Everton 2-2 Aston Villa: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 22:30 02/04/11 By Derick Allsop
The fates that Villa boss Gerard Houllier claimed had conspired against his survival struggle granted him a potentially crucial point.
And his Aston Villa side were able to find a little breathing space in the frantic congestion of the relegation zone after Everton’s Jermaine Beckford was denied what seemed to be a perfectly valid goal midway through the second half.
Beckford’s shot came down from the bar and looked to be a foot over the line, but officials allowed play to continue.
Everton’s anguish was compounded when Darren Bent despatched his – and Villa’s – second goal.
But a semblance of justice appeared courtesy of Leighton Baines’ equalising penalty, although Everton were aggrieved that their depleted side didn’t triumph.
“I’ve been told Beckford’s shot was over the line. The angle of the ball as it came out made me think it was a goal,” said Everton boss David Moyes.
“Technology could have given them the correct decision within seconds. It was a hard decision.
“We were unlucky not to win, but it was a great effort considering the team we had out.”
Leon Osman, who gave Everton a first-half lead, missed chances to seal success.
Villa, prompted by the menacing Stewart Downing, constantly tested the resilience of Everton’s central defenders of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin.
Downing delivered his message of intent from the start, but Villa’s vulnerability at the back was evident when Kyle Walker carelessly allowed Beckford a clear run on goal.
To the full-back’s relief, Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel plunged to his left and turned away Beckford’s low shot.
But on 38 minutes the hapless Walker was caught out again and paid the price. He had his pocket picked by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who sent Osman through to defy Friedel’s stretch.
Downing began the second half as he had the first, taking on the Everton defence and within two minutes he had found Bent who levelled with an emphatic strike.
Everton responded with renewed energy and the ever-willing Osman twice went close to restoring their lead.
Moyes’ side should have regained the advantage when Beckford’s shot bounced down off the underside of the bar and appeared to be clearly over the line.
The officials weren’t convinced and seconds later Villa added insult to injury by going ahead. Ashley Young fed Bent, who neatly beat Tim Howard.
Osman again found himself in front of goal but still squandered the chance as Everton toiled to salvage something.
Team effort paid off when Jean Makoun brought down Jagielka, and Baines hammered home the penalty.
Logic suggests that Villa have too many attacking options to go down.
Houllier said: “This is always a difficult place to get a point. I have to think it’s two points dropped, now we have to rely on ourselves and really just go for it.”
