30/09/2012 Match of the Day 2

Match Of The Day 2's Sunday game is steeped in history, featuring two

founding members of the Football League formed here on the wind

swept streets of the West Midlands in the 1870s. They both came

together within a year of each other. One born here, on sacred

ground. Johnny Dixon receives the trophy. The other founded by

working class industrialists. Long over a century later, and the

sparks are still flying. West Brom began this weekend in the top four

of the Barclays Premier League and Steve Clarke brought his team to

Villa Park full of confidence. His shift from one seat in the dugout

to the other is looking inspired. His switch from assistant manager

to gaffer, as Jose Mourinho said is nothing short of incredible.

Lambert almost's view from the home dugout is slightly less rosy. If

truth be told it's at way form that's really done them. A sense

that things were steadily improving, last weekend they were drubbed by

Southampton. From where I'm sitting, it's way too early in the season to

make sweeping statements about either team. Sit back and enjoy

with Simon Brotherton. It may not have quite the intensity

of Villa Birmingham or Albion against Wolves, but make no mistake

this is a proper derby match with a 127-year history between two clubs

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end of the field here. It's come three minutes in. Good delivery

from Agbonlahor. McAuley able to just turn it away

in front of the Villa striker. Villa trying to build for the

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Shayne long. that go wide of the post.

Could easily be 1-0 to the visitors. Albion keen to keep the flow of the

attempted to cross into the box. He's still arguing saying it should

be a penalty kick. It did strike Albrighton on the arm.

On the referee's blind side. But from Olsson. Benteke was lurking

nearby. Couple of decent balls into the

centre by Agbonlahor in the opening quarter of an hour.

See the England manager taking the game in here, Roy hodgeson.

Villa's home form has been really poor over the last year or so.

Three wins from their last 17 here A firecracker of a shot.

He really caught that one. Chris Brunt has a problem. If

that's a hamstring, that's his afternoon done. Steve Clarke I'm

pretty sure will have to make a change here. Yeah, West Brom's

captain knows, I think it's a too much to do in the first half

the West Bromich Albion goalkeeper. But when he's been needed, he's

been there. For the second time in the opening 45 minutes, Ben Foster

options. But he only had one thing in his mind. He did well to get

hold of the ball. He didn't shoot there, kept going, kept going and

Holman alongside him screamed in vain for a pass.

It won't koupbtd. The flag went up before Long headed it into the net.

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Long, 1-0 West Bromich Albion! Just A Minute or two after having a goal

disallowed. There was no doubt about this one. 51 minutes played

and it's Shane Long who puts Albion ahead in the West Midlands derby.

Morison making the run. Villa claiming he was offside as the ball

was played forward. Long wasn't though.

the season. Now we do have a game Villa trying to build up a head of

steam as we head towards the last Off the bench he came and into the

net went the ball. Ten minutes to go. All square in this West

Midlands derby. What a final ten minutes we could have now. The

initial shot deflected away. Darren Bent found the gap and produced the

equaliser for Villa. Darren Bent's 150th league goal. -- goal in

English football. 12 minutes after coming off the bench he finds the

I'm sure that just clipped the Villa player.

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enough to turn the game totally in the 90.

I think he handled it. That was a cracking pass to Lukaku, who may

have been just about onside. Good have been just about onside. Good

stop by Guzan though. Paul, what's the overall verdict, is a point

reasonable enough? We had 120 minutes of the night there, I guess,

a really good side. It was a big point for us. I'm really happy we

kept on going. It's easy to get your heads down when you go a goal

down in a derby team. You know when it's only 1-0, you're away from

home, you know the box will go in the box and they're going to get

set plays. The unfortunate thing for us was probably the only that

we didn't get a good clearance on the ball, it bobbled around in the

box and Darren Bent did what he does, popped up with a goal.

don't think Darren has anything to prove to myself or the outside

world. He's a proven goal scorer. For this given game, this was the

right team. You looked the more likely team particularly in the

first half. A couple of shots why - - from yourself as well. I was

running to the corner flag celebrating after second one, but

he pulled off a great save. All credit to him. Unlucky for me.

halftime I was disappointed with the first half, the header. I

should have done better. The rest of the game I wanted to put it

right. Great ball in. The start has been pleasing. We've said that all

along. We're not carried away with anything. Maybe it's a measure of

how far we've come as a club, because we're going away with Villa

Park with a point, which is difficult. We all feel a bit

Watching again, Pat Nevin and Steve Kean read. At the training ground a

point would have seemed good, but going 1-0 up, does it feel less for

filling on the way home? A little bit. Before the game we would have

been delighted with a point, but to concede with 10 minutes to go is

disappointing. But it is an away game, a Derby, Villa had a great

result in the week so they were confident. On the whole we have to

be pleased. Lucky your hamstring is better because the guy who took

your place, he goes down with a knee injury and Chris Brunt goes

down with a hamstring, so the manager is using it for injuries

rather than tactics with the substitution. He came on at right-

back and he's really a centre half, but he did a great job. If you

consider the good start we have had, it's important we don't get too

many injuries. We started the programme at the Black Country

Museum. He was a traditional Ford's performance from Shane Long today.

