฆ๐น | Unused Sub |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Mansfield Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
GK Gรกbor Kirรกly | ๐ญ๐บ | #795 |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Szombathelyi Haladรกs ๐ญ๐บ Retired
GK Stuart Taylor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #788 |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Southampton ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
GK Thomas Sรถrensen | ๐ฉ๐ฐ | #772 |
Goalkeeper
Where are they now?
Melbourne City ๐ฆ๐บ Retired
CB Gary Cahill | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #786 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
AFC Bournemouth ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB Liam Ridgewell | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #768 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Southend United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB Martin Laursen | ๐ฉ๐ฐ | #776 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CB Olof Mellberg | ๐ธ๐ช | #756 |
Centre Back
Where are they now?
FC Copenhagen ๐ฉ๐ฐ Retired
LB Aaron Hughes | ๐ฌ๐ง | #780 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Heart of Midlothian ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Retired
FB Jlloyd Samuel | ๐น๐น | #741 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Egerton FC ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died
RB Mark Delaney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | #736 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
RB Phil Bardsley | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #796 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
Stockport County ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
RB Wilfred Bouma | ๐ณ๐ฑ | #784 |
Full Back
Where are they now?
PSV Eindhoven ๐ณ๐ฑ Retired
M Craig Gardner | ๐ด๓ ง ๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #789 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Birmingham City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Eric Djemba-Djemba | ๐จ๐ฒ | #779 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues ๐จ๐ญ Retired
M Gareth Barry | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #724 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
West Bromwich Albion ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Gavin McCann | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #771 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Bolton Wanderers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Isaiah Osbourne | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #794 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Barwell FC ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
M Lee Hendrie | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #712 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Basford United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Shaun Maloney | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ | #799 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Hull City ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
M Steven Davis | ๐ฌ๐ง | #777 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Rangers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Retired
M Stiliyan Petrov | ๐ง๐ฌ | #791 |
Midfielder
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
W Ashley Young | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #797 |
Winger
Where are they now?
Ipswich Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
W Didier Agathe | ๐ซ๐ท | #792 |
Winger
Where are they now?
JS Saint-Pierroise ๐ท๐ช Retired
W Patrik Berger | ๐จ๐ฟ | #783 |
Winger
Where are they now?
AC Sparta Praha ๐จ๐ฟ Retired
W Peter Whittingham | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #770 |
Winger
Where are they now?
Blackburn Rovers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Died
CF Chris Sutton | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #793 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CF Gabriel Agbonlahor | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #790 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Aston Villa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CF John Carew | ๐ณ๐ด | #798 |
Forward
Where are they now?
West Ham United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Retired
CF Juan Pablo รngel | ๐จ๐ด | #752 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Atlรฉtico Nacional ๐จ๐ด Retired
F Luke Moore | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | #774 |
Forward
Where are they now?
Toronto FC ๐จ๐ฆ Retired
CF Milan Baroลก | ๐จ๐ฟ | #782 |
Forward
Where are they now?
FK Vigantice ๐จ๐ฟ Retired
Match Media
