SEAGULLS GROUNDED Quiet one at Etihad
Agony for Brighton as Leicester throw them back into danger... after Lallana had given ’em wings
LEICESTER’S hopes of a Champions League finish got a boost at struggling Brighton.
The Foxes struck from a late Marc Albrighton corner to nick the points – Daniel Amartey bundling the ball home after a flapping blunder by Seagulls keeper Robert Sanchez.
Kelechi Iheanacho had cancelled out Adam Lallana’s first-half strike with a lovely goal midway through the second period.
Lallana’s effort was his first for Brighton and you had to go back 18 months to find his last goal.
It came against Manchester United when he was still a Liverpool player, with Leicester boss Brendan
Rodgers ironically the manager who’d taken him to Anfield in the first place.
Both will have arrived at the Amex Stadium last night knowing how important a win would be for their two sides, albeit for very different reasons.
Leicester came into the game on the back of a miserable 11 days which had seen them knocked out of the Europa League by Slavia Prague and lose ground in the race for the top four with a defeat by Arsenal and a draw against Burnley.
Brighton had managed just one win in six prior to kick-off, with their victory against Liverpool at the start of February the last time they’d tasted success.
It’s not as if they have been playing
IT SHOULD be squeaky bum time, but you won’t hear a peep out of Pep Guardiola today.
This Manchester derby (4.30pm) is ‘just for fun’.
We will probably need to make our own entertainment though. United’s record in Big Six Prem games this season is five ‘no goalscorer’ results out of seven.
You have to factor in the chance of a very similar approach from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (above) here – and the 12/1 (Fred, Bet365) ‘no scorer’ is worth a go. Take the DRAW too at the widespread 7/2.
Keep stakes fun-sized – United have AC Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic visiting on Thursday and a list of definite/possible absentees today that includes David de Gea.
Penalties are the other angle for a TV interest that can last 90 minutes. The 7/4 (Unibet) ‘penalty awarded’ is in tune with the stats – plus pens do just drop randomly out of the sky these days too, like an ice-boulder of pish from a passing 747. Last week: Winners at 12/5, 10/1, 12/5, 10/11 and 11/5.
RO Z
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO refused to blame Romain Saiss after the defender’s contender for miss-ofthe-season.
The Wolves boss leapt to the defence of Saiss who somehow blazed over from just one yard out as these two rivals otherwise found the goal frame blocking their route to victory.
The versatile centreback had marched upfield at a corner as Nuno’s side produced a routine straight off the training ground to crack Villa’s stubborn rearguard.
And after Pedro Neto produced an inswinging cross from the right, it was met by the visitors’ skipper Conor Coady.
The defender dived full length to meet the ball only to send it crashing into the foot of the upright.
And when it bounced to the 30-year-old with keeper Emiliano Martinez nowhere to be seen, he somehow spooned it over.
That 57thminute howler was a decided let-off for the hosts who had started brightly but were pinned back by their nearneighbours after the break.
Nuno couldn’t be too hard on a man who has served him well during the past four seasons.
He said: “He should have done better but it’s a mistake – and the mistake in our view is something we are always supportive of.”
However, home boss Dean Smith accepted his side had benefitted from a reprieve saying: “I didn’t quite know what happened at first but when
I saw it back, it’s one that just comes back at Saiss – and he inexplicably put it over. I was a relieved man, that’s for sure.”
Otherwise, it was the woodwork that landed the starring role as these two traded blows without ever fully going for the jugular.
It was a classic game of two halves – Villa dominated the opening 45 minutes and Wolves were undoubtedly in the ascendancy after the interval.
The game was only four minutes old when Ollie Watkins tried his luck from 25 yards and, as Nuno’s defence backed off, the £33million striker’s shot thumped into the crossbar.
He should have done better but it’s a mistake – and the mistake in our view is something we are always supportive of
After 15 minutes, quickthinking by Bertrand Traore, offering himself up as an option on the left, enabled him to centre for Ezri Konsa who chested down before slamming a shot into a similar spot on Rui Patricio’s goal frame.
After the interval, Wolves found their feet.
Villa keeper Martinez blocked after Neto found a strong finish after a 70yard break upfield.
But then came Saiss’s amazing miss – and Coady followed up his header with another close-range effort as the hosts failed to clear a corner.
This time, Martinez’s outstretched left arm came to Villa’s rescue.
Wolves’s skipper, whose goal during the 4-1 defeat at the Etihad in midweek against Manchester City was his first for three years, was upset he didn’t add to his tally.
Coady said: “It doesn’t matter if my first one was only the other night, I should have had two today.
“The first one was a bit unlucky but I should have scored. The second was a good save from their keeper and a bit of a scuffed shot from me.
“I didn’t see Romain – I just saw the ball go over the bar – I’m massively disappointed.”
Villa boss Smith said: “We were very good first half and they were very good second. There were big chances at both ends. It was the proverbial game of two halves.
“At half-time I was thinking to myself: ‘How are we not in front?’ but I think a draw was a fair result.
“There’s inconsistency everywhere in the Premier League at the moment – apart from
Manchester City – I don’t think many teams are stringing three or four results together.”
However, there was better news for Villa on the back of this stalemate. Smith confirmed afterwards that
Jack Grealish was hoping to resume training this week ahead of next Sunday’s visit of Spurs.
“Jack told me he would be out on the pitch this week and should be available for next week,” said the Villa boss.
“If, obviously, I pick him, that is.”