He worked his socks off from the start to the end. In the best sense

of the word, he was a pest, from start to finish. He gets into the

If he is on his own a lot of the time, and he has missed a chance,

and he does not get his head down, but he always wants to play over

the shoulder. If this ball reaches it he will always be the one to go.

He's always ready to go. Half a yard offside, and if you work

between those positions, you only have to get it right once. Keep on

doing it, because you only have to get it wants. This is classic.

Side-on, getting through. I don't think any of the defenders will

catch him if the ball goes through so he makes it difficult for them.

Once again, half a yard offside if anything. And the finish isn't that

bad. Look at this or the pace. He has given him for two yards, but

he's on his own and look here. With his head down. Busting a gut and he

gets a bit of luck there, but fantastic work. We have to say

something about the run from something about the run from

midfield for James Morrison. In the second half we came more into it.

James Morrison, impressive in the second half, a great ball from

Sultan Guerra. And Shane Long is breaking his neck to get the gold.

-- de Gaulle. Tell me about Steve Clarke because people turn their

nose up went people are insistent and move into the dug-out, but you

have to go back to the late 70s. -- starts like this. Is he there every

day on the training ground and really involved? We call him more

of a head coach. That seems to be the fashionable thing to say these

days. But we seem to have continued what we have done for the last

couple of years. This year we seem to be keeping its solid at the back.

At the same time, the gaffer has given us a licence to go forward..

To be create competition and that is what has happened with Aston

Villa. Renewed Darren Bent was on the bench, but what of -- we knew

Darren Bent was on the bench. Decision-making is important to get

Decision-making is important to get right. He has to get into that area.

That is where Darren Bent would have been, and he doesn't get there.

But, well done, because he learned. He is hanging around in the right

place, but he is where he should be. Key works really hard this time and

gets the chance, but it is the decision-making when you get there.

One-on-one with the goalkeeper and you have to go for that. The

decision is poor. Now, parted your team made. Decision-making again. -

- pass it to your team mate. He is running into traffic with two

players and the goalkeeper in front. But he is still try to do the right

thing and getting the right area but the confidence is coming there.

A thin air shot, and the fans are already feeling they want Darren

Bent, and a minute later, he walks on the pitch. And watch this strike.

How do you get 10 yards of space in a box. That is how you do it. You

go backwards. Go where the defendant's aunt. Look at his hands.

Give me the ball. Give it me here. He's only been on 20 minutes and

that is a top striker. He knows his strayed -- trade. But then take a

showed enough for me. But I think Villa fans were thinking they

Been with us you were looking at Aston Villa as well differently

than when you're in the squad. Where is the quality you in the

Aston Villa squad? Brent Holman was a live wire. He had three or four

shots. Ben Foster made a couple of great saves. But they have a number

of young players coming through. It's an exciting time for Villa.

Aynho has been a difficult start but there are so many young players

coming through and it has to be an exciting time for the fans to get

behind the young players and there's no reason why they cannot

have another good season. Right, goals from yesterday on the way,

plus a musical lending to tonight's show, but first a little look ahead.

Match of the Day three is available on line for a more relaxed look

over the weekend's action. And we rate these season tickets for no

particular reason. Match of the Day is -- Match of the Day 2 is on

And there is live NFL as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Chicago Bears.

And highlights of the final of the Ryder Cup follows Match Of The Day

two. To yesterday's game. All with expectations of silverware this

season, or four teams. -- or four. After last weekend's clash at

Anfield, the Barclays Premier League ended the month with some

more mighty matches. And yet another London derby with Arsenal

hosting leaders Chelsea, while Spurs went to Old Trafford seeking

into the penalty area. Deflected Ian! He gives Spurs the lead. 90

thought he was pushed down. They all appealed in red. And he showed

has been poor. -- his shirt has is a beautiful cross and a fine

Ferdinand. Through to Gareth Bale! Parried away, but Dempsey taps in!

Spurs have their two-goal advantage goals. Is the offside? I think he

is in line. What a game we are Brad fit -- Brad Friedel grasping

thin air. And now Tottenham Hotspur can celebrate. They have done it,

Arsenal with an eye on Terry coming in, but it was Torres who got the

1-1. Clever build-up by Arsenal, lead! No authority at the back for

Arsenal. To Arsenal defenders might have made further contact. The last

one was Khashoggi. De -- Trisha We have a former Chelsea player of

the year with us. Has the start of the season surprised even you?

You're usually optimistic. usually am, but he has surprised me.

