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Birmingham have Ben Foster to thank for vital victory over Bolton






Premier League

Birmingham City 2
  • Phillips 4,
  • Gardner 59
Bolton Wanderers 1
  • Elmander 70


  • Harry Polkey at St Andrew's
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 17.15 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Ben-Foster-007.jpg
    Birmingham City's Ben Foster celebrates his side's win over Bolton Wanderers which moves them to 15th in the Premier League. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images Birmingham City had cause to thank Ben Foster after a win that, such is the congestion in the bottom half of the Premier League, means they jump five places up the table.
    The England goalkeeper made a series of outstanding saves to ensure that an early strike from Kevin Phillips, and a second-half effort from Craig Gardner, were enough for City to take all three points against a Bolton side that, after replying with a classy volley from Johan Elmander 20 minutes from time, could not find the equaliser.
    After taking one point from their previous three games, an early Birmingham goal was the answer to Alex McLeish's prayers. It was scored by Phillips, but originated in the Bolton left-back, Marcos Alonso, being caught in possession and Gardner's resulting shot being deflected for a corner. Sebastian Larsson's delivery from the right found Phillips lurking in too much space and the 37-year-old shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
    Once Bolton had shaken off their early lethargy only Foster, with three fine diving saves from Daniel Sturridge, kept them ahead.
    Only after the interval did City regain the initiative. Shortly before the hour Gardner and Cameron Jerome exchanged passes before Gardner drove the ball past Jaaskelainen and in off the far post.
    But again Bolton came back strongly, and Elmander's volley from the edge of the area after Kevin Davies had chested the ball down set up an exciting final 20 minutes much of which was played out in the City penalty area, culminating with Foster somehow pushing Gretar Steinsson's firm header over the bar deep into added time.
    "They got a wee scent of blood and put us under the cosh, but Ben was absolutely immense," said a relieved McLeish. "It was a game we really had to win, and it was a big, big result, but no team can say they are safe up to about 11th position."
    "It was like the Alamo at the end but Foster came up with some outstanding saves," said Bolton manager Owen Coyle.
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    PAUL RIVERS, SmallHealthAlliance.comWelcome to the Ben Foster show. He saved the day late in the match and made some loads of world-class saves. He was, quite simply, awesome. We started very brightly but then Bolton's quality came into play. This win means we are out of the relegation zone but it is so tight around there. I think we have the spirit to survive. The home games will be vital in that respect. This was a classic true grit back-to-the-walls performance with a little quality sprinkled in at times. Bolton did not have many fans there but the crowd were fantastic. We're above the Villa now and that's what matters most.
    The fan's player ratings Foster 10; Carr 6 (Bentley 69 5), Johnson 8, Ridgewell 8, Parnaby 7; Larsson 8, Ferguson 6, Gardner 7, Bowyer 6 (Fahey 64 6); Phillips 7, Jerome 7 (Zigic 76 5)
    SHAUN O'GARA, Bolton Supporters' Club This was a disappointing defeat for us. Our away performances this season have not been great with the exception of the cup games. We didn't start very well conceding a goal after only a few minutes. Ben Foster made some great saves for them. It was a changed side for us and we really missed Stuart Holden who got injured last week. Without him we lack creativity in the middle the pitch. Birmingham needed to win the game more than us but at the end of the day we could have got a point. We need to beat West Ham next weekend, that's an important game of us.
    The fan's player ratings Jaaskelainen 6; Steinsson 6, Cahill 7, Wheater 8, Alonso 5; Elmander 5, Muamba 6 (Taylor 79 6), Cohen 5 (Lee 64 7), Petrov 7 (Klasnic 73 6); Sturridge 7, Davies 7
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Aston Villa feel robbed by Everton penalty






Premier League

Everton 2
  • Osman 38,
  • Baines (pen) 83
Aston Villa 2
  • Bent 47,
  • Bent 68


  • Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 17.07 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Aston-Villas-Darren-Bent--005.jpg
    Aston Villa's Darren Bent scores the first of his two goals to make it 1-1 in their game at Everton. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Much has changed for Gérard Houllier since his last visit to Goodison Park but not the sense of reprieve. Eight years ago he became the first Liverpool manager to record four successive victories on Everton soil and basked in the pressure being lifted from a winless start to the campaign. Should Aston Villa survive this season, as they should, he will know where to locate the turning point.
    Everton, so depleted by injury there was not a minute's worth of Premier League experience among their seven substitutes before kick-off, believed they had taken the lead for a second time when Jermaine Beckford's 66th-minute shot struck the underside of the bar and landed centimetres over the line. The referee Mike Jones, on the advice of his assistant Stephen Jones, said no, and seconds later Darren Bent raced clear of an aggrieved opponent to place Houllier's team in front.
    The grievances were ultimately shared when Phil Jagielka threw himself over Jean Makoun inside the Villa area and Leighton Baines equalised from the spot. But the visitors, beaten in their two previous outings and spared again when Leon Osman missed an open goal late on, had escaped.
    "It was impossible to see from where we are," said Houllier, who described the penalty decision as "a bit soft". "The great technological debate will come back again but I just take a lot from the fact that we won the second half in terms of effort, spirit and quality, particularly in defending and building up the two goals. I am very proud of the players. They showed character and togetherness, which is important."
    Villa were enterprising whenever Stewart Downing or Ashley Young, the sources of Bent's first and second goals, respectively, gained possession yet they created fewer clearcut chances than their weakened hosts and were consistently vulnerable in defence, where Richard Dunne and James Collins were back in tandem for the first time since "the health spa incident".
    Everton's 11 fit senior players responded superbly to the considerable task before them and had almost taken the lead through the maturing Beckford, denied by Brad Friedel following a lapse by Kyle Walker, when Osman opened the scoring. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov dispossessed Walker and released Osman who, ignoring the better placed Beckford, slalomed past Collins on the left of the Villa area before squeezing a shot under Friedel.
    Bent produced an emphatic finish from Downing's low cross to level moments after the restart before slipping his second past Tim Howard as Everton protested over Beckford's disallowed goal. "My first thought was that it must be close given the angle that the ball bounced back out," David Moyes said. "It was a hard call for the referees but someone who was watching the game told us it was in within three seconds. That is why we champion goalline technology."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    JOE JENNINGS, SOS1878.co.ukIt was a frustrating afternoon overall and both teams probably came away thinking they deserved the win. The officials made silly decisions. Jermaine Beckford had two missed chances, but one of them was a goal. There's no excuse not to have the technology to help the referee. The linesman was behind the play but we need to help them, not constantly blame them and then repeat the mistake. These moments can change seasons. Darren Bent is a top-class striker and the difference shows. The Everton board have let Moyes down and it's shameful Bill Kenwright isn't supporting the team as he should.
    The fan's player ratings Howard 6; Hibbert 6, Jagielka 7, Distin 7 (Vellios 80 6), Baines 7; Coleman 5 (Gueye 52 6), Neville 6, Heitinga 5, Bilyaletdinov 4; Osman 8; Beckford 6
    PAUL BILTON, Observer reader Everton's starting line-up was really weak but, given the situation we're in, an away point isn't bad. Downing and Bent were brilliant for us, and if we're going to survive they'll be the ones who'll have to make it happen. But we still look so fragile at the back &#8211; Walker, Collins and Dunne were all over the place. And when you're struggling to hold it together like that, you don't need abject refereeing decisions going against you too. The big positive, though, was the effort and determination: that'll give us some hope. And, unusually, Houllier can't be faulted on the selection or formation today.
    The fan's player ratings Friedel 7; Walker 5, Collins 5, Dunne 5, L Young 6; Downing 9, Reo-Coker 6, Makoun 6; A Young 7, Bent 8, Agbonlahor 6 (Heskey 90)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Aston Villa feel robbed by Everton penalty





Premier League

Everton 2
  • Osman 38,
  • Baines (pen) 83
Aston Villa 2
  • Bent 47,
  • Bent 68


  • Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 April 2011 17.07 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Aston-Villas-Darren-Bent--005.jpg
    Aston Villa's Darren Bent scores the first of his two goals to make it 1-1 in their game at Everton. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Much has changed for Gérard Houllier since his last visit to Goodison Park but not the sense of reprieve. Eight years ago he became the first Liverpool manager to record four successive victories on Everton soil and basked in the pressure being lifted from a winless start to the campaign. Should Aston Villa survive this season, as they should, he will know where to locate the turning point.
    Everton, so depleted by injury there was not a minute's worth of Premier League experience among their seven substitutes before kick-off, believed they had taken the lead for a second time when Jermaine Beckford's 66th-minute shot struck the underside of the bar and landed centimetres over the line. The referee Mike Jones, on the advice of his assistant Stephen Jones, said no, and seconds later Darren Bent raced clear of an aggrieved opponent to place Houllier's team in front.
    The grievances were ultimately shared when Phil Jagielka threw himself over Jean Makoun inside the Villa area and Leighton Baines equalised from the spot. But the visitors, beaten in their two previous outings and spared again when Leon Osman missed an open goal late on, had escaped.
    "It was impossible to see from where we are," said Houllier, who described the penalty decision as "a bit soft". "The great technological debate will come back again but I just take a lot from the fact that we won the second half in terms of effort, spirit and quality, particularly in defending and building up the two goals. I am very proud of the players. They showed character and togetherness, which is important."
    Villa were enterprising whenever Stewart Downing or Ashley Young, the sources of Bent's first and second goals, respectively, gained possession yet they created fewer clearcut chances than their weakened hosts and were consistently vulnerable in defence, where Richard Dunne and James Collins were back in tandem for the first time since "the health spa incident".
    Everton's 11 fit senior players responded superbly to the considerable task before them and had almost taken the lead through the maturing Beckford, denied by Brad Friedel following a lapse by Kyle Walker, when Osman opened the scoring. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov dispossessed Walker and released Osman who, ignoring the better placed Beckford, slalomed past Collins on the left of the Villa area before squeezing a shot under Friedel.
    Bent produced an emphatic finish from Downing's low cross to level moments after the restart before slipping his second past Tim Howard as Everton protested over Beckford's disallowed goal. "My first thought was that it must be close given the angle that the ball bounced back out," David Moyes said. "It was a hard call for the referees but someone who was watching the game told us it was in within three seconds. That is why we champion goalline technology."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    JOE JENNINGS, SOS1878.co.ukIt was a frustrating afternoon overall and both teams probably came away thinking they deserved the win. The officials made silly decisions. Jermaine Beckford had two missed chances, but one of them was a goal. There's no excuse not to have the technology to help the referee. The linesman was behind the play but we need to help them, not constantly blame them and then repeat the mistake. These moments can change seasons. Darren Bent is a top-class striker and the difference shows. The Everton board have let Moyes down and it's shameful Bill Kenwright isn't supporting the team as he should.
    The fan's player ratings Howard 6; Hibbert 6, Jagielka 7, Distin 7 (Vellios 80 6), Baines 7; Coleman 5 (Gueye 52 6), Neville 6, Heitinga 5, Bilyaletdinov 4; Osman 8; Beckford 6
    PAUL BILTON, Observer reader Everton's starting line-up was really weak but, given the situation we're in, an away point isn't bad. Downing and Bent were brilliant for us, and if we're going to survive they'll be the ones who'll have to make it happen. But we still look so fragile at the back – Walker, Collins and Dunne were all over the place. And when you're struggling to hold it together like that, you don't need abject refereeing decisions going against you too. The big positive, though, was the effort and determination: that'll give us some hope. And, unusually, Houllier can't be faulted on the selection or formation today.
    The fan's player ratings Friedel 7; Walker 5, Collins 5, Dunne 5, L Young 6; Downing 9, Reo-Coker 6, Makoun 6; A Young 7, Bent 8, Agbonlahor 6 (Heskey 90)
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
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