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As
goalless draws go, this was a watchable enough affair, and
even the most partial of Gerrards’ supporters would have to
concede that the visitors did more than enough to carry away
all three points, and will no doubt be suitably grateful to
their outstanding keeper that it was not so.
For the
Villa travelling support, however, much of the pre-match
speculation surrounded the eagerly anticipated return of
their own keeper, Ross Baxter, following a lengthy lay off,
during which he underwent surgery to try to rectify a
recurring back problem. Would his enforced absence have
adversely affected his agility, and indeed his confidence?
But we needn’t have worried – sure there was bound to be a
bit of rustiness, but considering what he’s been through,
his presence and his handling were as assured and reassuring
as ever!
With
neither side having kicked a ball in earnest for six weeks
due to the adverse weather, it did take a while for the
match to warm up, and early play was littered with misplaced
passes and poor kicking from both. However, both found their
rhythm, and chances began to open up, with the more telling
being engineered by the visitors as their mobile midfield
used the excellent surface to full advantage. On another day
Villa might well have gone in at the interval a couple to
the good. Danial Hogg fired over from close range after a
fine save, Ross Dickinson couldn’t quite dig the ball out
from under his feet when it fell kindly during the aftermath
of a corner, and Ryan Lilley saw his excellent tight angle
shot met with an equally excellent save.
Having
blown away the cobwebs, the second half found both teams
with a more composed mind-set, but if anything Villa enjoyed
an even greater share of the balance of play. But still a
telling breakthrough eluded them, and with that went the
ever present threat of the Lostock counter, but Baxter was
in no mood to spoil his comeback, and Darren Davies as usual
lead by example with a faultless display at centreback.
Ryan
Lilley, Matt Atherton and Elliot Dunn all had chances, and
Danial Hogg put in another heroic shift up front and came
close to finding success a couple more times. But anything
on target found the home keeper in outstanding form, and
although Villa looked the fitter and finished the match very
strongly, alas the end product was to prove elusive.
Nevertheless this was a very assured performance from Villa,
and competition for places is hotting up, with Matt Plano
and Dave Warburton cementing their claim to a regular first
team slot, and Stuart Bingham starting his rehabilitation
with a reportedly fine comeback in the reserves, amongst
several knocking on the door. But this encouraging run out
can probably be best summed up in two words – ‘Baxter’s
Back!’
Villa
line-up: Ross Baxter, Adam McAlister, Darren Davies, Ross
Dickinson, Mark Swift, Matt Plano (Tom Whittaker), Ryan
Lilley, Elliot Dunn (Matt Conway), Matt Atherton, Mark
Warburton (Gavin Cooper), Danial Hogg.
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