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Premier Division (Round 24 vs Portsmouth–h) / 01.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina, Chiellini, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti,, Camoranesi, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Villa’s last bit of dealing in the market see’s Gavin McCann join Blackburn since Pedretti has come in. Having lost the last two games Villa could do with a win and they have a game vs Portsmouth at home next.
A very shaky start for Villa with Pompey missing a golden chance to score first Lua Lua hitting the post. He made no mistake this time scoring from a Franco parry and Villa are hitting bad form. Zebina now red carded for another stupid challenge which has ruined any chance of getting anything from the game. Lua Lua makes it 2-0 to Pompey and the alarm bells are ringing for Villa. Campo though now has a red card making it 10 men a piece.
A Baros consolation in the 90th minute was the only real highlight of the 2nd half in a game Villa have disappointed in again and are now hitting bad form.

Aston Villa 1 – Portsmouth 2

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Premier Division (Round 25 vs Newcastle–a) / 04.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Hughes, Samuel,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti,, Camoranesi, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

2 players from the last game are missing, both Villa fullbacks but Farfan returns to replace Berger for this tough trip away to Newcastle.
A break away from the Villa see’s Carvalho coolly wrong footing Given giving them an early 1-0 lead. The partnership between Delgado and Baros is looking good, but this time Baros turns provider to Delgado giving Villa a 2 goal cushion.
Iaquinta however grabs a goal for Newcastle who are now looking threatening for a 2nd. He scores soon after his first goal making it 2-2 and the game is back on. Villa have dominated the midfield since Farfan’s return but clearly have missed their 2 fullbacks in this game. The game quietened from this point and ended in a 2-2 draw.

Newcastle 2 – Aston Villa 2

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FA Cup Replay (Round 4 vs Man Utd–a) / 11.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina, Chiellini,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Agathe, Berger, Carvalho, Angel, Baros

Villa’s best chance was definitely in the home leg but the defense cost them the game. The odds are heavily against them causing an upset now. The fullbacks return but Camoranesi misses out being injured as well as Delgado.
To the amazement of Old Trafford Villa take a shock lead by a Silvestre error letting Angel through. Soon after another defensive error gives Angel his 2nd taking it around the keeper. Franco makes a vital save keeping the 2 goal cushion intact but United are piling the pressure on now. Villa still look dangerous however on the counter. Mellberg concedes a penalty that Scholes converts making it 1-2.
Its still a very close game with Man United making the headway but can’t create that clearcut chance with many shots coming from outside the box. Can the Villa hold on? Franco saves a one on one with Saha and its now constant bombardment at the Villa goal. Angel had a chance to make it 3-1 but it was saved. But minutes later a Villa counter saw Carvalho score from inside the box making it 3-1 now and the game was then Villa’s. A great effort with Franco proving his worth with another man of the match performance. The Villa go marching on!

Man Utd 1 - Aston Villa 3

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Premier Division (Round 26 vs Bolton–h) / 15.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina, Chiellini,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Agathe, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Delgado returns despite Angel’s double vs United as we return back into league action With the Villa at home against Bolton.
Villa’s league form has been bad of late, and it continues to get worse with Bolton scoring on the break from Anelka. It should have been 2-0 after an Ujfalusi error. Villa go in down 1-0.
An early goal from the Baros Delgado partnership has made things all square with Delgado getting the goal. Villa are now looking the better outfit and are pushing to nose their heads infront. But Bolton remained solid throughout and the game ended 1-1.

Aston Villa 1 – Bolton 1

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FA Cup (Round 5 vs Chelsea–a) / 18.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Hughes, Chiellini,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Agathe, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

No luck with injuries, no luck with cup draws either. This round 5 game see’s Villa travel to Chelsea so its going to need another bit of fortunate Ii Villa are to scrape through this one. Zebina misses the game through injury to make things even harder.
The game has started well for Villa, and G.M took a gamble on Carvalho for this game as he needs a rest. But he’s given Villa the lead early on. Villa are now clinging on, and this seems like a repeat of the 3-1 loss last game these teams met. And it seems it is, a huge blow for Villa with Mellberg getting injured yet again but Ferriera for Chelsea has given away a bad foul and is red carded. This game could be closer than one would have first thought. Villa had a goal and a man advantage going into the 2nd half.
But Chelsea score right after half time by Joe Cole making this tie all square again. Both teams have had chances to win it but eventually Baros scores a scrappy Villa goal right at the death making it 2-1 and yet another memorable FA cup Victory goes to Villa Park. Injuries to Farfan and Mellberg for 4 weeks were the casualties however post game.

