Attendance: 26, 861
Referee: R Dilkes
Wednesday: Pressman; Atherton, Walker, Stefanovic, Nolan; Whittingham, Collins, Pembridge (Hyde), Blinker; Humphreys (Oakes), Booth; unused subs: Sheridan, Clarke (GK), Nicol.
Villa: Oakes; Murray (Joachim), Staunton, Southgate, Ehiogu, Wright; Taylor, Draper, Townsend; Yorke, Johnson.
The opening day of the season saw Hillsborough just over half full, with Villa having brought about 6000 supporters along with banners proclaiming their pride in Gareth Southgate (he of the penalty fame). The sun was blazing down and the new upper tier of the South stand was open, though few souls were to be found that high up. The pitch looked immaculate (as usual) and there was a new set of goals too. The width of the pitch was kept to that in the European Championships, so the touch line was a yard further in on either side of the pitch.
Injuries to Newsome and Hirst meant it was not the expected line-up. the main changes from last season being a new striking partnership and Collins in central midfield. Villa kicked off attacking the Kop end, and dominated the opening five minutes. Des Walker was in fine form though and was comfortable at the back, hoofing the ball when necessary so as not to be caught out. Booth's first chance came early on when he chested down a ball played over the top and turned and shot first time. His effort was high and wide, but it was nice to see some confidence and he got into a good position.
Wednesday did not look too good in the first half, whereas Villa looked assured and composed on the ball, winning possession near their box and coming forward. Wednesday more often than not played the ball out to the full back, and then looked to play the long ball towards Booth and Humphreys, who were unable to hold it up and inevitably Villa ended up with posession. It was encouraging to see Pressman roll the ball out so many times, rather than hoof it up the middle of the park though.
Villa had the first real chance of the afternoon from a corner. Taylor was unmarked and arriving late bulleted a header inches over the bar from the edge of the six yard box. Wednesday continued to plug away, and there was no lack of determination and graft in the side. Collins made some good covering runs back when posession had been lost and Des was defending well, although he did give the ball away worryingly on a couple of occasions.
For all Villa's possession and competance they were unable to turn this into a goal. They came close when the ball went dangerously across an open goal, but offside had been called before Johnson stretched and failed to make contact with the ball. Yorke kept on being caught offside, and Wednesday battled well in midfield to prevent Taylor, Townsend and Draper providing the kind of service up front which would cause trouble.
Regi showed touchs of brilliance, somehow keeping posession when marked by two players, and his interplay with Nolan down the left was encouraging. This was Wednesday's most dangerous attacking option, as balls down the right inevitably saw Atherton launch a long ball from about halfway, mostly unsuccessfully.
Pressman had to be alert and come off his line more than once. He gathered the ball bravely at the edge of his box just ahead of Yorke (I thought he'd left it too late and bottled it) and came rushing out to chest the ball away for a throw in. He looked a lot more assured and confident compared to some of the dodgy performances last season.
Villa nearly snatched the lead just before halftime when Johnson was sent away and shot from the edge of the box, but Pressman beat out his curving shot for a corner, which was successfully dealt with. Wednesday won their fair share of corners this half, and caused problems to the Villa defence without actually threatening to score. 0-0 at half time was a fair reflection, and although Wednesday hadn't show anything to set people alight, they had been competant and looked interested. There was no inkling of the transformation that would occur ten minutes into the second half.
Wednesday attacked the Kop in the second half, and things started much the same way they ended in the first. Wednesday were playing safe, competant football, looking to keep posession and not let Villa get on top while Villa continued to pass the ball about and look for the opening.
Blinker and Nolan kept up with their interplay on the left and started to give the right back a hard time of things, and it was no surprise when the goal came from build-up play on the left. Nolan layed the ball off to Blinker, and his cross was nodded on by Pembridge into the path of Humphreys, who was arriving on the edge of the box. He hit the ball first time on the volley and his left foot shot screamed into the roof of the net leaving Oakes (and probably any goalkeeper in the Premiership) no chance. He raced to the corner flag to celebrate - a goal like that would be memorable enough as a first goal, but on your home debut and in front of the Kop ...
This goal changed the whole course of the game, you could see Wednesday grow in confidence as they started to dominate the game and not only keep Villa at bay but also make inroads with their own attacks. Nolan decided to take on the right fullback, and outpaced him on the outside and was through into the box with only Oakes to beat. Unfortunately he hit his right foot shot high over the bar when anything past the keeper was a goal. Brian Little reacted by pulling his right back off and putting on Joachim, Taylor going to fill the right wingback position.
Blinker and Nolan continued to combine well, and on his next threatening run Nolan was brought down in the area by two Villa players, but Mr Dilkes insisted it was just a corner even though Nolan was tackled with the ball a good three yards in front of him. From the corner the ball came to Humphreys on the edge of the box, and his header was destined for the top corner until Oakes saved well.
Wednesday continued to press forward and Oakes ended up pushing the ball behind his crossbar on at least three occasions as the pressure was piled on. Pembridge was replaced by Hyde and then Humphreys came off to be replaced by Scott Oakes. Guy Whittingham had been having an excellent game up to now, very committed in the tackle in midfield, and showing that bit of experience and maturity when it was needed. He, Oakes and Hyde were involved in some neat interchanges on the right, keeping possession and running down the clock.
Wednesday's second goal came from a corner, inevitably from the left again as Blinker swung the ball in to the Whittingham and Booth on the far post. Whittingham was furthest back and after calling for it was left to carefully loop his header over Oakes and into the far corner of the net. The players were nearly as overjoyed as the crowd - surely this was a winning start to the season, with only five minutes left on the watch.
Posession football was what was required, and Wednesday seemed to be doing this OK until Villa caught Wednesday napping, and with a quick ball to the wing, a good cross saw Tommy Johnson heading in to pull a goal back with two minutes left to play. The jitters returned as Wednesday failed to clear their lines quickly enough and Villa camped in the other half of the field for the last two minutes, but it was all too late as far as they were concerned and after a couple of minutes injury time Mr Dilkes blew his whistle and Wednesday had won!
On the whole it had been a good display, although defensively Stefanovic caused a few sharp intakes of breath at times when he played the complicated ball out of defense (that gives a goal away if it goes wrong) instead of the big boot. It's amazing what a bit for confidence and belief can do, and if Wednesday can continue to perform like this then a further season in the top flight should be assured.