Pre-season 2010: Crewe 1-0 Blackpool, Derby County 1-0 Stoke City, Reading 2-1 Wolves, Walsall 1-2 Aston Villa - Largely disappointing night for Premier League sides

Villans prove only victors with Andreas Weimann brace...

27 Jul 2010 23:09:00

By Daniel Sheppard

More On :  Aston Villa, Blackpool, Crewe, Derby County, Reading, Stoke City, Walsall F.C., Wolves, Andreas Weimann
EPL: Martin O'Neill, Manchester City v Aston Villa (PA)


Aston Villa proved to be the Premier League's only victors in a quartet of domestic friendlies that saw newly promoted Blackpool, Stoke City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers all defeated by lower league sides.

Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Blackpool

Blackpool began Tuesday’s friendly against League Two side Crewe Alexandra with three trialists on show, but it was the home side who started strongest against their Premier League opponents, carving out numerous early opportunities.

Gresty Road finally erupted after 34 minutes when Shaun Miller slotted the ball past Matthew Gilks following a neatly taken free-kick by Ashley Westwood, giving Crewe a deserved 1-0 lead.

In a game largely dominated by Crewe, Blackpool had to wait until the 40 minute mark before threatening when club-captain Charlie Adam clipped the crossbar following a long range effort.

Early into the second half, Blackpool right-back Neal Eardley was replaced by Ishmel Demontagnac following an injury to the 21-year-old Wales international, one of many substitutions that disrupted what little shape the game had already achieved.

Blackpool youngster Tom Barkhuizan threatened the Crewe goal on a couple of occasions before the game drew to a close, ending Blackpool’s undefeated pre-season record.

Blackpool: Gilks; Husband (Southern), Edwards, Baptiste (Eastham), Crainey (Evatt); Trialist A, Eardley (Demontagnac), Adam (Euell), Trialist B (Ormerod); Taylor-Fletcher (Vaughan), Trialist C (Barkhuizan).

Derby County 1-0 Stoke City

Stoke City took on Derby County at Pride Park in their fifth pre-season game of the summer, but it was the home side that took an early lead when Chris Porter neatly headed past Asmir Begavoic after just six minutes.

Ricardo Fuller almost scored an immediate equaliser, but his close range header was blocked by fellow Stoke forward Mamady Sidibe and minutes later Dean Whitehead went agonisingly close with a headed attempt from a Rory Delap throw-in.

Stoke had their best chance of the game in the opening moments of the second half, Abdoulaye Faye's close range header from a Matthew Etherington cross was blocked on the goal line by a Derby defender.

Substitute goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen made a neat save from Kris Commons on the hour mark in front of the 10,386 in attendance, and with just five minutes remaining, Tuncay Sanli saw his superb effort brilliantly saved by Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

Late pressure failed to produce an equaliser for the visiting side as Stoke’s three game unbeaten pre-season streak ended.

Stoke City: Begovic (Sorensen); Huth (Wilkinson), Shawcross (Higginbotham), Faye, Collins; Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington (Lawrence); Sidibe, Fuller (Tuncay).

Reading 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton Wanderers were defeated 2-1 by Championship side Reading with Kevin Doyle starting against his former side at the Madejski Stadium.

Wolves were behind after just 10 minutes when Jimmy Kebe was tripped in the box, the Malian winning the home side a penalty. Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his third penalty of Reading’s pre-season campaign to put the Championship side ahead.

Reading took control of the first half, but it wasn’t until late into the second that they extended their lead when Michail Antonio fired a low shot past Carl Ikeme.

Wolves did score a late consolation with 10 minutes remaining, however, as David Jones fired a quick free-kick past the Reading goalkeeper, but it was too late as Reading held on to their impressive lead.

Wolves: Ikeme; Foley (Zubar), Stearman (Hill), Batth (Winnall), Elokobi; Guedioura (Halford), Henry (Davis), Milijas (Jones), Hemmings (Jarvis); Vokes (Ebanks-Blake), Doyle (Fletcher).

Walsall 1-2 Aston Villa

Meanwhile, Nigel Reo-Coker skippered an Aston Villa side taking on Walsall at the Banks’ Stadium, one that featured Scottish midfielder Barry Bannan - the youngster starting his third game in four days, having faced Bohemians on Saturday and taken part in an Aston Villa XI friendly clash against Chasetown on Monday evening.

Carlos Cuellar replaced James Collins just 10 minutes into the game following an injury to the Welsh defender, moments before Steve Sidwell’s headed attempt from an Marc Albrighton cross was wonderfully saved by Jonny Brain.

Walsall’s first moment of attacking intent came after 22 minutes when Julian Gray’s left-wing cross was headed at goal by Troy Deeney, but Brad Friedel was quick to the make the save, tipping the ball over the crossbar.

Scottish youngster Bannan tried his luck from 30-yards out, his shot flying harmlessly wide of the right-hand post, but Andreas Weimann had more fortune minutes later when he slammed home a diving header after 25 minutes from a John Carew cross.

Villa’s younger talent continued to terrorise the Walsall defence, and the 5,735 in attendance saw Villa double their lead when Weimann was once again on hand to convert a rebound when Brain parried an Albrighton shot after 67 minutes.

Walsall midfielder Alex Nicholls pulled one back for the home side with 15 minutes remaining, but the Premier League side held out to achieve their second win of the pre-season campaign.

Aston Villa: Friedel; Beye, Collins, Davies, Shorey; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Bannan; Carew, Weimann.
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