20/10/2013 Match of the Day 2

Villa Park in Birmingham is simply one of the finest arenas in English

football. And when this place is jumping, few places can match it for

atmosphere. Weimann is through. It will be Aston Villa! But occasions

like this have been rare for fans on the famous Holte end. Villa have won

ten of 41 league games at home since 2011. Spurs are one of those clubs

who enjoy their trips to Villa Park. They have won their last two matches

here four - zero. But they are still smarting from being cut down by

another team in claret and blue. Tottenham Hotspur zero, West Ham

United three. On Match of the Day two. , we will see if Villa can win

back-to-back home matches in the league for the first time in three

years. Villa pulled out all the stops to keep everybody entertained,

and there is still a glow following that dramatic win over Manchester

City and the possible return to action of their talisman Christian

Benteke A. -- Ben Tech. I will be watching with a legend from either

club, Les Ferdinand and Dion Dublin. Now let's join our commentator --

Christian Benteke. He is England's man of the moment

but Andros Townsend knows that keeping his place in the Tottenham

team is his main aim to now, a point reinforced by the return of Aaron

Lennon as a substitute. Villa have Christian Benteke A on the

substitutes bench. Nathan Baker replaces Ciaran Clarke at the back.

Prozac -- Cossack continues as the most prominent forward. -- Kozak.

There is a return for Roberto Soldado. And there is a Premier

League debut for Chiriches, who is the captain of Romania. Bacuna. At

one level. Allowed to turn. It hit his hand, but that is just what it

was. Dawson in to stop the shot, and not

on target. A good spot from the assistant

referee. I'm sure the man in the middle saw it as well. Agbonlahor,

to his credit, stayed on his feet and tried to keep going.

Holtby was caught late. Now the card will be out. A free kick for

Tottenham Hotspur. Ashley Westwood is the first player to be in a spot

of bother today. That is his fourth caution of the

season. That means he is one more away from a one match suspension. Do

you know what? That's not dissimilar from Gareth Barry's for Everton

against Hull City, a challenge that many felt should have seen red. Paul

Lambert feels that if he has got a yellow card for that, then Chiriches

should have got one for pulling back at the bottom level, which is why he

complains to fill down. -- Phil Dowd.

Brad Guzan makes the point to the referee that he feels that Roberto

Soldado should have been pulled up for handball. So did the gentleman

sitting just in front of the camera. AVB was 36 on Saturday and is

already a seasoned manager at the top of the game. Fabi and Dell has

got Aston Villa free kick, caught in between Townsend and Holtby --

Fabian Delph. It was a good ball in and Hugo

Lloris palmed it clear. I was going to say Ron Vlaar was

ready to pounce, but I'm not sure he does pouncing. It is a wonderful

ball into the box. Hugo Lloris almost caught out by it and did well

to steer it to relative safety. Townsend's ball in is a beauty, and

it's gone in! Andros Townsend is claiming it. Did it touch anybody in

the middle? The England winger has made an impact again. Spurs have the

lead at Villa Park. It was Roberto Soldado who realised he could not

pass to Walker who was offside. A great ball in. Soldado Put his arms

in the air straightaway but turned and acknowledged Andros Townsend at

the same time. Did anybody get on the end of it? It looked as though

it wobbled. Seems as though he might have got a touch. The Spurs players

were quick to run across to Andros Townsend and give him the credit.

Immediately after that, the Spurs supporters, or from in that section

let off a flare, bizarrely, in celebration. Why you do that, I

don't know. It was right behind the assistant referee, and you can see

the problems it has caused. The man with the flag is saying that he is

all right and OK to carry on. You just wonder how serious it could

have been. Does not look like it was anybody else's goal, no one else

seems to touch it. This from the other half, and it does hit David

Bryant, right between the shoulders. Well done for shrugging it off and

carrying -- carrying on. That is disgraceful. There was somebody

being led out from the Spurs end. The vast majority of the rest of the

Tottenham supporters were booing him and giving him what for on the way

out. What was it blocked by in the

middle? The Tongan beaten to it by Bacuna. -- the Tongan Vertonghen.

