Once again Town fans will travel home thinking their side ought to have got something from an away performance. Two Juan Pablo Angel goals put Villa in the lead after Finidi George had put Town ahead with a low drive from 25 yards. Despite the usual late flurry no equaliser materialised for Town.

The Blues lined up with injury worries Marcus Bent and Jamie Clapham both on the bench. Instead of Bent Richard Naylor started alongside Alun Armstrong, while Jim Magilton returned to the centre of midfield with Jermaine Wright playing on the left and Finidi George on the right. Sixto Peralta was surprisingly left out.

Matt Holland had told a TV interviewer today that he was determined to score the first goal of the game and he had a very good go at it. The Town skipper hit a shot over the bar from distance within the first minute.

Two minutes later Lee Hendrie headed wide when in an offside position. Paul Merson had put in a cross to the far post, Angel had headed across to Hendrie who looked to have a golden opportunity until the flag went up and his header went wide.

Angel's head was again in the thick of the action on eight minutes when he latched on to a Samuel cross and sent the ball wide. A couple of minutes later Samuel himself had a go at goal but again the ball went wide.

The game was reasonably even and Town went ahead in the 17th minute. Finidi George picked up the ball about 25 yards out, took control of the ball and lashed a low drive into the corner of Peter Schmeichel's net. Town had got the all-important first goal, the first time they had gone into the lead in the Premiership since the Leeds game some years ago.

Referee Mike Dean and one of his linesman were the subjects of a great deal of Town attention on 19 when Lee Hendrie was allowed to run into an onside position when inside the Town penalty are as play moved in on him a few yards away. Fortunately Merson failed to get a decent shot in and the ball went out with Town defenders questioning what ref and linesman were up to.

Mark Venus was given the opportunity to hit a freekick on 23, but sent his shot well wide.

In the 37th minute Town fans were again on their feet as Merson appeared to handle the ball as he brought it forward on a Villa break. Merson played the ball wide to Stone who crossed for Merson who headed wide.

On 43 Villa got on terms. A corner came in from the right which Sereni tried to claim. The Town keeper looked to be impeded and dropped the ball at Mellberg's feet. The defender tried to strike the ball home, but it was blocked. Naylor tried to clear it further but sent it into the air to the edge of the area where Alan Wright looped the ball back in to Angel who headed in off Sereni's left hand. Where Town had got an important early goal, Villa had got one just before half-time.

Town made no changes at the break. Two minutes in Hermann Hreidarsson put a cross on to the roof of the net which was typical of the Icelander's delivery from the flanks throughout the game.

On 54 Jermaine Wright hit a shot wide before Richard Naylor was booked for a foul on Samuel, who seemed rather relieved to be fouled after getting himself in a bit of trouble down the Villa right flank.

Mark Venus was given another go from a freekick on 57 after Finidi George was fouled. Once again Venus's shot went wide. Made a change from hitting the wall.

On 60 Paul Merson was halted in his tracks by an acrobatic challenge from the excellent Mark Venus. Merson had ball-juggled his way into the area before Venus got his challenge in.

A minute later a Jim Magilton cross eluded both Armstrong and Naylor, who had both aimed for the near post as the ball went to the far.

Three minutes later Richard Naylor headed wide from a Jermaine Wright cross. George Burley made his first switch of the evening, bringing on Jamie Clapham and bringing off Finidi George who had had his moments, but who still looks not entirely fit.

Magilton almost played in Alun Armstrong in the 65th minute, but he fell over the ball when well-placed at the edge of the area.

In the 69th minute Villa went into the lead. Angel got away beyond Venus down the Villa right, he ran goalwards and hit a shot which looped off McGreal and beyond Sereni in goal. Once again a cruel blow for Town as a promising position was surrendered.

Jamie Clapham headed weakly to Schmeichel as Town tried to press for an equaliser. Seconds later Angel tried to get his hat-trick in the most spectacular way, hitting a shot from 35 yards.

In the 76th minute Town put in a series of crosses. Eventually a foul on Jamie Clapham allowed Mark Venus to put in a freekick, from which both Jim Magilton and Matt Holland had shots charged down.

Richard Naylor had a golden opportunity to get Town back on terms on 77 as he was given time to place a header at the far post. Clapham's cross was inch-perfect, but Naylor's header went over. Two minute later a trickier effort from Naylor was straight at the keeper. Marcus Bent replaced Alun Armstrong who was looking tired.

Steve Staunton game Sereni little trouble with a freekick on 80 before Clapham hit a shot wide after a neat dummy from Naylor.

Town were getting closer and closer to a goal and were putting on most of the pressure, the last ten minutes in Milan played all over again in some ways. Jermaine Wright, more eager to shoot than of late, hit a shot which was inches over the top.

With two minutes left Matt Holland had a shot blocked by Alan Wright, but despite three minutes injury time Town could not get the equaliser required. Titus Bramble warmed up in the latter stages as Mark Venus appeared to be hobbling with a hamstring problem.

Another game and another defeat. Once more though Town did deserve to get more from the game. As usual Town failed to get the rub of the green, but the hard facts are that Town are now in even deeper trouble. The Blues need a win or two soon or things could be all over.

Photo: Action Images

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