I thought the change in personnel and system. That is the thing that

surprised me. We see players playing behind him and we know that

Mata will do that and Hazard. Torres was in getting that sort of

service last season. I don't think at any point last season he was

playing that badly. His confidence when doubt, but give him chances of

half chances, I've never worried All he needed was quality players

to find him. He has got that now and Chelsea have a chance this

season, more than I gave them at the start. A lot of top players on

show. Who do you hate coming up against the most on a Saturday or

Sunday? I would have to go for Gareth Bale. We saw a clip of him

in full flow. He really is as quick in the flesh as he looks on telly.

We played against him this season and it was a difficult afternoon.

When you're in defence you hope you have the right midfield or helping

your out and doubling up because sometimes if you have space in

behind you there is sometimes very little you can do. Failing that, a

little ball of the shirt. Defeat for Arsenal's men, but Arsenal's

ladies are the Superleague champions today. Warm

congratulations to the Arsenal Ladies as we go back to the action,

and every other game from yesterday I know it means less matches on a

Sunday for much of the day to the wheel of a 3 o'clock kick-off on a

Saturday -- Match of the Day 2. This weekend Bellis six of them,

some good old-fashioned ones like Norwich against Liverpool, and

Everton versus Southampton. All that was missing was the sound of

rattles, the waving of knitted scarves, but we did find a retro

flat cap. We start at Craven Cottage as Fulham entertained the

pointed to the penalty spot. The only question was the contact.

Manchester City nil. No debate equaliser. It is a terrific stop by

Schwarz are, but there's no preventing it from falling into the

his first touch. Edin Dzeko, he's been on the pitch about 50 seconds.

And just might have won this game headed home by a gas on Ramires. --

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Sahin. Luis Suarez! What a start for Liverpool, just over a minute

almost walked in, and indeed they do. Sahin, his first goal in the

hat tribgdz at Carrow Road two carries it home.

It's five for Liverpool! What a sobering afternoon for Chris

but it's too late to make any lead.

It's a welcome return for Jimmy Kebe. Demba Ba, and it's 1-1

immediately! Two goals in a minute. It's Hunt.

marking was shocking. Reading are arguing with the referee down here.

They're saying was it off Demba Crouch! Unchallenged, unmarked,

Could Stoke already have an that to Gomez. He caught the

defender. It's a straight red card. this season in the Premier League

and Steven Fletcher, the new hero of the Stadium of Light puts the

black cats in fropt. black cats in fropt.

-- front. It has to be said Pat Nevin's odd at the best of times,

but when you came in today with the theory about Filani, but Stephen

confirmed it. Not many people would spot it. Some people are left

footed, some are right, some like their head, some play with their

chest. All the way thu this season I've noticed it. Almost every time

the ball comes to him, he takes it on his chest. He's brilliant at it.

The last thing in the world you think of there is take it on the

chest. You take the header. I asked David Moyes about it, he's passing

with his chest. In most of those clips as well, what you're not

seing is a player screening in front. As a fullback I would like

to see the midfielder screening to stop that. He chest today twice in

a row. It's stunning, but very difficult to stop. Why does he do

it? David Moyes said he has an addiction to it. But no, it's very

hard to get round him. He's bet wer his chest than anyone else he's

come across. Keep an eye on it when you watch Everton. I would go for

15 a game. People will hopefully tune into Match Of The Day 3 where

we talk about more. Reading through your career so far, you've had

injuries along the way. You've had to prove people wrong, fight back.

I've had a few major injuries as have been well documented. A couple

on my knee. But I've always had the desire to get back fit. It's all I

wanted to do. I want to play fitd, get fit sorry and prove people

wrong as well. You mention that there, even the international

manager doubting whether I could get back playing at that level.

It's nice to be here and continue playing in the Premier League.

us a mash up date there on the hamstring. You've been moving

quickly today, next week back? Seeing a couple of injuries today I

might have to trim a bit of time off it. Hopefully as soon as

possible. Don't want to put a date on it. But it's going well. Thank

you very much guys. Big finish now, beginning with the reminder of

today's main football story: West Brom take the long road to one

point as Darren Bent comes off the bench to bend the Baggies out of

bench to bend the Baggies out of The alternative table is the unfair

game. Every team needs bite to their bark. Some may put in more

leg work and make more tackles in What would Roy Keane think of

Manchester United's position? Swansea have committed the most

fouls in any one game, 23 against Everton. The Toffies only

transgressed twice against Southampton on Saturday. That's the

best behaved 90 minutes so far this season.

We're back next week with four games, including Newcastle /

Manchester United. We leave you with a tribute to two men who

passed away this week Andy Williams and John Bond. One football

character who struck the right note # I love you, baby

# And if it's quite all right # I need you, baby

# To warm the lonely nights # I love you, baby