Lovely ball from Jan Vertonghen but he could not directed inside the

post. -- directed. -- direct it. Andreas Weimann cannot find the

target today. That was largely down to Fabian Delph's fancy feet. Nobody

in the middle for the initial cross. Still working a chance for Andreas

Weimann. Could not get the necessary curl.

Townsend close to making it to before the break, and you would

struggle seeing Aston Villa coming back. Strong hand.

Soldado, helped into Paoli and hope -- Paulinho. Such an entertaining

goalkeeper to watch, Brad Guzan. Seems to revel in stopping shots.

That is going in all right. Now a change for Aston Villa. He has

missed three games with a hip injury. Making way for the main man

when it comes to scoring goals for Aston Villa, Christian Benteke. He

has returned to fitness ahead of schedule. Four goals in five games,

17 in his last 20. Benteke! You can see how pumped up

he is. Just could not stay up in the air long enough and get over the top

of the ball. The Spurs defenders will be worked a

little harder now. Benteke did not look as though he

had any right to get to it. A number of Spurs players present to make

sure it was not a significant effort.

Great finish by Soldado. Lovely goal. Spurs look like they have the

points. Roberto Soldado scores his first Premier league goal that has

been a penalty and ends a run of five games in all competitions

without a goal. He started it, strong to win possession. Too strong

for Westwood. What a touch from Paulinho back to the Spaniard.

Looking up to decide, then he puts the ball exactly where he wanted to

go. He is going to shoot from here. Only

just clearing the crossbar. Never mind what he has been doing with

England, there was a statistic going around that no player has attempted

or completed more dribbles than any other Premier league player going

into the weekend. He's done it again today, happy to run and shoot. A joy

to watch. And Paulinho just did not connect

from Townsend. 3-0 was served up to him on a plate. Andros Townsend,

once again. The way he took control of the ball and set off running.

Absolutely brilliant. How on earth did Palin hope not score? -- Palin

hope -- Paulinho not score? Full-time. Tottenham take the

points. It is a victory that put them into fifth place in the league.

It is their fourth successive away win in all competitions without

conceding a goal. Andros Townsend the star of the show. First half

goal that he did not really mean, it was across. But nobody else touched

it and anyone. Then Roberto Soldado, working hard to create an

attacking transport Spurs, and finish it off beautifully. That

finished off Villa, and it has finished Aston Villa zero, Tottenham

Hotspur two. We know he will get the headlines, Andros Townsend. He must

be flying at the moment. Yes, great game.

He really picked up after his goal. He gained momentum and confidence.

He is a great threat. He drives off with his skills and he is able to

beat the man, and he takes the team forward. He gave us a lot of

attacking options up front and another great performance.

I am a player that strives on confidence. If I have not got

confidence I am not going to do anything. Everyone is praising me at

the moment and I have to use that to my advantage and use it in my game

but not get too carried away and maintain the balance of confidence

and arrogance. I thought there were chances at the end. In the second

half, we came out really well. Do you take solace in the fact that

there is not much between you and a team that spends a lot of money like

Spurs? Of course. I think we are improving. We worked really hard to

get better. If you look to last year, the difference to this year,

it is big, and I think we have to go on. We have to forget all of the

things that were written and get back to football and what we enjoy.

A main thing is we got the three points today. You make it sound

easy, but is it that easy to clear your head? It is a lot harder. There

is a lot of positive and negative press after the England stuff. My

thing today is to not listen to as much as possible and go out there

and do what I have been doing. And not listen to your super --

team-mates who were shouting superstar at you Mister Mark I have

to keep my feet on the ground. DeLay came out and did their homework

after they lost -- Villa came out and did their homework after they

lost and made it very hard for Tottenham in the first half. The

game opened up and Tottenham took control from their arm. Will Villa

be disappointed with some of the first half? Wrong decisions. There

was not enough life in the game. They just could not deal with the

one player that was running them racket. Sandro -- running them

ragged. Sandro was running the show. The manager could mix and match to

his heart's content. What did you think of Sandro? I thought he was

fantastic. He was nonstop on the ball all the time. No closing down.

