Aston Villa defeat West Bromwich Albion but crowd trouble mars win

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/07/aston-villa-west-bromwich-albion-fa-cup-match-report

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It has been quite a week for Aston Villa and Tim Sherwood, and one that promises to transform the complexion of their season. Fabian Delph’s first goal for 12 months, followed by a second from Scott Sinclair five minutes from time, condemned West Bromwich Albion to a second defeat in the space of five days at the hands of their neighbours and secured Sherwood’s side a place in the FA Cup semi-final.

That should have been the story of this fiercely contested local derby but the ugly scenes in the closing stages meant that the result was totally overshadowed by the sort of behaviour that everyone hoped belonged to another era. Albion supporters in the upper tier of the North Stand tore out seats and used them as a missiles while at the other end of the ground Villa supporters invaded the pitch during and after the game.

Related: FA to investigate crowd trouble at Aston Villa-West Brom quarter-final

Tony Pulis, the West Brom manager, described the pitch invasions as disgraceful and there was no sense that he was exaggerating the seriousness of the situation when he claimed that the players’ safety was put in danger. It was a free-for-all at the final whistle as hundreds of Villa fans spilled on to the pitch, leaving even their own captain feeling distressed. “Very, very scary,” said Delph, who claimed that he lost his armband, a boot and was bitten.

Questions will be asked of the stewarding, the police and both clubs over the coming days, as well as the decision to stage a local derby with so much at stake at 5.30pm on a Saturday night. It is safe to say that the Football Association’s “crowd control adviser” – there was one present – is in for a busy weekend writing up everything he witnessed. A range of sanctions are available to the FA, although the likelihood is that both clubs will be fined, with Villa’s punishment expected to be more severe.

There was also some controversy of a different kind in the shape of the two red cards that Anthony Taylor, the referee, showed in the second half. West Brom’s Claudio Yacob seemed particularly unlucky to be given a second yellow card for a foul on Leandro Bacuna in the 80th minute. Jack Grealish, a second-half substitute for Villa, was later given a second yellow card for diving.

Pulis was bemused by both decisions. “It’s really, really disappointing. We’ve come here twice in five days.[Alan] Hutton should have been sent off in the week, doesn’t get sent off and he gets the cross in that [Ben] Foster spills and costs us a goal late on.

“Today, really and truthfully, Yacob’s not a sending off. It’s two poor decisions. I don’t know what Grealish got sent off for. I was absolutely amazed when he showed a red card.”

By the time Villa were reduced to 10 men the game was effectively over, with Grealish having set up their second goal moments earlier. Sinclair, arguably Villa’s most dangerous player in a much-improved second-half performance, took it superbly, checking inside Chris Brunt before curling a low right-foot shot from just inside the penalty area into the far corner.

There was no way back for West Brom, who were left to rue their profligacy in the first half, in particular the two chances that fell to Brown Ideye, the first after only eight minutes when the Nigerian looked certain to score when he ran on to Craig Gardner’s fine first-time cross. Instead Ideye contrived to lift a left-foot shot over the crossbar.

He should also have done better with an opportunity later in the half when he shouldered, rather than headed, Craig Dawson’s inviting centre from the right, leaving Shay Given with an easy save.

Related: Aston Villa’s Tim Sherwood on top in FA Cup gamble against West Brom | Peter Lansley

Missing the injured Christian Benteke, Villa looked flat in the first half and created precious little but they carved a breakthrough shortly after the restart.

Charles N’Zogbia, who seems to be flickering into life under Sherwood, picked up possession wide on the right and cut infield. With Dawson sucked to the ball and playing more like a centre-half than a right-back, space opened up for Delph in the inside-left channel. N’Zogbia released the ball at just the right time and the England international did the rest, drilling a low left-footed shot beyond Boaz Myhill, who was picked ahead of Ben Foster, and inside the near post.

Albion could – and should – have been level six minutes later but Joleon Lescott was guilty of a poor miss that had Pulis spinning on his heel in frustration. Gardner’s corner kick from the left was inadvertently flicked on at the near post by Tom Cleverley and Lescott, arriving at the back post, looked destined to score. Inexplicably he headed wide.

Chances came and went at both ends as the game became stretched. Given had to be quick off his line to smother at Saido Berahino’s feet while Sinclair went close for Villa twice in the space of two minutes.

The winger was not so generous, however, when presented with a third opportunity. It is just a shame that few people were talking about his final goal afterwards.