Terrific Downing, Aston Villa destroyed Burnley

ASTON VILLA 5
- Young, A 32,
- Downing 56,
- Downing 58,
- Heskey 61,
- Agbonlahor 68

BURNLEY 2
- Fletcher, S 10,
- Paterson 90

**The visitors took the lead through Steven Fletcher inside the opening ten minutes after a well worked move but Ashley Young leveled for Aston Villa on the half hour mark with a low right footed drive.

A crazy fifteen minute spell in the second half saw Villa hit four goals through two Stewart Downing efforts, Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor putting the result in doubt. Martin Paterson added a late consolation in stoppage time.

Burnley traveled to Villa Park with the worst away record in the Premier League looking to catch Aston Villa dreaming of next weekends Carling Cup final.

Just moments later Burnley took the lead when on loan Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork slid in David Nugent who raced into the box before squaring the ball to Steven Fletcher who tapped in at the back post unmarked, score 1-0 to Burnley

Villa leveled the scores 1-1 just after the half hour mark when Burnley failed to react quick enough to a short Ashley Young corner who played the ball to Milner before receiving the ball back and hitting a low drive through a crowded box leaving Jensen no chance.

Burnley started the second period in the same vein as the opening half but failed to carve out and clear chances in the first ten minutes as they had done previously.

Instead it was Villa who look the lead, a long ball forward was flicked onto Young who raced clear but was eventually crowded out by the recovering Burnley defense. The winger played the ball square into the open space and Stewart Downing raced on to the ball and struck his shot low into the left hand corner, 2-1 Villa leading.

Gabriel Agbonlahor should have doubled the lead moments later after breaking clear but Jensen saved well one on one with the Villa striker. However, the saved effort came out to Milner who played the ball to Downing, the former Middlesbrough man turned well and his strike took a deflection leaving Jensen helpless as it rolled into the net, 3-1 position.

Downing may have had a sensational five minute hat trick when Young played a corner straight out to the 25-year-old who volleyed first time but Jensen saved well.

Emile Heskey did compounded further misery on Burley minutes later after great work by Agbonlahor down the left hand side, the striker crossed the ball low into the area and Heskey finished from close range, hosts leading 4-1 score.

Gabriel Agbonlhaor got on the score sheet himself five minutes later after flowing move by Villa saw Milner cross for the 23-year-old to bundle home from close range, 5-1 away position.

Burnley continued to threaten from long distance but Friedel was rarely tested. Martin Paterson tapped in in stoppage time 5-2 score but Villa strolled home for a comfortable win.

Teams :

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ashley Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs: Guzan, Luke Young, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso, Delph, Beye

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox, Eagles, Cork, Bikey, McDonald, Nugent, Fletcher. Subs: Weaver, Duff, Paterson, Elliott, Blake, Nimani N'galou, Thompson


Source : www.goal.com