This is what he is great at. He will break things up. That is just his

first challenge. He is in the middle of the park and

he does not give up. He does the ugly stuff really well. The players

that play the football do not want to do that. He is just breaking it

up, giving the ball to the creative players. There was a slight tackle

that he did in the first half, right by the touchline, which he started

in the centre circle. He could slide that. Just on the phrase, I know

from watching that game with you... Don't start! He said it did you're

not in. When we talk about the holy midfield player, Let the centre half

the web they have to do. It does do my nut in. -- do what they have to

do. -- the holding midfielder, they have gone far too deep. The holding

midfielder is doing that for them. Get out of the way a little bit.

When Christian Benteke came on halfway through, did his replacement

struggle for you this afternoon? There were moments in the gamer I

felt sorry for him. The ball goes up the air here. -- here. He does not

know what to do. Again he is on his own, trying to make something out of

nothing. And we spoke about is early on. Because he was dropping so deep

to try and contain Spurs, he found himself a very isolated most of the

time. Even if you are holding it up, you are waiting for people to try

and get near you. There are four Villa players in shot. All they have

to do is come out five more yards. If you run it on, they could close

it down. Agbonlahor is standing there doing nothing. It is so much

easier. Do you have to run the channels a bit more as well? We

would not know about running the channels! We have never been done in

our lives! Is that what he could have done, rather than staying

central? You are still faced with the same problems. He will run into

the channels and he has got to hold the ball up for five minutes before

someone supports them. The only way he can run the channels is if

someone gets close enough to him. Andros Townsend was excellent. He

has had an excellent ten days, and Villa would have probably targeted

him this afternoon. They surely did target him, and I thought Luna did

very well up against him in the first half. He got close to him,

never really allowed him, you can see Agbonlahor getting close to him.

They just doubled up on him and made it difficult for him. It is a

situation where you have got to get to him before he can turn. He will

attempt to go by you. If you are in the vicinity where he can't... This

was the change for me. He gets in the space and gets his head up, and

that's what he does. His strength is, he likes coming in on his left

foot to shoot or to put something in the air, which is dangerous. He is

running from way back, way back. In the second half, the game opened up.

Luna was struggling to get near him. Andros is relentless. He will keep

going for 90 minutes. Luna is chasing him again and all I am

seeing is the number 17. This'll improve, you know. Luna comes into

the picture. He has decided he had had enough and he can't chase

anymore. For someone who has played the two games, and the euphoria of

those two games for England, they are always worried that there might

be a downside to that, because once you have play for England, you get

such a high that there is a rush and there is also a low. He proved me

wrong. He was relentless. How important is his relationship with

Kyle Walker? They are very much a duo. They certainly are. Andrus has

alluded to the fact that he will come inside off the line, and then

you will see Kyle Walker come down the outside. -- Andros. Andros will

give him the license to do that by coming inside. It is just an

understanding, knowing that if he comes inside, go down the outside,

because that's where the space is. Thank you. I have been asked, when

are we going to get lethal Bissell on Match Of The Day 2? This weekend

we had the perfect opportunity. . Hello. You might know me for being

an international music star. You might also know me for the respect

that I have for the Dame Judi Dench. You are a wonder. I also have a

long-term relationship with a lady called football, and last song --

last year I did a song about that. I can't take penalties. I am an

Arsenal fan. I was delighted when the BBC said they wanted me to come

and watch the game today will stuff I brought my jam sandwiches and my

flask. -- watch the game today. Arsenal have been well bench this

system -- season. Even Giroud has been class.

They are playing good football. Almost back to their best. I am

happy with them. But it has not always been this good. There had

been some dark days that an Arsenal fan should never forget.

Luna, running three. It is Antonio Luna to shortly wrap up the game for

Aston Villa! It was only when game, but fans went proper crazy after

that result. That was the result of total competence -- incompetence by

the Board and the manager. You should be ashamed of yourselves? I

was really angry that all of that money went to buying players, and

all of a sudden, they bought this guy. Are you still as angry as you

were? That was about 90 minutes of football. That was two years of

Arsenal and the transfer market. It all came to a head that afternoon.

We thought that was the players we needed, but if you think about it,

we needed Mesut Ozil. What do you think will happen today? I reckon

it'll be a good game. It might be easier on the defence. A tough game.

