Doncaster Rovers 0 Aston Villa 0: Post analysis
Jan 26 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Post
Although there were good scoring opportunities for both teams, there were so many for Villa that we will discuss their profligacy and the goalkeeping heroics of Doncaster veteran Neil Sullivan first.
While Villa’s goals per chances ratio has been high during their recent remarkable 12-game domestic unbeaten run, the wastefulness that characterised their last 0-0 draw, at home to Fulham in late November, again reared its ugly head.
Even during their slow start Villa could have broken the deadlock early on when Gabriel Agbonlahor dispossessed Gareth Roberts, only to flash an angled strike wide rather than pass to the better-placed Reo-Coker.
The former West Ham midfielder, switched from right-back to right-wing during an enforced re-shuffle, clearly forgave his team-mate, later crossing for Agbonlahor to draw the first stunning reflex save from Sullivan.
Villa’s top scorer met with more frustration during their dominant spell midway through the second half, seeing his front post header from virtually on the goal-line somehow stopped by Sullivan after Nicky Shorey’s cross.
By then Agbonlahor had also benefited from a marginal offside decision to sprint on to a Steve Sidwell ball over the top, leave his marker Matt Mills trailing and smash a shot against the crossbar with just Sullivan to beat.
Agbonlahor was not the only culprit as James Milner missed a free header from Gareth Barry’s corner and Sidwell spurned a glaring opportunity from Milner’s cross to the far post.
Milner’s double was enough to help Villa through their tricky third round tie at League Two Gillingham and the former Newcastle winger might have had a hat-trick on another day at Doncaster.
Along with Barry, Milner was the only surviving member of Villa’s embarrassing cup shock during the David O’Leary era three years and two months ago and he was desperate to make amends.
After a quiet first half, Milner’s hard, low free-kick was smothered by Sullivan who then stood up strong to parry the England Under-21 midfielder’s well-struck effort at the far post.
The former Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon keeper continued to thwart Villa, producing another save from substitute Craig Gardner under pressure from Agbonlahor late on.
Doncaster, however, were not without their own threatening moments during a display which O’Neill suggested made a mockery of their lowly position near the foot of the Championship table.
Despite a pudding of a pitch, which is more mud than grass in places, Rovers attempt to play passing football, even though their lack of a cutting edge has proved an Achilles heel in the league.