Chelsea 1 – Aston Villa 2

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Premier Division (Round 27 vs Arsenal–a) / 25.02.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina , Chiellini,, Bouma, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Camoranesi, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Another hard game for Villa who now travel to the Emirates to play Arsenal. A few returning to this game, Zebina and Camoranesi although Mellberg is replaced by Bouma due to the injury against Chelsea.
Arsenal’s first attack see’s a goal with a good strike from Baptista and Villa have yet to settle in at all. Villa are struggling to cope with the Arsenal style of play and it looks like a matter of time before they score their 2nd. But its still 1-0 at half-time.
Complacency may have hit Arsenal, as Carvalho scores a goal with a very good strike pass Buffon making it 1-1. Villa now take a shock lead hitting Arsenal on the counter with Delgado scoring a very good goal showing great composure into the corner. But the lead is short lived with Hudson scoring from a simple cross making it 2-2.He then popups to score a 3rd and probably the winner after some poor Villa defending, clearly missing Mellberg at the back. But late drama with Camoranesi scoring passed Buffon making it 3-3. Hudson then misses a glorious chance to resteal all 3 points for the Arsenal and Villa have escaped with a draw.

Arsenal 3 – Aston Villa 3[/i]

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Premier Division (Round 28 vs Chelsea–a) / 04.03.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina , Chiellini,, Bouma, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Agathe, Farfan, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Agathe takes Camoranesi’s place for this game due to suspension. Chelsea will sure be looking for revenge after their FA cup home defeat against the Villa in this one.
Villa have started very well controlling the game infact against a strong Chelsea team. But there are no goals for it thus far with Cech performing well in goal. But Pedretti’s first goal for Villa from 30 yards has given them a deserved lead.
2nd half and Villa were unlucky not to get a 2nd Lampard surely should have been sent-off but remains on the pitch. Will the ref boo-boo cost the Villa? Still showing some invention they are creating chances and Chelsea don’t seem to have got into the game at all. Forlan missed a glorious opportunity to equalise in injury time shooting wide giving Villa the 3 points and another fantastic result.

Aston Villa 1 – Chelsea 0

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Premier Division (Round 29 vs Man Utd–a) / 11.03.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Hughes , Chiellini,, Bouma, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Camoranesi, Farfan, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

G.M has decided to give Carvalho a break in preparation for the FA cup tie coming up soon vs Everton so Liguera makes his debut in this one.
Villa have started off well with Baros giving them the lead. Soon after its doubled by Baros again showing good anticipation pouncing on the rebound.
Carrick however scored early in the second half making it 2-1, and Saha pounced on a Franco error making it 2-2 with 25 minutes left. Farfan then gets a 2nd yellow so puts Villa down to 10 men who are really up against it now. Can Villa hang on for a draw? A bit of Rooney magic gives United the lead in an amazing turn around with the backline of Villa again leaking in too many goals. United get a 4th through Giggs at the death leaving G.M wondering who to rid of and buy for next season at the back.

Man Utd 4 – Aston Villa 2

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Premier Division (Round 30 vs Everton–h) / 19.03.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina , Chiellini,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Camoranesi, Berger, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Zebina returns as does Mellberg although Berger has to come in for the suspended Farfan. A preview before the FA cup game in midweek, a win for either side will give them a psychological advantage for the tie on Wednesday.
Its been an even game until a fantastic strike from Van Der Meyde gives Everton the lead at Villa Park. But Baros soon after finds himself in a one-on-one with the keeper and keeps his nerve placing it passed Howard to make it 1-1.
Again the half is very even but Everton seem to be creating the better chances and look the more likely to score. But no goals came and the game ended 1-1.

Aston Villa 1 – Everton 1

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FA Cup (Round 6 vs Everton–h) / 22.03.06

-VillaXI: Franco, Zebina , Chiellini,, Mellberg, Ujfalusi, Pedretti, Camoranesi, Farfan, Carvalho, Delgado, Baros

Carvalho again needs a rest but G.M needs him for this tie. Farfan returns so it’s the strongest VillaXI out possible. They will be needed for this tie as Everton are proving quite difficult for Villa this year.
Villa have started out brightly forcing a few corners with Delgado forcing a decent save. But Everton have now settled and it’s a tight affair as all games this year between the two have been.
Carvalho unfortunately took a knock and has needed to be taken off at half time so in comes Petrov. Finally a team breaks the deadlock and it’s the Villa with a cross from Baros into Delgado who finishes well. The game is bound to open up now, and it does. But its Villa creating the chances and look more likely to kill the game off. They so just this, with a precise Delgado cross into the sub Petrov has finished the Everton off giving Villa a 2-0 win and move into the next round.

Aston Villa 2 – Everton 0