Hopefully we will get a good result. Every time I watch Match Of The Day

2, I think the commentary is a bit dry, so I thought I would do it. By

the look of the line-up, they are looking fierce. Here is your

commentary with Jonathan Pierce. Wilshire. That is simply

magnificent! What a move. Arsenal ahead. One of the best team goals of

the season so far. The stronger Arsenal players are the players who

have had some international action. Giroud. Mesut Ozil. Brilliant. Mark

of a quality team. Not a great clearance. Norwich are back in the

game. Aaron Ramsey. Lovely stuff. Brilliant stuff! Brilliant!

Support behind him there. Around the back, Ramsey. It is another

beautifully worked goal. I managed to get pitch side post

match. , Dench am a Giroud, they all played well. It was a good day for

an Arsenal fan. Back to you. Thank you very much Mr that was probably

the best goal we have seen this season so far.

The build, the touches, that is what we are used to seeing Arsenal

produced. To get the goal at the end, the way he took it, so

nonchalantly, was fantastic. The fans there were chanting. As we have

two number nine. Let's not talk about the dainty midfielders, let's

talk about the big man up front. The area that he put it into, you got

the Wilshire and the Gibson come a day are having to raise their game

-- the Gibson, they are having to raise their game. They are all fit.

Yesterday they were outstanding. I think they would have done that to

any game they play. Talk to Arsenal fans, there is one player who is

going to go under the radar. Those are always the players that get

mentioned. You put the work in and sometimes it is forgotten about.

Without him being on the platform for those boys to do what they do,

Arsenal would not be the same. I will start with you. The former

Spurs striker is looking at me like he does not want me to ask. I think

they can. I have not asked. I really think they can. It hurts me to say

it. On the evidence of what you have seen so far, I think if they can

keep it players fit, if they can't keep Giroud fit, they are well in

with a chance. Take a look at the rest of yesterday 's games involving

the teams in the top half. Too early to talk about Manchester

United being out of the title race and too early to talk about

Southampton playing in Europe, but at Old Trafford it was ninth against

fourth. Jana Zant. Great ball. Terrific save. Van Persie following

up. -- Januzaj. Robin van Persie the Manchester United. Great ball.

Rooney, found by Januzaj. The Van Persie with what is a very clever

finish. Rooney allowed to turn, and he hits the bar! Looking like Maddie

-- man ready to string -- spring up in celebration, Michio Boettcher

Tino. -- Moritz CEO Boettcher Tino. They have equalised with barely 90

seconds to play. I think Adam Alana is standing in front of the

goalkeeper and might get a claim. -- Adam Lal Arne. That is a great point

the Southampton, and huge frustration for David Moyes.

Newcastle versus Liverpool might not always produce a winner but you can

always guarantee goals and drama. Johann Cabaye looks to take up

possession. He has gone for goal. What a goal. What a goal. A cracker

from cut by -- Cabaye. The game that always gives us goal and has given

us a great one to get things started. Suarez, surely taken down.

That could be double trouble. He is going to go. They are down to ten.

As soon as he puts his arm on the shoulder like that it is a penalty.

And with Suarez in on goal has to be a red card. 100 Premier league goals

for Liverpool. Lofted into the box towards

Williamson, and it came for Dummett. Paul Dummett, on as a

substitute, scoring his first Newcastle goal. A lovely finish as

well from the young defender. Moses, Suarez, on-site. He has storage with

him. The SAS combine with him -- storage -- Daniel Sturridge with

him. Daniel Sturridge's ninth goal of the season. Cissokho. Too much on

it from Suarez. It came to the right man, he was ready for it, but it hit

the bar. Sam Allardyce's West Ham shocked Spurs last time out at White

Hart Lane, so what did he have planned for Manchester City? Bernard

and hope -- Ferdinand Dean Ho. Aguero. 1-0 Manchester City. Sergio

Aguero was given a gift of a chance, and he does not tend to miss

opportunities like that. Richards joining the attack. It is 2-0.

Manchester City's lead is doubled and man -- West Ham's troubles on

the night deepened. This is better from West Ham. Hanging in the air.

Stuart Downing wins it. A bit of improvisation from Morrison. What a

strike from Ricardo Vaz Te excavation work -- Ricardo Vaz Te! .

Manchester City -- West Ham and given themselves a chance. What a

pass to Aguero. Supported by David Silva, to make it three. And he has!

