COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Aston Villa (A)

Dominant Blues fail to capitalise in that so important last third and the lack of a striker with nous saw an outplayed Villa side win 1-0. It left most fans shaking their heads at the end in disbelief as one of the best approach play displays for some long time faltered time and time again, all for the lack of intelligent movement that would have facilitated killer passes instead of playing percentage balls in each time.

The game started with the Blues on the front foot and the Baines ? Pienaar combination down the left looked likely to undo the Villa defence, yet wouldn?t you just know it, just 7 or so mins in and after total domination, an innocuous throw-in to Villa saw Fellaini fail miserably to deal with it and let in Young who spotted the run of fullback Young with great vision and the rest they say is history as he curled a shot beyond Howard and into the net. One-nil up and being outplayed gave them something to hold on to and, for all our approach play, we did in some measure help them in their task.

We continued to dominate and Dunne had to bring down Beckford and receive a booking when the striker looked as though he would do him for pace. The Baines ? Pienaar axis was looking fruitful and from one move Baines fed Pienaar inside and after a few paces he sent in a curler that hit the intersection of bar and post with the keeper beaten that brought a fair share of groans. Although we continued in this vein for the rest of the half, their keeper was as unemployed as ours although, on a rare break, a Villa player fired just wide of Howard's post. But all-in-all the Villa would have been mightily relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

The second half was in the main to be all Everton but, time after time, we would flounder on the rocks of a determined Villa rearguard which we were unable to manoeuvre out of position and create a worthwhile opening. The Villa were looking to the quick break to further their cause and, in one of these, the giant Carew set up Ashley Young and he forced Howard into a breathtaking double save. Then straight up the other end and Friedel made a good instinct save from Fellaini.

Then came the chance of the game for the Blues as a free-kick from Arteta found the head of Rodwell who glanced just wide when much better should have been achieved. The Villa continued to counter-attack and a Jags slip almost led to a goal but for some mis-control from Reo-Coker. Then Howard had to make a quite brilliant parry from Ashley Young and, with the ball falling to a Villa man, it was some relief to see him make a hash of a great open-goal opportunity.

Rodwell got injured and was replaced by Coleman who continued his unpredictable and dangerous raiding from Thursday and, from one of his forays, he put in a cross that begged to be converted but we just don?t seem to do ?anticipation? at the moment. Saha, who had been on for the naive Beckford after just 10 mins of the second half, suddenly burst into life and fired one straight at Friedel when anything either side of him would have counted. Shortly after, Saha put in a good shot toward the far corner only for the keeper to make a good sprawling save.

As full-time loomed, we forced corner after corner, scramble after scramble but, in keeping with the whole game, no end product. At the final whistle, I just wondered how we could lose such a one-sided game and I am sure I was not alone.
Overall, I thought it was one of those games that beggar belief when our possession was so great but, at the same time, I believe a quality striker is required to capitalise on that surfeit of possession, as today I thought we made it a little too easy for the Villa rearguard in their 18-yd box. With the manager saying he expects no action in this transfer window due to lack of funds, I am of the impression that he needs to try something different in these times of goal drought.

Today, I thought we had all of our best players out there... but Rodwell ? wide right? That?s been tried before and failed, and it did again today, and did no favours to the lad himself. Arteta, in the playmaker role which he plays very well, is limited by the options given ahead of him due to lack of off-the-ball running to decoy positions, thus giving the opportunity for the killer ball.

I have no qualification to question the manager and his selections but, for a team without either a quality wide right player or a quality striker, and considering our lack of goal threat to date this season, I would put forward the idea of playing Pienaar and Arteta wide and a midfield three of Rodwell-Heitinga-Fellaini with Cahill up front. Players in natural positions... and, although without Arteta?s undoubted playmaking talents, perhaps we could have strength and drive that will get us goals rather than persevering with trying to just put bodies in the wide right and striker roles when they are not quite up to it.

Coleman?s time may well come but we need goals and points now. I suppose I am really saying what fans of all clubs say ? We are a couple of players short? but we are not going to get those couple of players so best use of what we have got is paramount. I think in looking for our Man of the Match today sums us up a bit: no-one stood out, no-one played badly... and I was left thinking that, over the whole game, Distin was probably our most consistent and assured player.

Man Utd next and we have shown they are beatable at the Old Lady but we really will have to have goal threat and conversion to conquer. So over to you, Davey and the players; many say this is the best squad we have had for years, so I am sure you will get there before long ? even if it is by accident rather than design.

UP THE BLUES

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