Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Aston Villa 3-1 Doncaster

By Mark Ashenden

Steve Sidwell
Sidwell grabbed Villa's first against their Championship opponents

Aston Villa had to work hard to knock Championship side Doncaster out of the FA Cup to make the fifth round.

Midfielder Steve Sidwell scored the opener on 15 minutes after Neil Sullivan had saved from Craig Gardner.

John Carew doubled the lead after his long-range shot was deflected in, but Rovers roared back with Jason Price poking in just before the interval.

Brad Guzan saved Brian Stock's 30-yarder, but Nathan Delfouneso broke through to nod in Nicky Shorey's cross.

Villa, now undefeated in 10 games, will next play Liverpool or Everton in the fifth round scheduled for Sunday 15 February.

Boss Martin O'Neill made seven changes to the Villa side which drew against Wigan on Saturday with Ashley Young - returning from a ban - handed skipper duties as Gareth Barry was rested.

Carew was given his first start for nearly three months up front as his team looked to continue their fine form - unbeaten since their Uefa Cup loss at Hamburg in December.

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Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll suggested after the first match ended goalless, that the replay could hinder their survival chances, but after four wins in five league games they have climbed away from the relegation zone.

O'Driscoll's players did not let him down. Despite Young dancing his way through the box and blazing over keeper Sullivan - and the bar - in the opening exchanges, Doncaster more than matched their Premier League counterparts for large portions of the match.

However, after 15 minutes the visitors defence crumbled.

Sullivan saved well from Gardner but he could only push the ball into the path of Sidwell, who poked in his fourth Villa goal since his move from Chelsea last summer.

The home crowd only had to wait five minutes before having another goal to cheer.

Carew picked up the ball on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected by defender Sam Hird into the top left corner over the stranded Sullivan.

Anybody thinking Doncaster would sit back and let the Premier League outfit spend the rest of the match having shooting practice was badly mistaken.

Midfielder Richie Wellens should have done much better from the edge of the box, and then in first half injury time they grabbed a well deserved lifeline.

James Coppinger crossed the ball into the box and picked out Price, and with Delfouneso flapping, he steered a low shot past Guzan into the corner of the net.

Both teams continued to press forward with Villa's Delfouneso and Gardner going close.

Just before the hour Rovers came within a finger nail of the equaliser. The impressive midfielder Stock pulled back the trigger from 30 yards but Guzan tipped the ball round the post.

It seemed to wake Villa up and Shorey burst forward to cross the ball in and a diving Delfouneso nodded into the top corner.

Doncaster, 37 places below Villa in the league standings, rarely threatened again but they can hold their heads up high after impressing in both matches.


BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Aston Villa's John Carew 7.92 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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