Surely that is it. Relief for the Manchester City manager and the

travelling supporters behind the goal. Plenty of anger around Cardiff

going into the clash at Stamford Bridge, not helped by events of the

page, but it was Joe is a marine hope -- Jose Mourinho who saw red. A

lot going on here, he has beaten better check -- he has beaten Peter

check, and they have taken a shock lead through Jordon Mutch. It was a

cool finish. Forward by Lampard. Looking for Samuel 80 -- Eto'o. I am

not sure if Marshall overstepped the mark there. This is not the sort of

afternoon that Jose Mourinho would have been enjoying now. The keeper

has lost it. Hazard is through. Hazard. 1-1.

Well, we have seen a bit of this before. George Best and Gordon

Banks. Maybe Gary Crosby at Nottingham Forest. Is the goalkeeper

in control when he releases it? Hazard quickly whipped it into the

net and Chelsea level. A good ball by Hazard. It is in. Samuel Eto'o's

first goal for Chelsea, going round the man and hitting it with power

into the near corner. Chelsea playing the normal system with

Tories upfront -- Torrez upfront. A midfield free of Hazard, O and

Lampard. He's not happy. -- O. He is being sent away by the referee. He

has not been sent into the stand, but several rows further back from

the touchline, Jose Mourinho. O -- Oscar. He has got it. The little

Brazilian who is Chelsea's top scorer this season, picks one out

here. Fernando Torres going to the near post. He did not need them. A

super goal by Hazard. Took on the first man and then drove it

underneath the goalkeeper. Let's start with the goal that

Chelsea scored first. There were plenty of people pointing out that

you did something similar for Coventry. You saw nothing wrong with

that. Not at all. Apparently it is in the rules that he is in control

the ball, but if the ball leaves the hands of the goalkeeper, I don't see

how he can in control. As we know, I scored that goal for Coventry

against Newcastle. Shay given had the ball in his hands, he rolls it

out, I am behind him, I come round him and put him in the goal, and as

the joke goes, he is the only Irishman who does not know where

Dublin is! You've done that twice. It is the striker 's union. I know

it is not the rules, but when it leaves the hand and touches the

grass, I think that is in play. You have every right to go for it. He

could roll the ball out and being control you would not be able to

touch it. I think that is in play. Does there come a point with

Southampton where we have to stop being surprised at what they are

doing and just praise them for how they play? The manager has got them

bang on. One of the smaller clubs in the division with regards the

stature, but they are playing some amazing football. Lallana Has hit

some great form, and Rickie Lambert is a menace. Rodriguez has been

superb, and the two centre halves when they start together have been

absolutely brilliant. I think Southampton could do something that

people might be shocked by. Kind of like the next Swansea. The way they

pressed Manchester United, the 90 minutes as well. This was not just

for 45 minutes, 90 minutes, they pressed Manchester United. They

looked comfortable and they felt they could get a result. I know when

you are winning games and you are up in the league you are full of

confidence, and that is what this Southampton side look like. We also

touched on the player 's psychology of going to Old Trafford now that

Sir Alex Ferguson is not there. You said there would be a different

psychology, but Alex Ferguson was not on the pitch, so why is it

different for a player? Over the last three or four years, since I've

been going there with Spurs, I remember Harry Redknapp in the

changing room saying you would never get a better time to beat Manchester

United. Over the last three or four years, that has declined. Teams

going to Old Trafford thinking they can get a result. I don't think it

is the fortress it was. So the point is, you have to look at the team as

well, rather than just the dugout. As cliched against it is, you still

have to beat the 11 men, and as I said before, you arrive at Old

Trafford in you see the size of the stadium and you think that they are

amazing and the manager is not there any more, so the opposing manager

thinks Sir Alex is not there, who have I got to fear? Let's take a

look at the rest of yesterday 's gains. -- games.

Bottom club Sunderland might have helped the positive effect of a new

manager as Gus Poyet it took charge for the first time, but they found

Michael Laudrup's Swansea in ruthless mood.

A real chance. What an horrendous mess by Bardsley of all people.

