Frustrations rang throughout Villa Park tonight, but a fit again ‘Rory Delap’ and Southampton took all of the points with a controversial second half penalty.
After just 11 seconds into the second half a mix-up between Villa defender and net minder, Alpay / Enckleman, saw the Finnish international goalkeeper dismissed after he was deemed to have fouled ‘Ormerod’. Graham Taylor, amidst the chants of frustrations of the home fans, had no choice but to bring on substitute goalkeeper ‘Postma’, only to make way for Mark Kinsella.
Rory Delap shook off his calf strain, and started for the Saints, but the Republic of Ireland midfielder was a doubt up to an hour before kick off. Steve Staunton was high-challenged in the box mid-way through the second half, but referee Mr. Bennett waved play on. In retaliation ‘Stan’ made a foolish challenge on Southampton’s ‘Fernandez’, only this time he caught Mr Bennett’s attention, with a yellow card.
Delap and Staunton clashed in injury time, and had Stan not kept his cool from the high challenge, Mr Bennett it would seem, would have had no issue with showing the home side another red card. Southampton’s penalty was the only goal of the night.
In the lowest home league game attendance (22,711) in eight years at Villa Park, Graham Taylor’s problems will not go away, as the midlands club have now played 10 games, with 10 points to show and just a 14th place standing in the Premiership table.
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