Sport

Nearer break than make for Houllier

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1: ACCORDING TO Robert Pires, Aston Villa’s performance in this match, and …

RICHARD RAE at Villa Park
Thu Jan 06 2011 - 00:00

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 1:ACCORDING TO Robert Pires, Aston Villa's performance in this match, and the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United on Saturday, is going make or break Gerard Houllier's career as manager.

Assuming Villa’s French midfielder to be correct, the Clarets are going to have to be massively better at Bramall Lane if his compatriot’s tenure is to be extended. Tactically confused, and increasingly frustrated, Villa were already struggling when Emile Heskey, who had already missed perhaps the biggest sitter of his career, got himself sent off shortly after the hour.

Phil Bardsley’s fine 25-yard strike gave Sunderland the points, left Villa in the relegation zone, and the Holte End loudly informing Houllier he was going to be sacked in the morning.

Offensively Sunderland offered little more, and shortly after the half hour, were dismayed when their impressive young Irish midfielder David Meyler, who had just returned from a serious knee injury, was carried off with what looked horribly like a recurrence of the same problem.

READ MORE

His substitution by Boudewijn Zenden was almost immediately influential. The Dutchman’s first action was to lose the ball to Stewart Downing on his own byline, and the England winger side-footed the ball to Heskey, leaving the forward facing an empty goal from four yards. Heskey made such a poor contact, however, the ball bounced up and against the bar.

Bardsley’s crisp strike should have sewn up the points, but Zenden managed to pick up two yellow cards and was also sent off.

  • Guardian Service

ASTON VILLA:Friedel, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Clark, Ashley Young, Reo-Coker (Bannan 88), Petrov (Albrighton 88), Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs not used: Marshall, Pires, Delfouneso, Lichaj, Herd. Sent off: Heskey (69). Booked: Clark, Collins, Dunne.

SUNDERLAND:Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Bramble, Richardson, Elmohamady, Meyler (Zenden 39), Henderson, Malbranque (Gyan 55), Welbeck (Riveros 83), Bent. Subs not used: Mignolet, Angeleri, Da Silva, Adams. Sent off: Zenden (86). Booked: Richardson, Bramble, Zenden. Goal: Bardsley 80. Att: 32,627.

Referee:Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).