Third corner of the Swansea. De Guzman with it. It is in! Angle

wrangle -- Angel Rangel got the first touch. Who came with the last

touch question mark I think it is Phil Bardsley. De Guzman, what a

goal! What a goal, Jonathan De Guzman. If the first goal was more

than a touch fortunate, nothing fortunate about that from Jonathan

De Guzman. And already you could suggest that this game is beyond

Sunderland. That is a penalty. Craig Gardner clipped him. He definitely

caught him, and Swansea have a penalty. We'll fried Bony --

Wilfried Bony, perfect penalty from him. De Guzman with the corner.

Chico Flores celebrates his first ever goal in the emulate. And what a

job he has got on his plate now. Two teams who have made a great start

met at Goodison Park with a touch of class giving Everton the edge over

Hull City. Osman. Everton thought there was a

foul on Leighton Baines. Mirallas! Doesn't matter. Less than eight

minutes gone, 1-0 to Everton. Kevin Moranis unleashes the shot and you

wonder if it touches Gareth Barry -- Kevin Moranis -- me rallies --

mirabilis. Seems to think the Gareth Barry did.

Danny Graham. He has stayed down after that challenge. Might have

been a little bit high, but he felt the full force of it. McCarthy.

Well, Gareth Barry, the second time today, was little late. No card for

the first tackle on Danny Graham, but there is this time. And again,

that is not good viewing. Taking on Leighton Baines, and there is the

equaliser. Sako! What a response from the visitors. -- Sandberg --

Sagbo. The first time since August the 31st, Steven Pienaar back in

action for Everton after a hamstring injury. Ross Barkley. Penile's first

touch! It is a clinical one. -- Steven Pienaar's first touch. Ten

seconds after coming on. That is what you call a dream substitution.

Stoke were looking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat as they hosted

West Brom. So it was perhaps unsurprising that it was all a

little tight at the Britannia Stadium.

Mulumbu falls to the ground, but nothing given. That is a penalty. No

question about it. Charlie Adam. He saw the goalkeeper off his line, and

he went for it, and almost converted it as well. Fabulous effort from

Charlie Adam, and even employees -- applause from Myhill.

Let's focus on Sunderland. As Gus Poyet got a nearly impossible job?

If he didn't know it was tough before, he does now. Sometimes you

hope when a new manager comes in that the players will respond. He

made a few changes, and he has to work with those players. He knows

what he is into. He has probably the best game he could have coming up by

playing Newcastle, because the form book goes out of the window, and if

he could get a result there then hopefully that may turn the season

round. The players have spoken about the

positive change. It has only been 11... They know how good he is as a

manager and how good he was as a player. He will have a go at the

players that need it. He has now got to get the players believing in the

way he wants to play, and they have to get it done incredibly quickly.

They are in a real dogfight down there. In many ways, he was brought

in to work with that group of players because of the number that

was brought in in the summer. And sometimes it takes time for players

to settle when they come into this Premier League, and that is what is

happening at the moment. He is bringing some of the old guard back

in, boys that have experience. He is trying to integrate them with the

new, and hopefully he can start turning it around. Nine games

already this really began. One to come tomorrow night, which is

Crystal Palace against Fulham. You can listen to the coverage at seven

o'clock. Kick-off is at eight. Let's take a look at the Barclays Premier

League table. Time now for two good, too bad.

After years of trying, Arsenal finally get that goal they have been

trying to score, with Jack Wilshere said -- finishing off with an early

contender for goal of do not let your parents catch you

playing with your food. Now for an amazing chance for a Guerra to

score. And this is an even better dummy which allows Jordan Mutch the

score. It was good to see the happy, serene and relax to bring you that

was promised at the start of the season. -- and relaxed Jose

Mourinho. And finally, something that never

fails to unite football fans the world over. Well, it has definitely

been the case of two good as far as the pendant this evening. He told me

to say that. Thank you to our guests. -- the pundits. It has been

a fantastic weekend with goals for storage and will share. Who says --

with goals forced her age and Wilshire and the Lallana. Good

night. Lallana for Southhampton. That may

well finish the game. Brilliant stuff. What a superb ill -- superb

goal! Chamberlain. 2-1 to Arsenal. Superb strike. Little big, and that

is a beautiful goal. A chance here to make something of it, which he

does! Jack Wilshere, tremendous goal! Cracking strike from Jack

Wilshere. What a superb goal from Daniel Sturridge.