GIL ADDS GLITTER
Spaniard’s superb strike and Delph’s new deal lift Villa
A goal to repay his £3.25million fee in one go? You never know. Carles gil brought a sparkle seldom seen at Villa Park these days with a wonderful strike that suggests a silver lining may yet be found for this gloomy season.
Villa manager Paul lambert could only have dreamed that the Spaniard would mark his first start since signing from Valencia in such magical style.
Picking up the ball on the right, he drove at defender Ian Harte, cut inside and sent the ball arcing beautifully into the far corner with his left foot. lambert’s face was a picture of delight. It was a moment to get the Villa fans off their seats.
This was only the second goal from Villa in more than 11 hours of play. gil looks a real player and his strike was the high point of a debut full of promise.
andreas Weimann added the goal that ultimately proved the winner after Callum Wilson struck in added time for the visitors. This was only the third time all season Villa have scored more than once, so it was also a Cup shock of sorts.
But not the kind that seemed plausible before kick- off, with Championship leaders Bournemouth in town. Eddie Howe’s side have had no problems scoring, and managed eight goals on their previous visit to England’s second city, in a win at Birmingham. only six places separate these teams in the league ladder and for much of the first half Bournemouth looked the more accomplished.
last year Sheffield United sprang an upset here in the third round, while Millwall did for Villa at The Den in 2013’s fourth-round tie. after a day in which the Premier league’s mightiest were felled, this appeared another setting for a top-flight casualty.
Instead, Villa’s quality emerged and suddenly lambert finds his team among the favourites to lift the trophy.
Villa Park was given a lift before kick- off with the announcement that Fabian Delph had signed a new four-and-a-half year contract.
The England midfielder addressed the crowd via a video over the big screens, but his words were largely inaudible. It needed the stadium announcer to clarify the news. His commitment came as a surprise after all the gossip that Delph would let his contract run out and leave for nothing in the summer.
lambert would not reveal what had convinced the 25-year- old to stay but emphasised his happiness, valuing him at £15m. Paying tribute to chairman Randy lerner and chief executive Tom Fox, lambert hinted that the armband could head Delph’s way soon.
‘He’s a captain in the making. He’s got that hunger and driving force to succeed,’ lambert said. He also insisted this deal was not just a ploy to get a transfer fee in a summer sale.
‘There is no way that’s going to happen,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted. It’s the right thing business-wise and football-wise. I’m pretty sure not many saw that coming. It would take millions to replace him.’
a minor achilles injury kept Delph out of the match with lambert making six changes to his last selection.
Howe made wholesale changes as usual — eight from the team that lost to leeds United in midweek. Harry arter was one who remained and he was instrumental in Bournemouth looking the better side throughout the first half.
Villa failed to register a shot on target in the opening period as the visitors gained the upper hand. arter put through Shaun MacDonald and the midfielder rounded keeper Shay given and shot for goal only to see Kieran Richardson clear near the line.
Then Eunan o’Kane forced a good save from given at full-stretch before arter had a shot deflected into the side-netting.
Christian Benteke offered little up front for Villa and jeers from the Holte End greeted the interval whistle. But the mood changed in the 51st minute when gil produced a different kind of Fa Cup magic.
There was more 19 minutes from time. leandro Bacuna picked out alan Hutton’s run down the right and the Scot crossed for Weimann to apply a cushioned finish into the far corner.
Bournemouth scored in added time, when adam Smith crossed for substitute Wilson to convert, but there were no Bradford-style heroics. Instead, Villa almost scored again but substitute ashley Westwood’s strike was saved by goalkeeper lee Camp.