Rapid Vienna 1-1 Aston Villa: Kids send MacDonald job prospects soaring

Kevin MacDonald's prospects of permanently succeeding Martin O’Neill soared last night as his young Aston Villa side did him proud in Austria.

Caretaker MacDonald promoted several of his starlets from Villa’s successful reserve side as he handed out two debuts.

But there was to be no repeat of Villa’s infamous Moscow flop under O’Neill which so badly damaged his relationship with the club’s fans.

And Villa owner Randy Lerner, keen to cut costs, will have been delighted at the maturity and skill of MacDonald’s homegrown proteges.

Vienna’s noisy Gerhard Hanappi Stadium was full to its 17,500 capacity and rocked all night.

But Villa’s kids like Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Eric Lichaj, Jonathan Hogg and subs Nathan Delfouneso and Andreas Weimann did not look out of their depth.

Bannan, 20, put Villa ahead early on after brilliant play by winger Albrighton, who dazzled in the opening day romp over West Ham.

And though Vienna equalised through Atdge Nuhiu, Villa held out as senior men Habib Beye, Curtis Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker all performed excellently.

The trio were marginalised under O’Neill, who fell out with them and put them all up for sale.

But midfielder Reo-Coker lead by example as skipper in the middle of the pitch following O’Neill’s shock resignation five days before the start of the season.

MacDonald said: “I thought Nigel did his job very well.

“It is never easy for senior players when they have youngsters along side them.

“But it wasn’t a difficult thing to make Nigel captain.

“I just thought it would maybe give him another little boost.

“I am very pleased with his performance and I am sure he will be.”

Villa will now be confident of progressing to the Europa League group stage ahead of the second leg of their play-off with Rapid next Thursday.

Next up for Villa is Newcastle on Sunday for MacDonald’s third game at the helm as caretaker after a 3-0 win over West Ham.

Another positive result will surely leave the Scot on the brink of being put in charge until the end of the season.

This display was certainly another great addition to his CV as his gamble to leaving stars like Ashley Young, Stiliyan Petrov and John Carew at home paid off.

In the past, O’Neill’s similar actions have cost the club as a weakened side controversially crashed to defeat at CSKA Moscow in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in February 2009.

But MacDonald made eight changes to the side from Villa’s opening 3-0 Premier League victory over West Ham.

American-born defender Eric Lichaj and midfielder Jonathan Hogg, both 21, were handed debuts.

MacDonald also switched formation to 4-5-1 with Emile Heskey playing upfront on his own.

Rapid’s preparations were overshadowed as they controversially suspended star striker Nikica Jelavic for refusing to play as he is on the verge of a £4million move to Rangers.

Bosnian-born Jelavic joined Rapid in 2008 and scored 43 times in 95 matches - including twice against Villa last term - but is now destined for the SPL.

And his absence was a huge tonic for Villa, who lost 1-0 on this ground in the corresponding fixture last season before bowing out of Europe.

Villa took the lead in the 11th minute through a well-worked goal as left-back Stephen Warnock picked out winger Albrighton with a superb cross-field ball.

Albrighton then skinned his man and rolled a tantalising ball across the goal for Bannan to gleefully tap in.

Rapid deservedly levelled in the 32nd minute when Nuhiu got the slightest of touches on a cross by skipper Steffen Hofmann.

Villa started the second half well though as Emile Heskey, who retired from England duty after the World Cup, had a goal-bound header blocked from Bannan’s corner.

But despite Villa’s excellent play it still needed another save from Brad Guzan to deny Vienna sub Rene Gartler when clean through to frustrate the home side late on.

MacDonald added: “I am very proud indeed. It was an education for them.The intensity of the fans was tremendous.

“But this will help them if they happen to play in some of the big Premier League games where the atmosphere is electric as well.

“It was nice to see the elation on the faces of the lads on the field when we scored and also on the bench.

“There is a strong camaraderie among this group of players.”