Villa lost what was always going to be a tricky game at Crystal Palace, but will feel it handed the hosts victory. The first half was pretty cagey with chances few and far between. Agbonlahor was put through with a perfect slide rule pass but chose to shoot with the outside of his boot and failed to lift the ball over the keeper’s feet. Had he trusted his left boot and put his laces through it he had a better chance.
Palace opened Villa up after poor play by the visitors but Zaha took too long and his shot was blocked.
The second half exploded to life with Palace making two subs and looking a lot livelier. Sako moved up front and caused Villa all sorts of problems. Villa had a little spell, but there was no punch upfront.
Palace had the ball in the net when McArthur chested a shot home. After giving the goal, the ref and linesman back tracked, presumably because the linesman did not realize the former Wigan man touched the ball.
Just after the hour, Sherwood decided to throw on Traore for the Villa fans to enjoy, but took off Villa’s most consistent player in Sanchez. Almost immediately, Palace won the ball right where the Columbian would have been, the ball was played to Sako, but his touch let him down. Palace still won a corner and capitalized. A well drilled corner was played in and Dann manhandled a weak Clark and headed powerfully home.
Villa went to work giving Traore his first touches, but both times he was triple teamed and lost the ball. The third time was after a 90 yard sprint by Palace left-back Souare. Traore easily shook off Sako and then ran at Souare he got down to the bye line, almost and crossed, but the defender diverted his cross into the net for 1-1. Traore went at the two more times and Palace had to stick tighter to him as he had them in a panic.
Pardew reacted brilliantly. Replacing Cabaye with Jedinak and Villa’s attacking flow was reverted to a slight drip. Bacuna was booked for more deliberate time wasting. He was awful at it against Bournemouth and it got worse at Selhurst Park.
Not long after he conceded a poor corner. Guzan collected and found he had no outlet. Instead, he decided to roll the ball to Amavi with Dann to close to him. Amavi was almost forced into trying to take him on and lost out. Dann found Sako who brilliantly drove a shot home.
There were many positives in the game that I mentioned earlier was always going to be tricky. The defence looks fairly solid and Gueye and Grealish look good. Sanchez was tremendous. Traore.
The negatives, silly fouls, no movement from the forwards to help players in possession and only one substitution made in a game where water breaks are needed.
Player ratings.
Guzan 5. Abysmal kicking/distribution again. His kicking goal kicks out to the fans on the half way line and rolling the ball to Amavi when Scott Dann was closing in so fast undid all his good cross taking.
Bacuna 4. I was worried when he signed a 5 yr deal. I amn terrified now. He was out of position time and time again. He tugged Sako’s shirt in the area as he was waltzing by him. So many issues.
Richards 7. Except for his Traore type run down the middle of the pitch that was ill advised he was great.
Clark 5.5. Not the best. 2 or 3 stray passes, that may have been more to do with lack of movement ahead of him. Beaten badly on the 1st goal. Awful high kick on Gayle.
Amavi 6. Very good first half. Quiet second and then an awful last 5 minutes with the goal and another foul on Gayle.
Sanchez 7 Man of the match for Villa. Might have got a higher score if he had played longer. He wasn’t looking like the lad that got tired after 60 minutes last season. Good passing, good running with the ball.
Gueye 6 Not the best we have seen of him, but he cancelled out Cabaye, so a decent job.
Westwood. 5.5. He had a couple of awful clearances that could have been punished. Looked a little out of his depth in a more advanced role.
Grealish 6.5. Tremendous on the ball. He can’t tackle though, he just fouls. Faded toward the end.
Gestede 5.5. Added nothing to the team. No hold up play. He’s got a good future, but he’s not ready.
Agbonlahor 4. Last week, I refused to make Gabby the worst player as he worked so hard, but while I won’t fault his effort his production was nothing short of dismal. The woeful finish in the first half was his only effort on goal.
Traore 7 A short cameo. He only got near the ball about 9 times and 3 of them weren’t good, but the others were, he got to byeline, won a foul and forced a manager to change.
Sherwood 4 You’re only as good as your worst player and Gabby and Bacuna were so bad that Kozak and Hutton must be wondering why they aren’t playing? Hurry up and sell N’zogbia, Senderos et al and get us a decent striker if Kozak isn’t the answer and the newbies aren’t ready. Also a keeper and right back if Guzan can’t improve his distribution and Hutton isn’t good enough.