Slavia Prague 0-1 Aston Villa LiveBlog

By: Martini Extra Dry | November 6th, 2008

FT – A tough win for Villa in the end, after a very convincing first half. The experimental side fielded by O’Neill very nearly came back and bit him in the ass. That win puts us through the group stage with two games left to play. Villa will be looking now to win all four games and go through with maximum points.

93 – The ball across the box is deflected by Davies and gathered by Guzan. The whistle goes! A hard earned win for Villa.

93 – Villa fans whistle to encourage the ref to end the game but Prague attempt one more attack…

92 – Plenty Villa fans have no nails left now as they seat out the last minutes. Delfouneso is waiting to come on but it’s not happening… there it is. Carew comes off for the youngster.

91 – Prague are throwing everything at it but Villa hold strong at the back, the danger is not over yet.

90 – Three minutes added time.

89 – Cuellar and Barry link up well and the cross is to Young but he makes nothing of it.

88 – Gareth Barry looks ready to come on, and it is a defensive move as Gabby Agbonlahor comes off for him.

87 – Carew picks up a bad pass, deep in our half and powers forward and earns us a corner. Young doesn’t rush over.

85 – Nice play from Salifou skipping past 2 opponents and a one-two with Gabby sets him through, but he turns and sees he’s alone up there.

84 – Yellow card for Guzan for time-wasting, maybe not the best way to run the clock up.

83 – O’Neill still makes no changes to this side that has looked so frial in the second half. Will he attempt to get more defensive with a switch, to hold onto the one goal lead?

79 – Dangerous attack from Prague the shot is eventually into the side netting though, but it displayed a wide open zone in our defence.

77 – Ashley Young cross, it looks dangerous but Sidwell hesitates too long and it’s cleared. Prague counter but it’s futile too.

76 – The game has settled a bit now, this should give Villa a chance to a foothaold back in the game.

74 – Salifou has thrown in many good challenges tonight. He hasn’t done loads for Villa in the game but what he has done, he’s done well.

72 – Better pressure from Villa but they seem fairly crowded out at the back by a very hard working Prague side in this half.

71 – Shorey floats it in, a slight header send is to Ashley Young, but his shot is awkwardly taken and flies over.

70 – Rare Villa attack, Cuellar gets down the wing well and earns us a corner.

68 – High ball into the Villa box and Necid climbs highest, possibly impeding Davies as he does, but ultimately heads narrowly wide. Villa looking totally ineffective in this half. The half-time whistle has totally thrown our stride.

66 – Prague have played all 3 of their subs now but Villa have yet to play one, maybe a change is coming. It’s needed.

64 – Sidwell joins Gardner in the referee’s notebook. Villa are playing scrappily and showing the weakness of this, largely fringe players, team.

63 – Prague again through as a great ball from Belaid is played for Cerny but his shot, though fierce, is right at Guzan, who parrys.

62 – Prague’s right-back Krajcik hammers what was probably a cross, just outside of the post.

61 – Belaid has been very involved in the game since coming on for Vladimir Smicer, the former Liverpool man.

60 – Over in the other game in our group, Ajax lead 1-0 against MSK Zilina.

59 – Villa desperately need to get back into this game, they are still only 1-0 up and it’s starting to look like very fragile lead.

56 – Two Slavie corners in a row, both won in the air by Villa. From the clearance Slavia’s Belaid strikes wide from distance.

53 – Slavia pressure again but Cuellar clears the danger and earns Villa a throw-in. Prague get it back though and again pass it around nicely moving towards our box. This half is like a different game. Villa haven’t really come back out from half-time yet.

51 – Slavia’s passing game continue’s to improve and they create a chance, long shot but it’s gathered well by Guzan. The American is having a very good game. He looks very confident with every ball he gets at him.

50 – The ball is lost to Prague who attack down the wing but Salifou recovers the ball excellently.

49 – Gabby battles in the middle of the park and is bowled over. Free-kick Villa.

48 – Slavia have come out stringer in this half and are keeping possession of the ball much better. Here theya ttack and a neat ball through but the flag is up before it’s neatly placed into the net. The Slavia fans celebrate but it won’t count. Off-side.

HT – Villa have fielded a pretty experimental side, with Guzan in goal, Cuellar and Shorey as full-backs, Davies and Knight at centre-back, a midfield line of Gardner, Salifou, Sidwell and Young and the first choice strikers of Carew and Agbon.

45 – As you join me Villa have been mainly dominating the game. Prague have had their chances but mainly minor ones and few and far between. For the majority of the game we have hammered the home defence and had plenty of good chances on goal. Carew and Sidwell will argue about who gets the credit for the Villa goal, Sidwell let rip with a 20 yard shot and it deflected off Carew and into the far side of the net.

43 – GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! What a bad time for my internet to go down! That almost never happens with my service too.

Check back here from 19:30 GMT for a preview of the game, line-ups and live updates of the action in Stadion Eden, Prague.