Major setback as Villa crash five

Aug 21 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL under-18s had the worst possible start to the new FA Premier Academy League season as they suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat against Aston Villa at Bodymoor Heath.

Hugh McAuley’s side were unlucky to go in at the break 1-0 down following a strike midway through the first half from England youth international striker Nathan Delfouneso.

McAuley’s side had two decent chances to score with German striker Marvin Pourie being denied by the Villa keeper and Swedish midfielder Astrit Adjarevic also going close.

But the damage was done early the second half when Villa scored two early goals through Dominic Hoffbauer and James Collins. Collins added a second and Marc Albrighton also scored.

It was not the start coach McAuley would have wanted on his return to the Academy.

He said: “We started off quite brightly and the first half was very much even-Steven. But they had two lively forwards and broke away to score.

“We had our fair share of play in the first half and had one of two good chances ourselves. It was still in the balance at half-time, but the second half from my point of view was disappointing. We played too deep and paid the price for that. We never got out and had any real sustained attacks and that is something we will have to work on.

“We were 3-0 down early in the second half and in a effort to salvage something, we pushed men forward, but a bit of inexperience left us open and they won the game comfortably in the end.

“We never really had any composed possession to give ourselves a chance to play and get into positions around their penalties and create opportunities to score goals.”

Liverpool will look to bounce back from the painful opening loss in their first home match at the Kirkby Academy this Saturday against Sunderland (kick-off 11am). McAuley said: “We are looking for a reaction. We have a week to thrash things out on certain things. Next Saturday gives them a chance to have a go and put things right. Then after that game there will be other things we will have to work on. It is an ongoing process.

“At this moment in time we need to work on our team-work and performance and highlight some of the weaknesses and improve on them.”

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Hansen; Irwin, Kennedy, Button, Awang; Adjarevic, Barnett, Highdale, Amoo (Eccleston 75); Pourie, O’Connor (Scott 44). Subs: Collins, Metcalfe, Burton.