It would be difficult to describe what happened just now as anything but a brilliantly incompetent piece of defending. Seriously, if there was a museum of defensive awfulness, they'be buying this one for several million and hanging it in the main gallery for all to marvel at. Abdoulaye Meite has just given Aston Villa a freak early lead by 'cutting out' a fairly woeful Stewart Downing delivery for the right, kicking the ball about 170 degrees from the direction he intended and flicking the ball past a bemused-looking Scott Carson in the West Bromwich Albion goal. Villa look slightly embarrassed to be celebrating that.
West Bromwich Albion Vs. Aston Villa: Abdoulaye Meite Own Goal Gives Villa Early Lead
Anyway, the visitors keep on pressing and such is the Baggies' defensive inadequacy that they nearly allow Stiliyan Petrov to score a goal, Meite nearly deflecting a weak long range shot past Carson (again!). The goalkeeper falls on the ball before Darren Bent can come in and follow it up. Meanwhile, we have our first booking of the evening, Paul Scharner going in late on Nigel Reo-Coker after being dispossessed in midfield and earning a caution for his troubles.
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