Stoke 0-2 Aston Villa

[andy villa]

The law of the former player clearly extended to pre-season outings as Patrik Berger helped Villa maintain the 100 per cent summer record.

The Czech midfielder, on loan at Stoke last season, opened the scoring with a well struck first-half goal at the Britannia Stadium. Substitute Gabby Agbonlahor completed the scoring 13 minutes from time as Martin O'Neill's men comfortably secured a third successive victory. Lawrence fired over the bar from distance inside the first minute as the hosts looked for an instant breakthrough. Petrov shot straight at Simonsen from distance on five after dispossessing Sweeney. Gardner's rising left-foot drive was deflected wide for a corner on 11. Berger was the next man to try his luck from distance a minute later, but the midfield veteran fired wide of the upright. O'Halloran slid in to deny Fuller on 13 as the Stoke man cut in from the right. Berger opened the scoring on 17, rifling home a left-foot drive as Gardner cleverly dummied a left-wing cross from Bouma. In-form striker Moore flashed a snap-shot wide from 20 yards out as he met Petrov's flick on 26. Reo-Coker and Gardner combined to race the length of the pitch a minute later, but Wilkison did well to deny Gardner. Academy graduate Gardner continued to catch the eye and went closer within seconds, but his ferocious drive flew inches past the upright as he was teed-up by Berger. Reo-Coker's brilliantly timed challenge was enough to deny Fuller on 41 as the Stoke man raced towards the Villa box. Pericard should have levelled matters for the hosts in stoppage-time, but headed Lawrence's cross into the ground and over the bar.

Martin O'Neill made just two changes at the break as Barry and Agbonlahor came on for impressive duo Reo-Coker and Berger. Petrov sliced a low drive wide of the upright two minutes after the interval. Gardner then fired straight at Simonsen on 51. Fuller blazed wide on 58 as he pounced on a momentary lapse from Petrov. Substitute Young's dangerous right-wing cross was deflected behind for a corner on 62. A jinking run from Maloney down the left produced similar results a minute later. Lawrence sliced wide under pressure from Cahill on 68 as Fuller and Sidibe combined to create the opening. The hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game midway through the second-half. Academy youngster Lowry was handed his senior debut on 73 as he replaced O'Halloran. Parkin dragged a left-wing ball across the face of goal three minutes later. Agbonlahor doubled Villa's lead on 77, racing through the middle of the Stoke rearguard and slotting home for his first of the summer. Goalkeeper Bevan became the second Villa debutant of the night as he replaced Taylor with seven minutes to go. Agbonlahor's dangerous centre flashed across the face of goal on 88. Maloney then fired straight at Simonsen moments later. Gardner saw a vicious drive palmed wide by the Stoke keeper on 90.


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another win...

[Sven]

Nice goal from Berger, good goal from Gaby, running on to ball with his pace firstt time shot.

You expecting some more players in?

[andy villa]

i would hope so, but we are cutting it pretty tight...