Villa’s legends are hard to follow as Schlupp spoils day
FOLLOWING Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning legends was always going to be a hard act to follow.
The heroes of Rotterdam 40 years ago were paraded before the game as a reminder of the club’s finest hour.
While that remains fresh in the memory for the older fans, this match might well have been forgotten by the time they got home.
It had a distinct end-ofseason whiff about it and, while it was not down to lack of effort, it was hard to generate too much enthusiasm about it.
When Ollie Watkins fired Villa in front in the 69th minute it looked every bit as if the big day was going to be marked with a home win to send the claret-and-blue faithful home happy.
Watkins pounced when Lucas Digne whipped in a menacing cross that flashed across goal but he did not look favourite to come out on top.
Marc Guehi was in his way but, as the
two
1
tussled,Watkins threw his foot at the ball and prodded it home with Palace players screaming for a foul. Even boss Patrick Vieira was booked for venting his frustration.
That, according to the script, should have been it, but the visitors weren’t having it.
Jeff Schlupp had only been on five minutes before he equalised. He was in the right place when Guehi headed the ball down, allowing him to stroke it home from close range.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-1-2): Martinez 7; Cash 8, Konsa 6 (Chambers 49, 6), Mings 7, Digne 7; Luiz 6, Nakamba 6 (Ramsey 66, 6), McGinn 7; Coutinho 7; Ings 6 (Buendia 71), Watkins 7.
Goal: Watkins 69.
C PALACE (4-2-3-1): Butland 7; Clyne 7, Andersen 6, Guehi 5, Mitchell 6; Kouyate 7, Milivojevic 6 (Benteke 77); Eze 6 (Schlupp 77), Gallagher 7, Zaha 7; Mateta 6 (Edouard 72).
Goal: Schlupp 81.
DAVE ARMITAGE