The best kind of wins, brighter Formula One drivers like Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda used to say, are those achieved when driving as slowly as possible. For the best part of an hour Villa pootled disinterestedly along, like a Ferrari keeping pace with a Mini. Then they yawned, glanced in the rear view mirror, and accelerated into the distance.
There were few signs of the mayhem to come during a first half in which Burnley’s game-plan seemed to be working solidly enough. They took the lead when Steven Fletcher turned in David Nugent’s low centre, and though they conceded a poor equaliser, when Ashley Young’s low, pacy cross was allowed to bounce through the crowded penalty area and past the unsighted goalkeeper Brian Jensen, the visitors appeared to regroup well.
The second half began in the same fashion, at least until dozy defending of a throw-in allowed Young to speed down the left, before pulling the ball back for Stewart Downing to collect in the Burnley penalty area. The former Middlesbrough winger still had plenty to do, but his smart angled shot beat both Jensen and Leon Cort’s attempt to clear off the line.
The next few minutes were a disaster for the visitors. Downing scored again after Jensen had saved in a one-on-one with Gabriel Agbonlahor, and then Agbonlahor out-paced Clarke Carlisle to cross for Emile Heskey to side-foot home from close range. Shortly afterwards Heskey and Milner combined cleverly to set up Agbonlahor for a fifth.
Martin Paterson’s late consolation goal will have meant little to Burnley supporters accustomed to seeing their team beaten on the road. This was their 14th away game on their travels, and their net return is still only one point.
Premier LeagueAston VillaBurnleyRichard Raeguardian.co.uk
