Aston Villa has gone ahead in the 25th minute at Villa Park, with Stewart Downing redirect a cross home at the far post, making it 1-0. While West Brom had seen the better of play through the first half of the period, if was the work of Marc Albrighton, providing the cross from the right, and Gonzalo Jara, losing Downing at the far post, that allow Villa to strike first.
Aston Villa Vs. West Brom: Stewart Downing Puts Home Marc Albrighton Cross, Gives Villa Derby Lead
Albrighton, in his second match back after an appendectomy, deserves to be highlighted on the play. The Villa winger had to deal with two Baggies along the right flank, beating each of them to get to the line, putting a perfect cross into the six yard box.
“Perfect” may seem an exaggeration to some, but consider the details. The ball was less the a hand’s width outside the reach of goalkeeper Scott Carson, at the near post, ready to cut out a ball. With only Downing, making a far post run, a viable target, Albrighton needed to get the ball as deep in the box as possible while still alluding Carson. Less than one hand’s length? How much better can you get? You could even see the surprise on Carson’s face when his outstretched right arm failed to find the ball.
It was a tough goal to allow for a Baggies team that had seen the better of play for 20 minutes, but nobody cares about the better of play table. When Gonzalo Jara, West Brom’s right back, lost Downing at the far post, all Brom’s work went for naught. Now in the 32nd minute, the score remains 1-0, Aston Villa.
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