Friendly: Walsall 2 Aston Villa 3
Gareth Barry was forced to play through the jeers of the Villa boo-boys last night as he made a surprise re-appearance in an Aston Villa shirt as the club’s second string struggled to snatch a 3-2 victory from their League One neighbours’ Walsall.
At this stage of the pre-season campaign, the England midfielder and former Villa hero might have been expecting to be playing alongside Steven Gerrard and Liverpool but instead found himself lining up with Villa’s reserves facing the Anfield captain’s cousin, Walsall defender Anthony Gerrard.
With his future still in doubt and his career with Villa in limbo, Barry might have been forgiven for simply going through the motions in this Villa’s last pre-season encounter before the second leg of their Intertoto Cup campaign and the visit of Odense on Saturday.
Instead however Barry put in a workmanlike performance providing some of the deft touches and accurate passes which have caught the eye of Rafa Bentiez and Fabio Capello despite the constant barrage of abuse and shouts of “Judas” from small pockets within the stands.
There were some fans, however, who it seemed were prepared to welcome Barry whatever his stance and his recent comments about manager Martin O’Neill but, ever the ambassador, he did sign autographs with some youngsters before kick off.
But in the end the only thing to temper much of the strength of feeling amongst the claret and blue masses were a few tongue-in-cheek cheers from the Saddlers’ fans with chants of “sign him up!”
Villa manager Martin O’Neill was visibly absent from the opening ten minutes of the proceedings with reserve coach Kevin MacDonald instead commandeering the dug out and Villa fans will no doubt be praying their manager was held up by transfer dealings.
For Villa may have snatched a win over a youthful Walsall side, but there were again glaring holes in the Villa defence despite valiant efforts by Nathan Baker and Moustapha Salifou who stepped in as right back for Craig Gardner - among a glutrch of Villa players rested ahead of the weekend’s big game.
Barry lined up against Marlon Harewood who was given his skipper’s armband with Shaun Maloney the only other player to have had a run in the first team last season. And Harewood could have given villa the lead as early as the third minute when he rose highest to connect with his head on a Maloney corner only to see his effort over the bar.
Walsall newcomer George Ba then saw his effort saved by Villa’s rookie keeper Elliott Parish before Barry began to settle to find Maloney with a perfect pass only for Nathan Delfouneso and in turn Harewood to force a save from Walsall keeper Clayton Ince.
Delfouneso, given a first team squad number last season, then hit the top netting before Barry again turned his marker only for his pass to Harewood to end up skimming wide.
Villa were giving the ball away too cheapily in midfield despite Barry’s efforts before Harewood again was thwarted - this time by the feet of Netan Sansara
For all Villa’s efforts on goal it was the Saddlers, who had looked determined and hungry throughout, who were to snatch the opener through Alex Nicholls in the 41st minute after a mix-up between Eric Lichaj and Parish. Delfouneso again went close just before half time after picking up on a Zoltan Stieber cross but again the chance went begging.
In the second half Wayne Routledge blazed a shot across the face of the Saddlers’ goal before Barry played in Delfouneso onkly for Ince again to rise - now it was the Saddlers’ keeper Villa fans were chanting to sign up.
In the 60th minute Barry was substituted and, while there were still some jeers, his professionalism had certainly tempered. But almost at once Villa were back in the game thanks to a fine Shaun Maloney strike which curled off his right foot past Ince.
Walsall were back in front within minutes however thanks to a cracking effort from Patrick Suffo on 70 minutes before Maloney spared Villa’s blushes with another equaliser.
Saddlers’ boss Jimmy Mullen then made several changes before Wayne Routledge popped up with his second Villa goal of the summer and Villa’s third of the night following another fine cross from Steiber.
In the end however the result was irrelevant. Gareth Barry had again stolen all the headlines. He may have been barracked but in the end the majority of Villa supporters seemed to have realised just what they will lose if his on-off transfer eventually comes to fruition. His quality was apparent and perhaps yet will prove the best bargaining chip the player has.
Scorers: Walsall: Nicholls (41), Suffo (70). Villa: Maloney (61, 79), Routledge (86).
Walsall: (4-4-2) Ince (Gilmartin, 75), Palmer, Roberts (Smith, 61) Gerrard, Sansara, Nicholls (Craddock, 88) Mattis, Bradley (Ayre, 66 ), Zaaboub (Demontagnac, 61) Ba ( Suffo,51), Ibehre (Deeney, 67).
Villa: (4-4-2) Parish, Salifou, Lichaj, Baker (Roome,73 ) Steiber, Routledge, Osbourne, Barry (Bannan, 60 ) Maloney, Defouneso (Albrighton, 82 ) Harewood. Subs not used: Bevan, Weimann, Forrester.
Referee: P Gibbs
Attendance: 5,081 (2,227 Villa)
Walsall man of the match: Alex Nicholls - youngster was a constant attacking force and neat finish for opening goal.
Villa man of the match: Gareth Barry
